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A male lion resting on the ground, looking to the side
2027 itinerary · Zambia

Zambia's Big Three

Kafue, the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa in one country, with no drive longer than 400 km and a flight to finish. For up to twelve people, in a route shaped around you.

Plan this safariBest time to go
ZAMBIA 280–350 kmabout 216 kmflight, about 1.5 hours Lusaka 100 km123

Map positions and the route lines are approximate. The km figures are road distances from lodge and park sources. The dotted line is the flight. Click a number to open the place in Google Maps.

The route

  1. 1 · Kafue, 3 nightsStart in Lusaka. About 280 to 350 km depending on your lodge, the last part on gravel. A 4x4 and the dry season are essential.
  2. Lusaka, 1 nightThis overnight on the way back keeps every drive under 400 km.
  3. 2 · Lower Zambezi, 3 nightsAbout 216 km from Lusaka, at least 5 hours.
  4. 3 · South Luangwa, 3 nightsFly directly from the park's airstrips to Mfuwe, about 1.5 hours, with 20 kg in soft bags. Fly home via Lusaka.

Nights are a suggestion. Every trip is planned around you.

Three impala standing alert on sandy ground
Stop 1 · 3 nights

Kafue

Kafue is Zambia's oldest and largest national park, proclaimed in 1950 and covering 22,400 km². The Kafue River runs through it, feeding Lake Itezhi-Tezhi in the south. Expect puku, impala, roan, sable, elephant and hippo, with lion and leopard about. The park also holds Zambia's largest cheetah population and is a stronghold for wild dog. Head out on a game drive, a guided walk or a boat on the river. More than 500 bird species have been recorded, including Chaplin's barbet, Zambia's only endemic bird. Few visitors come here, so you often have the wilderness to yourself. Wildlife is richest further north.

Where to stay, cheapest first

Approximate prices only, for accommodation at this stop only.

From about US$25 to about US$975 per person per night

Kafue is huge and lodges are far apart, so choose one area for your 3 nights. We found no self-catering here.

  • Hippo Bay campsite

    Basic lakeside camping beside Konkamoya Lodge in the south. Facilities vary, so bring everything you need.

    CampingBudget
    About US$25 per person
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Mukambi Safari Lodge: full board

    Chalets on the Kafue River, the closest lodge to Lusaka. All meals are included.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$290 per person, full board
    Game drives
    Extra

  • Mukambi Safari Lodge: all inclusive

    Same lodge with drinks and two activities a day included.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$415 per person, plus park fees
    Game drives
    Included

  • Fig Tree Bush Camp

    Four tents at a small bush camp. Open May to November.

    Tented campMid-level
    About US$520 per person, all inclusive
    Game drives
    Included

  • KaingU Safari Lodge

    Riverside lodge reached by boat. Meals, drinks, activities and park fees are included.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$590 per person, all inclusive
    Game drives
    Included

  • Musekese Camp

    Five tents in the north. Meals, drinks and daily guided activities are included.

    Tented campLuxury
    About US$800 per person, all inclusive
    Game drives
    Included

  • Konkamoya Lodge

    Tents on Lake Itezhi-Tezhi in the south. Two activities a day are included. Two-night minimum.

    Tented campLuxury
    About US$975 per person, all inclusive, with park fees
    Game drives
    Included
Three hippos half-submerged in a river
Stop 2 · 3 nights

Lower Zambezi

This park covers about 4,092 km² of valley floor between a steep escarpment and the river, facing Mana Pools on the opposite bank. The river is the highlight. Canoe through quiet side channels past hippo and crocodile, watch elephants wade between islands, and fish for tiger fish. Game drives and guided walks explore winterthorn woodland, home to buffalo, waterbuck, lion, leopard and wild dog. Elephant herds here can reach about 100 animals, while fish eagles and bee-eaters work the banks. You won't see giraffe: the escarpment keeps them out. Expect few people, big trees and long, slow afternoons on the water.

Where to stay, cheapest first

Approximate prices only, for accommodation at this stop only.

From about US$45 per site to about US$1,890 per person per night

  • Mvuu Lodge: campsite

    Riverside pitches with hot showers, flush toilets and braai, about 18 km from the park. Bring your own gear.

    CampingBudget
    About US$45 per site
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Mvuu Lodge: family tent

    Tent with its own kitchen area and braai, sleeping up to six.

    Self-cateringBudget
    About US$440 per tent
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Kiambi Safari Lodge

    Relaxed riverside lodge outside the park, with chalets and tents. Self-catering is also available.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$190
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Mvuu Lodge: safari tents

    Tents on raised decks over the river, opposite Mana Pools. Drives, boats and canoes.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$540 per person, full board
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Chongwe River Camp

    Tented camp at the park boundary. Two activities a day are included.

    Tented campLuxury
    About US$900 per person, plus US$100 park fees
    Game drives
    Included

  • Chiawa Camp

    Top-end tented camp inside the park. Meals, select drinks and activities are included.

    Tented campLuxury
    About US$1,890 per person, all inclusive
    Game drives
    Included
Leopard resting in the fork of a tree, looking at the camera
Stop 3 · 3 nights

South Luangwa

South Luangwa covers 9,050 km² of eastern Zambia and is the country's most celebrated park. It's famous for walking safaris on foot with a guide and for night drives, and the Nsefu Sector has recorded some of the highest leopard densities in southern Africa. Elephant, buffalo, hippo, puku and lion are easy to find along the river's oxbow lagoons. Look for Thornicroft's giraffe, Crawshay's zebra and Cookson's wildebeest, all largely limited to this valley. More than 400 bird species have been recorded, and carmine bee-eaters nest in large colonies from mid-August. It's the perfect, wild finale to this trip.

Where to stay, cheapest first

Approximate prices only, for accommodation at this stop only.

From about US$160 to about US$1,685 per person per night

Budget and package prices here are from older published rates, so we confirm them when you enquire. We found no self-catering here.

  • Croc Valley Camp: campsite

    Grassy pitches with power and water on the river, opposite the park. Package includes meals and activities.

    CampingBudget
    About US$160 per person, package
    Game drives
    Included

  • Wildlife Camp

    Safari tents on the river, just outside the park. Package includes meals and activities.

    Tented campMid-level
    About US$220 per person, package
    Game drives
    Included

  • Flatdogs Camp

    Tents, chalets and a tree house, closest to Mfuwe Gate, on the river.

    LodgeMid-level
    From about US$425 per person
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Mfuwe Lodge

    Well-known lodge inside the park, where elephants walk through the lobby in season.

    LodgeMid-level
    About US$660 per person, full board
    Game drives
    Ask us

  • Mchenja Camp

    Tented camp in the north of the park. Meals, standard drinks and two activities a day are included.

    Tented campLuxury
    About US$1,140 per person, all inclusive, with park fees
    Game drives
    Included

  • Chinzombo

    Top-end villas on the river. Meals, standard drinks and two activities a day are included.

    LodgeLuxury
    About US$1,685 per person, all inclusive, with park fees
    Game drives
    Included

What nine park nights cost

Approximate prices only, for accommodation only, per person sharing at mid-season prices. Excludes your night in Lusaka.

CampingFrom US$620

The cheapest campsite at each stop, sharing. South Luangwa's price includes meals and activities. Add food, a vehicle and guiding elsewhere.

Mid-levelAbout US$3,750

Average of the mid-level stays: about US$1,355 in Kafue, US$1,095 in the Lower Zambezi and US$1,305 in South Luangwa.

LuxuryAbout US$13,700

Konkamoya Lodge, Chiawa Camp and Chinzombo, all inclusive.

A guide only, not a quote. Prices come from published rates for 2017 to 2027, and mid-season means halfway between a lodge's low and high rates where it has both. Vehicle hire, fuel, flights, park fees, visas and some activities can be extra. Budget for the flight separately: the published Lower Zambezi to Mfuwe return fare was about US$824.

Best time to travel: July to September

July and August are the sweet spot. All three parks are dry, wildlife is drawn to the rivers, and the Kafue roads are passable. Carmine bee-eaters arrive in South Luangwa from mid-August.

Our month-by-month view. Closed means most camps are shut for the rains.
WhereJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
KafuePoorPoorPoorFairGoodGoodBestBestBestBestGoodPoor
Lower ZambeziClosedClosedClosedFairFairGoodBestBestBestBestFairClosed
South LuangwaPoorPoorFairFairGoodBestBestBestBestGoodFairPoor

  • Kafue

    July to October is the best time, as the bush dries out and animals gather at the rivers and waterholes. In the wet season, roads turn poor, some routes become impassable, and many lodges close.

  • Lower Zambezi

    From April to June the bush is thick and the grass long. From July it thins out and wildlife concentrates along the river. Most lodges and canoe operators close during the rains.

  • South Luangwa

    June to August is the prime window: dry, cool mornings and thin bush. September and October are peak for wildlife, but hot and hazy. From December many roads flood and most bush camps close.

Make it yours

Change the order, add nights, or swap a lodge for wild camping. Tell us who is coming and when.

Plan this safariAll 2027 itinerariesBack to the home page

Wildlife photos are from our own safaris and do not necessarily show these exact places. Lodge availability, access roads and border rules can change; we confirm everything before you book.