Zambezi Canoe Safari
From CAD $3650
Guarantee
Small Group
Unknown
Rating
Flowing between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Zambezi is a lifeline for some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. On this active adventure, you’ll explore its channels by canoe, sharing the water with elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a tour leader who knows all the animals’ favourite hiding spots. Each evening, you camp wild on secluded beaches, gathering around the campfire to share stories with the group and gaze into the star-sprinkled sky. If you want to experience African wildlife as it should be – truly wild – this is the trip for you.
Trip For You
This trip is graded Activity Level 4 (Moderate & Challenging) with a Wildlife Rating of Four. For more information on our trip gradings, visit the Activity Level Guidelines page or our Wildlife Holidays page for more on our Wildlife Ratings. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Itinerary: This is generally a comfortable participatory safari but, as it goes through some wild country, come prepared to be flexible and expect delays or inconveniences. Travel is by Canadian-style 5.5m (18ft) two-person canoes and open-backed safari vehicle.
Fitness and experience: No previous experience is necessary, but you should have a reasonable level of fitness as it is an active trip. An ability to swim is recommended.
Safety: Lifejackets are provided, which must be worn when you’re in the canoe.
Phone reception: There is no phone reception whilst on the canoe safari but wifi is available at the camp on Day 7.
Eating Drinking
Meals are prepared for you, but group members are asked to assist in preparation and washing up.
Typical meals
Breakfast: Cereals or coffee and toast plus a fried breakfast on most daysLunch: Fresh salads, cold meats, cheese, bread, condiments, fruitEvening meal (biggest meal of the day): Stews, pasta, curry, local cuisine
Vegetarians can be catered for but, given the difficulties of preparing different meals while wild camping, the variety of food may be limited.
Please indicate special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies) when booking. We supply the following drinks: fruit squash served throughout, and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner.
There is always a plentiful supply of chlorinated water available (sometimes even chilled!) and we encourage you to drink water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.
Transportation
Travel is by Canadian-style 5.5m (18ft) two-person canoes. Transport on land is in a minibus or Landcruiser for road transfers and safaris.
Worth knowing
Travelling conditions: Most roads in Zambia are reasonably well maintained; however, some stretches have a few potholes and rough surfaces depending on the previous rainy season. Some travel is on unsurfaced roads, some of which are quite dusty and bumpy (eg during the game drives).Safety: We strive to ensure client safety and take all necessary precautions. On certain sections of this itinerary, we are likely to come into proximity of several different wildlife species. These mainly include hippos, elephants, buffalos and, occasionally, crocodiles while on the water, along with a variety of other game while on foot. As all wildlife is potentially dangerous, it is important to heed all advice given to you by the guide and to follow instructions accordingly. Lifejackets are mandatory whenever you’re on the water.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start point: Lusaka Airport (LUN)
Recommended arrival time: You must arrive before 1:30pm on the first day (please do not book flights arriving after this time as we transfer together as a group to the Zambezi River)
Airport: Lusaka Airport (LUN)
Getting to the start accommodation
On the first day, we meet as a group at Lusaka Airport for an early afternoon transfer to the Zambezi River. It is essential you join this group transfer, so please do not book flights arriving after 1.30pm on the first day. If you would like further information on joining this trip, please speak to your sales representative.
Please note: Breezes River Lodge is named as the start hotel for this adventure in your booking confirmation documents. While it is possible to meet here, we strongly recommend that you join the group at Lusaka Airport. If you do wish to join at Breezes River Lodge, please let us know at least two weeks before the trip begins.
Catching your return flight
There’s a group transfer to Lusaka Airport on the final day, where our tour ends in the late morning.
Weather Information
With exceptionally mild winters, Zambia is best enjoyed during the dry season. This period extends from May to early November. The days are generally dry, hot and sunny with daytime highs around 25C (77F); however, nights can be cool (down to 10C/50F). From June to August, it can be exceptionally cold. September and October are the hottest months, where daytime highs are regularly 35C (95F) and night-time temperatures can be around 23C (73F). Rainfall is generally confined between November and April. Rains normally occur as heavy showers, but they tend to clear rapidly with sunshine still predominant.
Spending Money
There is a cash-only bar at the final hotel that accepts US dollars, so bring some extra cash if you would like to make use of this service.
Tipping
Our local staff are paid fairly for their work. Tipping is not compulsory, though many wish to tip our staff in appreciation of their help and friendliness. Although entirely optional, we suggest you budget for the suggested breakdown below:
a total of US$15 for the five support staff, which can be put into the tipping box at Zambezi Breezes. If you can’t see the tipping box, please ask your tour leader to show you its locationUS$10-US$15 per day for the tour leader
Highlights
— Canoe the mighty Zambezi, spotting elephants, hippos and crocodiles as you go — Gain fascinating insights into the wildlife and environment from your knowledgeable tour leader — Wild camp on remote islands, sleeping beneath the dazzling stars — Join a ranger-led nature walk in the Lower Zambezi National Park — Venture out on a night safari drive to spot elusive nocturnal animals — Finish at a riverside camp, complete with a bar, pool and hot showers
Trip Details
Product Code: 5841
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: ear them.
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles:
Budget
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: WZC
Starts:
Finishes:
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
All accommodation: 7 Simple nights (semi-participatory camping, 3 wild camping and 4 campsites) — All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners — Immersive itinerary with all transport and listed activities — Travel by open canoes (no previous experience needed) — Expert tour leader to enhance your adventure — Group arrival and departure transfers availableAccommodation
Camping under the African skyThere’s no better way to immerse yourself in the wilderness of Zambia than wild camping. On this trip, we spend three nights wild camping in two-person dome tents, camping on riverine islands, and four nights in set-up bush camps (on the Zambian side of the river) with showers, toilets and tents. On this trip, camping is semi-participatory, which means you’ll be actively part of the group, assisting with camp chores and dismantling your tents. We’ve found there’s a real camp spirit to this, which only adds to the experience. Evenings are extra special. They often start with a magnificent sunset, before the twinkling night sky comes out and you can clearly see the Milky Way. Upgrade to a chalet with private bathroom on Day 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $3650 ($456 /day)
Itinerary
We meet at Lusaka Airport, where we begin our transfer (four to six hours, traffic dependent) to the shores of the Zambezi. Most of this journey is on tar road with the last section along a bumpy dirt track. En route, we stop at a supermarket, where you can pick up snacks and drinks for the adventure – there are no shops on the wild banks of the river! Your tour leader then prepares a welcome dinner, where we gather as a group to get to know each other and learn more about the adventure ahead. Please note: If you’re booking your own flights, do not book one arriving after 1.30pm.
This morning, we paddle to our fly camp in the Chiawa Game Management Area. After three days of wild camping, the hot showers and chance to relax will be welcome. Our site also overlooks the Mana Pools, where wildlife regularly comes to drink – there’s even a lookout point for an excellent view! Later, after the sun has set, we embark on a 4x4 game drive, on which we hope to spot nocturnal animals, such as genets, civets, hyenas, porcupines, aardvarks and, if we’re really lucky, the elusive leopard.
Either jump in a canoe or hop in a motorboat (depending on wind and river conditions) and cruise along the river to the Lower Zambezi National . Here, we join a local ranger for an insightful nature walk, in which our guides take us on a loop, sharing their expertise on the animals tracks, plant life and wildlife found here. After lunch, we return to our fly camp and enjoy the rest of the day to relax, watching the animals who come to drink at the Mana Pools.
Bid farewell to our fly camp hosts and take the motorboat to Zambezi Breezes. Our new camp has a lovely riverside location, plus a cash bar serving cold drinks, a swimming pool and a toilet and showers block. It’s the ideal spot to spend our final evening, gathering with the group around a table and retelling the adventures we’ve shared together (and perhaps start planning the next!) Upgrade to a chalet with private bathroom today – speak to your sales representative for more details
You’ve canoed a long stretch of the Zambezi, gazed up at the twinkling Zambian night sky and spotted countless animals, but today the journey ends and we transfer (four to five hours) back to Lusaka Airport to catch our onwards flights. Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
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