Day 1-4: Walking Safaris in South Luangwa | 4 Nights

Upon arrival in Lusaka, fly to Mfuwe Airport where you’ll be greeted by a friendly driver for a private road transfer to your chic semi-tented canvas luxury lodgings. Puku Ridge Camp is situated in the vast and remote South Luangwa National Park, offering an exclusive nature retreat. Expansive sliding doors open to a private multi-level dark wood deck for sights of free-to-roam wildlife migrating along the Kakumbi Dambo floodplains.

You will spend four nights here with ample opportunities to explore the diverse landscape, aptly named ‘the Valley of the Leopard’, as it is abound with leopards, as well as the camp’s namesake, the Puku antelope. This modestly-sized park offers a largely unexplored terrain for a remote safari experience. Your days will be filled with informative guided walking safaris and game drives, with an option to spot the rare African wild dogs.

An afternoon is also well spent on the deck of your private plunge pool where you can cool down with delicious cocktails without missing out on exciting wildlife sightings. Enjoy ‘happy hour’ on a safari sundowners’ excursion. A hide under the main observation deck provides close sightings of zebras and elephants congregating at the water.

For those honeymooners, no itinerary is complete without indulging in a romantic moonlit dinner followed by a night out on a private star bed tower under the stars. Evenings can also be spent driving through the endless savannah plains, with award-winning red light protocol optimally designed to enhance nighttime game viewing for photo opportunities.

Puku Ridge Camp information

• Eco-friendly camp
• Romantic nights under the stars in a private star bed tower
• Night drives with the award-winning red light protocol
• Guided walking safaris through the wildlife-rich South Luangwa

Day 5-8: Classic Canoeing on the Zambezi River | 4 Nights

The following day, a road transfer will take you from Puku Ridge back to Mfuwe Airport for a flight to Jeki Airstrip. Upon arrival at Jeki Airstrip, you’ll be greeted by a private driver who will transport you for a final four-night stay at Zambia’s premier luxury lodgings, Chiawa Camp. These luxury thatched semi-tent rooms are nestled among the shaded forest of mahogany and acacia trees, each uniquely oriented towards the Chowe riverbed or directly along the banks of the Zambezi River.

The Lower Zambezi National Park is considered one of Africa’s most scenic wilderness reserves and the world’s first carbon-neutral national park, with its ever-flowing channels and island marshes dotted with diverse wildlife. Your mornings will consist of an open-air 4×4 game drive where you’ll spot an abundance of plains game like the waterbuck as well as riverine predators such as crocodiles. You’ll stop off for a bush-side cup of coffee before returning to the camp for a delicious al fresco lunch. For a unique lunchtime experience, opt to enjoy your meal on a remote island in the middle of the Zambezi River.

On alternative days, early morning walking safaris offer a more active safari excursion. A swimming pool and outdoor gym area will keep your late afternoons busy, while a bar area will have you swapping stories of the morning’s adventures with like-minded travellers. Depending on your preference, it is possible to canoe or boat along the Zambezi River and truly immerse yourself in the ambiance of a riverine wildlife experience. In addition, relaxing catch-and-release tiger fishing will have you kicking back on canvas chairs with a cool beer in hand. Evenings are capped off by a 4-course romantic candlelit fine-dining under the stars to complement your exclusive safari getaway.