7 Day Vic Falls & Lower Zambezi Safari

Guests are met at O.R. Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg and assisted with checking in for the regional flight to Livingstone in Zambia. On arrival, a local guide welcomes you and accompanies you to the historic Livingstone Museum. Here you can browse engaging exhibits that trace the life and travels of Dr. David Livingstone, including original letters, maps and personal memorabilia that illuminate his explorations and the history of the region.

Afterward, you continue to your hotel near the Zambezi River. As you approach, you may catch your first glimpse of the mist rising from Victoria Falls – a dramatic preview of the days ahead. Once checked in, the remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure. Stroll the manicured grounds, enjoy refreshments on the terrace, or simply rest after your travels while listening to the distant roar of the “Smoke that Thunders” drifting across the river.

The morning is devoted to exploring the falls section of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, whose name means “the smoke that thunders.” A guided walk takes you along a network of trails and viewpoints that reveal different angles of the cascading curtain of water. When the river is in full flow, plumes of spray rise high above the gorge and rainbows frequently arch through the mist. Your guide shares insight into the geology, local folklore and seasonal character of the falls while you enjoy ample time for photos and quiet appreciation.

After returning to the hotel around midday, you have time at leisure to relax or book additional optional activities. In the late afternoon, you are transferred to the river for a gentle Zambezi sunset cruise. From the comfort of the boat’s deck, watch hippos snort in the shallows, crocodiles bask along the banks and, with luck, elephants drinking at the water’s edge. Sundowners and snacks are served on board as the sky glows with warm colors over one of Africa’s iconic rivers.

This morning you travel to a nearby wildlife reserve for a respectful elephant interaction experience. After a safety briefing and an introduction to the herd, guides explain the animals’ histories, behavior and conservation challenges in the region. From safe viewing distances on foot and from raised platforms, you are able to observe the elephants as they move, feed and interact with one another in a natural bush environment. The focus is on learning and photography rather than riding, in line with more modern animal-welfare practices.

Under the guidance of experienced handlers and wildlife professionals, you have the opportunity to gently touch an elephant, feel its textured skin and appreciate its size and intelligence up close. There is ample time for questions and photos before returning to the lodge for a late breakfast or early lunch. The remainder of the day is yours to enjoy at leisure – relax by the pool, schedule a spa treatment, or simply soak up the riverside atmosphere as the Zambezi flows quietly past your hotel.

After breakfast, you are transferred to Livingstone Airport for a short flight to Lusaka and a connecting charter into the Lower Zambezi region. From the airstrip, a representative from Royal Zambezi Lodge meets you and drives you through the Chiawa Game Management Area to the lodge, set on the northern banks of the Zambezi River. As you arrive, take in views across the water to Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park on the opposite bank – a vast, protected landscape that, together with the Lower Zambezi, forms a remarkable transboundary wildlife sanctuary.

After check-in and orientation, there is time to settle into your tented suite and enjoy lunch or afternoon tea on the deck. Later, you depart on your first safari activity in this wild corner of Zambia. Depending on water levels and conditions, you might head out on an afternoon game drive or a relaxed river cruise, searching for elephants, hippos, crocodiles and an impressive variety of antelope and birdlife as the sun sinks behind the escarpment.

Your first full day in the Lower Zambezi National Park begins with an early morning activity while the bush is at its most active. Board a motorboat for a sunrise cruise along the channels and sandbanks of the Zambezi, or set off by 4x4 in search of elephants, buffalo, lions and other big game that frequent the floodplains. The combination of river and woodland habitats supports an impressive diversity of wildlife, and keen birders will appreciate the chance to spot African fish eagles, kingfishers, bee-eaters and waders along the shoreline.

Following a relaxed brunch back at the lodge, the heat of the day is perfect for a swim in the pool, a visit to the spa or quiet time on your veranda watching animals drift down to drink at the river. In the late afternoon, you venture out again on a game drive or boat cruise, with the option to continue after dark for a short night drive. With the aid of spotlights, guides search for nocturnal species like leopard, genet and civet as the sounds of the African night swell around you.

Another day in this riverine wilderness offers the chance to sample different activities. Guided canoe safaris are a signature Lower Zambezi experience: drifting quietly along side channels in stable canoes, you may encounter elephants crossing the river, pods of hippos, basking crocodiles and an extraordinary variety of birdlife. Alternatively, you can join a guided bush walk to focus on the smaller details of the ecosystem, from tracks and plants to bird calls and the behavior of plains game.

Anglers can also try their hand at catch-and-release tiger fishing, seeking the powerful, toothy game fish for which the Zambezi is famous. Later, return to the lodge for time at leisure or perhaps a cultural visit to a nearby village, where you can learn about local life along the river. Your final evening in the Lower Zambezi is spent around the campfire or at an open-air dining spot, sharing stories from your Zambian safari under a canopy of stars.

After a final breakfast overlooking the Zambezi, you say farewell to the lodge team and transfer back to the local airstrip. A charter flight returns you to Lusaka, where you connect with your onward flight to Johannesburg. As you trace the course of the river from the air, you can reflect on the contrasting experiences of your week in Zambia – the dramatic spray and viewpoints of Victoria Falls and the tranquil, wildlife-rich floodplains of the Lower Zambezi.

On arrival in Johannesburg, your Zambian safari with African Sky comes to an end. Depending on your international arrangements, you may connect directly with your homeward flight or overnight in the city. Either way, you depart with vivid memories of mist-shrouded gorges, glowing sunsets over the river, close wildlife encounters and the warm hospitality of the lodges and guides who hosted you along the way.