15 to 18-day expedition
Zambia and Chobe
From the Chobe riverfront through Livingstone, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi to a lodge above the Batoka Gorge. Big country, few vehicles.
Chobe to the Lower Zambezi
Zambia and Chobe
Fifteen to eighteen days of wilderness-style safari, from the Chobe riverfront through Zambia’s great parks to a lodge above the Batoka Gorge.
This is the trip for travellers who want distance from other vehicles. After a first day and night in the Chobe area we cross into Zambia and work our way through the upper Zambezi, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi. Wild camping in places, fully catered comfort in others, and two nights of proper hospitality overlooking the gorge at the end.
At a glance
| Duration | 15 to 18 days, depending on how much you want to fit in |
|---|---|
| Route | Chobe, Livingstone, upper Zambezi, Kafue, Blue Lagoon, Lower Zambezi, Batoka Gorge |
| Accommodation | Two lodge nights in Livingstone, four nights fully catered camping in the Lower Zambezi, wild camping in between, two lodge nights at the gorge |
| Travel style | Expedition: self-sufficient, with long driving days between wild areas |
| Who travels with you | Toff or Kiddy, a professional guide and our camp crew |
| Best for | Return safari travellers, keen birders, anyone allergic to crowds |
| Rates | Quoted per itinerary and group size |
Every itinerary is tailored, so we quote per trip rather than publishing a headline rate. Ask us and you will have a written, itemised quotation.
The route
How the safari unfolds
- Day one
Chobe, Botswana
One day and night in the Chobe area for a game drive and a boat cruise, before the safari turns into a wilderness adventure.
- Two nights
Livingstone
Two nights in Livingstone, where you visit the world-famous Victoria Falls, followed by camping along the upper Zambezi.
- Onward
Kafue National Park and Blue Lagoon
Wild camping through Kafue National Park and the Blue Lagoon area, before heading for the Lower Zambezi.
- Four nights
Lower Zambezi National Park
Four nights of comfortable, fully catered camping in one of the quieter stretches of river wilderness in the region.
- Two nights
Batoka Gorge
Two nights at a good lodge overlooking the Batoka Gorge on the Zambezi, a fair reward after a fortnight in the bush.
The country you travel through
Chobe National Park, on the northern boundary of the Chobe River, is home to an exciting variety of large mammals and over 450 bird species. It is renowned for the highest concentration of elephants in Africa, with genuinely impressive herds gathering in both the wet and dry seasons. The park has four main areas: the Chobe river frontage, the central pans around Nogatsaa, the Linyanti wetlands, and the famous Savuti region, which includes the Mababe Depression.
Kafue National Park extends west of the Kafue River, and is varied in habitat and wildlife. Miombo woodland and grass plains dominate, sustaining large herds of buffalo and zebra along with wildebeest, sable and hartebeest. The river’s blue-green water is fringed by lush riverine forest, which holds giant kingfisher, African darter and finfoot, purple-crested loerie, stork, crane and fish eagle. The river terraces and marshlands beyond hold herds of elegant red lechwe, an antelope once threatened with extinction that has since made a remarkable recovery.
The Batoka Gorge, downstream from Victoria Falls, is best known for white-water rafting but is also superb Zambezi wilderness, home to a plentiful variety of wildlife and to rare birds such as the Taita falcon.
What is included
- Professional guide, vehicle and camp crew throughout
- All camping equipment on the mobile sections
- Meals as specified in your itinerary
- Game drive and boat cruise in the Chobe area
- Lodge nights in Livingstone and at the Batoka Gorge
- Park entry and camping fees on the routed days
Not included
- Airfares and airport taxes
- Visas and border fees, payable in foreign currency at the border posts
- Optional activities such as rafting, helicopter flights and elephant encounters
- Travel insurance, which is compulsory
- Drinks other than those specified, gratuities and personal purchases
Good to know
Practical notes
- Border formalities between Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe are part of the trip. Bring cash in US dollars for visas and departure taxes where these apply.
- Some sections are genuine wild camping with no facilities. That is the appeal, but tell us if you would rather trade a night of it for a lodge.
- Distances are long, so we build in early starts and the driving happens while the game viewing is good.
Start the conversation
Interested in this safari?
Tell us when you would like to travel, how long you have and what you most want to see. You will hear back from Toff or Kiddy personally, not by a call centre.