7 Day Royal Zambian Safari

Guests arrive at Johannesburg International (O.R. Tambo) and, once formalities are completed, make their way in the airport complex to the bus depot just behind the Southern Sun O.R. Tambo Hotel. From here you’ll take the complimentary shuttle – departing every 20 minutes or so – to your nearby accommodations at D’Oreale Grande in the Emperors Palace complex. The remainder of your day is spent at leisure recovering after a long flight to South Africa. Aside from your hotel restaurant, there are a number of dinner options open to you while staying at Emperors Palace. A popular local restaurant you might consider is Tribes, a grill and steakhouse offering typical South African specialty meals.

On request, African Sky will be happy to provide a map detailing how to proceed from the arrivals hall in the airport building to the bus station. Kindly note that a representative from African Sky will not meet you on your day of arrival. Rather, our representative will meet you the following morning before you travel to your onward location, at which time you’ll be handed a complete tour folder containing all the information you require for your holiday, including e-tickets where required. Our representative will also be more than happy to answer any questions you might have.

After an early start, you’ll be met in the hotel lobby and welcomed by a representative from African Sky. First, we’ll take care of a few formalities. You’ll be handed a complete tour folder containing all necessary documentation for your upcoming holiday, including e-tickets, accommodation and transfer vouchers, a detailed itinerary and our emergency contact details. Once formalities are completed, you’ll be escorted to the nearby airport where you’ll be assisted in boarding a regional flight to Lusaka in Zambia. There, you’ll transfer to a local flight into the Lower Zambezi National Park. After disembarking, you’ll be warmly welcomed by the Royal Zambezi representative, who will transfer you the last stretch to the lodge. On arrival, you’ll be assisted with check-in.

The Royal Zambezi Lodge is located on the northern banks of the Zambezi River, set between Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park and Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, with only the broad river separating these renowned wilderness areas. The lodge hosts an intimate collection of tented suites that blend canvas, timber and thatch with modern comforts like en-suite bathrooms and, in higher room categories, private plunge pools. As the sun begins to sink, you can relax on the main deck, watching elephants, hippos and other animals drawn to the river while you enjoy a drink and settle into the rhythm of safari life.

Because it was the Zambian president’s private reserve until 1983, the Lower Zambezi National Park is almost entirely untouched by mass tourism, in contrast with many of Africa’s other large wildlife areas, notably the much better-known Kruger and Serengeti national parks. Lower Zambezi’s unique history has allowed the region to remain almost entirely pristine. Renowned for its wildlife-rich floodplains and magnificent views – and with the dramatic backdrop of the Zambezi Escarpment across the river in Zimbabwe – the Lower Zambezi is a wilderness enthusiast’s dream and the ultimate African safari destination.

Spectacular scenery aside, the Lower Zambezi and its Zimbabwean counterpart on the opposite bank, Mana Pools, conjure up the Africa of times past. Here you’ll find the surrounding woodland teeming with just about every species of animal on the continent outside the central African rainforests. Elephant, buffalo, wild dog, hyena, lion, hippo, leopard, giraffe, zebra, crocodile, impala, kudu, waterbuck and wildebeest – these are just a handful of the plentiful animals you might encounter while on safari in this little-known African Eden. Your stay in the Lower Zambezi National Park is fully inclusive. Activities conducted from your luxury lodge include game drives, canoe safaris, tiger fishing on the Zambezi, and guided walks, led by qualified and passionate safari guides. You might also avail yourself of a treatment at the Royal Bush Spa, where qualified therapists provide a wide variety of massages and other spa services and skin care treatments, many using indigenous ingredients.

After breakfast, you’ll say goodbye to your hosts as you’re returned to the local airfield. From there you’ll return to Lusaka and then board an onward flight to Livingstone in southern Zambia. On arrival, you’ll be met and transferred to the luxury Royal Livingstone, located on the banks of the Zambezi River just above the impressive Victoria Falls. The hotel’s manicured lawns roll down toward the river, creating a serene vantage point from which to watch the water flow toward the brink of the falls.

The remainder of your evening is spent at leisure. You might take a gentle stroll along the riverside paths, enjoy a drink on the terrace while you look for the spray from the falls, or simply relax and enjoy the refined service for which the Royal Livingstone is known. Note: If possible, a direct Lower Zambezi–Livingstone flight will be booked. That flight, however, is seasonal and not available on a permanent basis.

This morning is devoted to an uplifting elephant encounter in a wilderness area not far from Livingstone. On arrival at the venue, you’ll enjoy a short presentation about the project and the elephants’ stories, as well as a briefing on how to interact with them in a respectful and responsible way. Under the guidance of experienced handlers, you will have the opportunity to observe the elephants up close, walk alongside them and learn more about their behavior, conservation challenges and the role they play in the ecosystem. The focus is on meaningful, low-impact interaction rather than riding, allowing guests to connect with these remarkable animals in an ethical way.

Once back at your accommodation, you’ll have the opportunity to freshen up, enjoy your lodge’s amenities or otherwise catch an afternoon nap. Those who prefer to be on the go all day can arrange additional activities at reception, such as a visit to a local museum or cultural experience in town. During the late afternoon, you’ll be met and transferred to a local jetty where the remainder of your day will be spent enjoying a tranquil sunset cruise aboard the African Queen on Africa’s fourth-largest river, the mighty Zambezi. Drinks and snacks are served on the riverboat and, on a good day, you might see a pod of hippos or an elephant or two along the banks. After a spectacular African sunset, you’ll be returned to your overnight accommodations, where the remainder of your evening may be spent at leisure.

Your last morning in Zambia is devoted to a guided tour of the mighty Victoria Falls, previously counted among the seven natural wonders of the world. The falls lie within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, a name meaning “the smoke that thunders”, which local communities have used for generations to describe the towering spray and roar of the water. Well-maintained pathways and viewpoints in the park offer spectacular perspectives on the Zambezi River as it plunges into the gorge below, and your guide will share insights into the geology, history and legends associated with this iconic World Heritage Site.

There is also a curio market at the entrance to the falls, and guests may take some time to view the different arts and crafts on display and perhaps pick up a final souvenir. Later you’ll be transferred to the airport in Livingstone, where you’ll board a return flight to Johannesburg in South Africa, bringing to an end a memorable Zambian safari holiday that has combined rivers, wildlife and one of the most famous waterfalls on Earth.