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Day 1: Flight to Hippo Camp.
We meet at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka.
There are a number of morning flights from Johannesburg to Lusaka.
The flight I prefer is a 11 AM flight that arrives in Lusaka at 1 PM.
We should aim to be through customs and immigration in time to catch a charter flight at about 3:00 PM to fly out to Hippo Camp on the Kafue River, in the north east section of the National Park.
Hippo is a small comfortably rustic camp with lovely views across the broad stretch of the river.
If we get in early enough we can do a boat outing on the river as a ‘sundowner’, and even do some catch and release fishing for those who have brought their rods along. This is recommended, although we can organize rods for anyone who requests one. We can also recommend the type of lures that are effective on the various fish species found in the river.
Day 2: Transfer to Kafue River Lodge.
Coffee will be ready on the deck at Daybreak. Those who want to put in an hour of fishing will be most welcome to head out with one of our guides.
Following a morning breakfast, if the river is high enough, we will embark on a 20 KM boat trip upriver to our Kafue River Lodge.
If the river is too low to get through the rapids, we will transfer by road, Which would include the unique experience of crossing the river on one of the old Colonial era pontoons.
After settling in at Kafue River Lodge we can do a number of activities, game drives, walks, boat rides or fishing outings. The choice is yours.
Day 3 : Spent at Kafue River Lodge.
We will be woken at daybreak by the splash and grunts of hippos returning to the river after their nocturnal grazing. We on the other hand will soon be enjoying a cup of coffee and muffins or such like laid out around the warmth of the fire pit. Those who rouse early enough can watch the splendor of the sun rising out of the bush across the river, heralded by the cries of Hadedas and Fish Eagles, or maybe the braying of a flock of Trumpeter Hornbills passing overhead.
Day 4: Transfer to Kikuji Lodge on the Lunga River.
After a day break cup of coffee, those who are fisherman can again put in a stint of daybreak fishing.
An appetizing breakfast will be waiting their return.
Following breakfast we will load up our goods and begin a sedate game viewing transfer from Kafue River Lodge to our next destination, Kikuji Lodge, approximately 40 kilometres to the north on the Lunga River.
The drive is through heavily wooded Miombo Forest which is interspersed with open grassy patches at the beginning and end of the journey. If we are lucky we will see the large herd of sable antelope that frequents the more open ground close to the Lunga River.
Day : Spent at Kikuji Lodge.
This long section of the Lunga River is one of the most untouched areas in the park.
Downstream from our camp is designated a wilderness area with access only to walking parties.
Until the lodge was set up the area was largely the domain of poachers. However the presence of the lodge and visitors such as yourselves is one of the greatest deterrence to poaching. The animals have quickly figured out that they are now being protected in the vicinity. Their numbers are increasing. However the draw to this area is the unique heavily forested river margin ecosystem, offering a different birding diversity. It is not uncommon to see Ross’s Turaco, Pel’s fishing owls, Peter’s finfoot or even Narina Trogons here.
After an early afternoon arrival we can take a rest and then those that want to go out and experience the great fishing in the area may do so, while others can do birding walks or game drives as per our wishes.
Day 6: Transfer to Kasonso Lodge on the Busanga Plains.
After the morning ritual we will set out for a long overland transfer game drive to our next destination, Kasonso Lodge on the Busanga Plains. Initially we will head west, traveling through a long section of mixed biombo woodland, scrub and open grassy patches until we get close to the Lufupa River which drains the plains at their southern extremity.
Here we will begin a route which generally follows the West Bank of the Lufupa River as we head north towards the plains. We will see how scattered wooded copses mingle with riverine forest to form a very game rich area. Occasional glimpses of the river will reveal snorting pods of hippo, or maybe a crocodile basking on a river bank.
Finally towards the end of our journey we will experience for the first time the hugeness of the land and open sky spread out across the Busanga Plains, heralding one of the greatest game viewing areas in the world.
Day 7: Spent at Kasonso Lodge. Busanga Plains.
As mentioned, the Busanga plains are one of the great game viewing areas of Africa. It is a huge flat floodplain which is inaccessible for half the year during the wet season when it is flooded.
However when it dries up the plains are dotted with countless numbers of unique species such as Lechwe, which are adapted to the waterlogged environment where they spend much of their lives.
We will also see herds of Roan antelope, Buffalo, Elephants, Wildebeest, Zebra, Lions and much more.
We will wake to the bugling of flocks of Crowned Cranes and cries of Wattled Cranes. Also the drummed wingbeats of Flappet Larks rattled from above us at Daybreak as they announced their presence to rivals and mates. We will also see Secretary birds, Pink Throated Longclaws, Ground Hornbills and all sorts of aquatic species in the pans and watercourses out on the plains.
Day 8: Spent at Kasonso Lodge.
The view out across the plains from the deck at dawn is spectacular. The lodge is situated on an island of vegetation in the middle of the huge grassy expanse.
This in itself is an experience, but more exploration awaits as we continue a day of game drives across the plains, until in the evening we will come back to a great dinner.
Day 9: Flight back to Lusaka and dispersal.
Depending on the timing of the charter flight we may be able to get a last short game drive in before we head to the runway to meet the aircraft that will take us back to Lusaka.
David Maritz 