Wilderness and Water: Zambia and South Africa Safari to Beach
Seasonal Information
Stray off the beaten path and into the pristine wilderness on this highly personal safari adventure, far from the crowds. Broad, meandering rivers feature strongly in Zambia, with game-viewing by canoe and high concentrations of animals congregating on the banks. Then touch down in South Africa for classic Big Five action, in the home of thrilling cheetah and black rhino encounters, followed by a soul-cleansing stay at a beach paradise at Umhlanga. The theme throughout? Unspoiled, uncrowded beauty across stunning natural environments.
- Sunsets on the Luangwa River
- Stunning photography of the Big Five
- Game frolicking in Zambezi channels
- The South Luangwa on foot
- Phinda’s Seven Worlds of Wonder and exceptional cheetah viewing
- Canoeing in Lower Zambezi National Park
Arrive in Lusaka, ready for your onward travel into Zambia and spend a day in this cosmopolitan, bustling city. High-quality restaurants, lively markets and a cultural village ensure there is something for every kind of traveller. The capital’s proximity to nature can also be taken advantage of by those hungry for wildlife.
Your next stop and first taste of safari will be South Luangwa National Park. This unspoiled part of Zambia is characterised by ancient forests, meandering rivers and sweeping grassy plains. A whole host of wildlife resides in this pristine haven, including wild dogs, lions, leopards, buffalo, and over 400 bird species. There are 14 species of antelope alone, as well as the distinctively striped Crawshay’s Zebra. Walking safaris are particularly popular here and provide the opportunity for intimacy with your surroundings while causing minimal disturbance to wildlife. Relax on the banks of the Luangwa river and be dazzled by the glorious and vibrant sunset while listening to the grunts of the local hippos.
Next, head south to the Lower Zambezi National Park. Bordered to the north by the dramatic Zambezi Escarpment, the valley floor and 120km of Zambezi River is home to a dense population of wildlife living in diverse ecosystems. Elephant, hippo and buffalo are joined by smaller animals like the aardvark and the honey badger, while lions, leopards and hyenas account for just a handful of the park’s predators. During the dry season, animals congregate in vast quantities on the banks and islands of the Zambezi. Take a canoe trip and soak in the entrancing sunset views, as you glide noiselessly past waterbuck and elephants at the water’s edge. This park is made special by its remote location and the exceptional animal life this affords – encounters with other humans are a rarity.
After the majesty of the Zambezi, it’s time for pastures fresh at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa. This exclusive reserve is home to seven distinct habitats, including ancient sand forest, wetland and grassland, each with its own flora and fauna. But perhaps most remarkable about this secluded reserve, are the exceptional opportunities for viewing cheetahs and tracking the endangered black rhino. Expert guides use sensitive off-roading practices to get close to animals and provide guests with lifetime memories. There are fantastic Big Five photography opportunities, while the nearby beaches and coral reefs of the Indian Ocean open the door for guests to explore marine life too.
Your final stop is the gleaming beaches of Umhlanga and their crowning glory, The Oyster Box Hotel. This magnificent location washed in sand and sea promises your choice of an adventurous or peaceful end to your trip. From lying in complete serenity on the beach to surfing the warm Indian Ocean waters, this is the place to reconnect with yourself. Nearby, Durban offers an exciting cultural excursion, with busy markets and delicious Indian fare, while mountains, lagoons and forests in the surrounding area mean that nature lovers are spoilt for choice. Though you may find it hard to venture far from the hotel when you discover The Oyster Box’s lush sub-tropical gardens, shimmering pools and suite of wellness activities.
On your arrival at Kenneth Kaunda Airport, you will be greeted by an andBeyond representative, who will transfer you to Southern Sun Ridgeway in Lusaka to begin your stay in Zambia. Consider visiting Lumumba Market for an authentic flavour of African city life, or head to the nearby Lusaka National Park and look for the resident white rhino. The cultural village offers an insight into life under colonial rule. Your stay at Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka enjoys spacious interiors showcasing Zambian culture and large landscaped gardens. Take advantage of the hotel’s 24-hour fitness centre, lounge by the pool or recharge your batteries in the aromatherapy salon.
Additional Recommended Activities (at extra cost):
- Tour of Lumumba Market
- Lusaka National Park
Following breakfast, you will be driven to Kenneth Kaunda Airport for an air transfer to Mfuwe Airport. You will then be taken to Time + Tide Chinzombo for the first portion of your safari adventure!
Chinzombo sits at a bend of the Luangwa River. Reinvigorate in an airy, award-winning villa styled in natural timber local to the camp. Each of the six villas offers a private plunge pool for whiling away idle hours, as well as shaded verandas looking out onto the river and yoga and spa areas. One larger villa especially suits small groups and families. A shared lounge up a path from the villas has a sun deck, bar and open-air library. The camp even uses its own fresh produce to whip up delicious meals. Enjoy a cool drink from the bar beneath a starry sky, settle around the fire pit and take in the sounds of a Zambian evening.
Hippos frolic in the river and elephants roam the camp here in one of Luangwa National Park’s most densely wildlife-populated areas. In addition to day and night game drives, Time + Tide Chinzombo is renowned for excellent walking safaris, which make for a personal and immersive way to explore the abundant flora and fauna. Cultural visits and seasonal boating are also available, with two activities daily included for the duration of your stay.
Additional Recommended Activities (at extra cost):
- Sleepout under the stars
- In-villa spa treatment
After a delectable breakfast, you will be taken to Mfuwe Airport for your flight to Jeki Airstrip. Here, an andBeyond team member will take you on a short game drive to Sausage Tree Camp.
Sausage Tree Camp is tucked among sausage and mahogany trees on the banks of the Zambezi. Seven newly built suites have open-air bathrooms, dining and lounge areas, personal pools and bars, and a veranda – perfect for watching the river flow lazily by. There is also the sole-use Kigelia House, ideal for small groups or families with its two large bedrooms, en suite bathrooms and a private pool and veranda. A 25-metre pool right at the edge of the Zambezi offers spectacular evening views, while exceptional African fusion meals can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own suite or on the camp’s viewing deck. With open-air showers, a Muchinda (private butler) and stunning views, each tented suite is worthy of Sausage Tree Camp’s reputation as the finest safari location in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Its accolades include “Best Location in Africa” 2016 at the Good Safari Guide Awards as well as number one on the BBC Holiday Programme’s “Ten Best Luxury Destinations” list.
Your private guides at Sausage Tree Camp will make use of both river and land for safari, using boats and canoes to take in the Zambezi from a different perspective. Night drives are an excellent way to view leopards as well as lions and giant eagle owls, who hunt more actively during the darker hours. Bush walks take advantage of the lower morning temperatures and allow for close-up interaction with plant life as well as smaller animal species. But don’t be fooled – it’s not unusual to come across lions while walking! A lazy cruise down the Zambezi is also a good end (or start) to any day – nothing beats a sunset cocktail on the water. Fishing activities are included too – try your hand at catching a mighty tiger fish!
Following breakfast, a short game drive will take you to Jeki Airstrip in time for your flight to Kenneth Kaunda Airport. From there, you will fly to King Shaka Airport to be greeted by an andBeyond team member and transferred to Phinda Vlei Lodge.
andBeyond Phinda Vlei Lodge is set between ancient sand forest and lush grassy meadows, featuring just six thatched suites which have recently been extensively refurbished. Inspired by 19th-century plantation style, this impressively luxurious accommodation features gorgeous interiors, private lap pools and game viewing decks. The open guest area houses a library as well as a fire pit and is the perfect spot to unwind to the sound of nature all around. Dine beneath the stars on delectable pan-African cooking and delight in the local elephants coming to drink from your lap pool.
Set out in search of the elusive cheetah on specialist game drives, where you can find the Big Five as well as hundreds of bird species and rarities like the suni and red duiker. Walking safaris are led by local experts and provide a first-hand understanding of Phinda’s unique habitats and how they interweave to support the abundant resident wildlife. A host of exciting, once-in-a-lifetime activities are on offer at Vlei Lodge. These include conservation activities, where you can learn how the team protects local species through black rhino notching or work with pangolins. Or explore the nearby Maputaland beach, take part in turtle nesting and even go on a scuba safari! Finally, a tour of a local Zulu village offers a fascinating insight into the culture of the KwaZulu-Natal land on which Phinda Reserve lies, and how the lives of the people are interwoven with their environment.
Additional Recommended Activities (at extra cost):
- Black rhino and pangolin conservation activities
- Maputaland beach adventure
- A night under the stars
- Night turtle drives
- Scuba diving
- Fishing
- Zulu village tour
- Luxury bespoke massages
You will be collected after breakfast by an andBeyond team member for a transfer to King Shaka Airport, where you will be taken to The Oyster Box Hotel for your two-night stay by the beach in Umhlanga.
Put your feet up in this five-star hotel with an en suite sea-facing room that has its own private balcony. This luxurious hotel has a dazzling location looking out over the cerulean Indian Ocean and Umhlanga Lighthouse, just a few sandy steps from the waves. The hotel boasts an elegant selection of South African art and prides itself on its fantastic cuisine, of which the freshest oysters and KwaZulu-Natal-inspired curries are highlights. Exceptional wine pairings are naturally present too. The Oyster Box’s award-winning spa offers a retreat from the heat of the day, while for the fitness-inclined, a well-equipped gym is available. Step into the hotel’s verdant sub-tropical gardens and let tranquillity wash over you as you slip into one of the two glimmering pools. There is even a holiday club for children, offering adventurous supervised activities for younger guests.
Umhlanga is a quickly growing town with two stunning sandy beaches. Guests will find it hard to stay away from the temperate waters and everything the area offers – surfing, scuba diving and pure relaxation being just a few of the possibilities. Umhlanga also hosts a plethora of fine dining options as well as the southern hemisphere’s largest shopping centre, and for those in pursuit of more time with nature, the Hawaan Forest and Lagoon Nature Reserve offer just that. Not far from Umhlanga is the cultural centre of Durban, whose large Indian population makes for a melting pot of experiences. Peruse markets, savour delicious Indian street food or dip into the seclusion of Durban’s splendid botanical gardens.
Additional Recommended Activities (at extra cost):
- Guided tour of Durban
- St. Lucia Wetlands
- KwaZulu-Natal Battlefields
- Drakensberg Mountains
After a delightful breakfast, you will be transferred to King Shaka Airport for your onward travel arrangements.
Dates are flexible so please make an enquiry and tell us a range of dates you are considering so we can check availability.
South Luangwa National Park
Having been a protected game reserve before becoming a national park in 1972, South Luangwa is in pristine condition. It was here that the original walking safari was conceived by a ranger named Norman Carr, in order to support Zambia’s tourism and conservation of local species.
Tide + Time’s focus on the natural extends beyond their thoughtfully constructed villas to their delectable cuisine, which incorporates local ingredients and Zambian tradition in innovative, mouth-watering meals.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Nature is the dominant force for life in the Lower Zambezi. Unspoiled and uncrowded, this is a park where you can escape the masses and encounter some of Africa’s most breathtaking animals. Home to several UNESCO world heritage sites, the concentration of game here is fantastic. But big game only makes up part of the thriving ecosystem, to which hundreds of species of birds, fish, insects and smaller animals also belong. Then there’s the Zambezi itself: wide and gentle-flowing, it is both spectacular to look at and ideal for canoeing, adding depth to any safari experience.
Meanwhile, Sausage Tree Camp is invested in sustaining the local wildlife, supporting the Zambian Wildlife Authority. They also run a junior guide development programme, allowing young talent to learn from the experience of their expert staff.
andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
As well as being known for cheetah and black rhino sightings, the Phinda Game Reserve is also home to 436 bird species and the Big Five. Its seven distinct environments comprise woodland, wetland, grassland and forest interspersed with mountain ranges, rivers, marshes and pans. It’s also home to 1,000 hectares of rare dry sand forest and lies close to the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean.
The reserve actively protects cheetah, rhino and pangolin and andBeyond has worked to preserve the critically endangered ancient sand forest. The reserve works alongside Africa Foundation to employ locally and invest in local communities. Sustainability is central to its mission.
Umhlanga
Umhlanga takes its name from the Zulu word for “reedbed”, referring to the reeds at the Ohlanga River just north of Umhlanga Rocks. The seaside town was established in 1895, before becoming a borough in 1972 that incorporated the La Lucia suburb. Besides being loved for its stunning beaches, the town is bordered by nature, with a mangrove nature reserve to the south and Hawaan forest in the north. Mischievous vervet monkeys often venture into Umhlanga from the forest in search of food and entertainment.
The owners of The Oyster Box Hotel, Stanley and Beatrice, have a story dating back more than 60 years. They met then for a date at The Oyster Box and fell in love with the beauty of the hotel and its surroundings. They finally became its proud owners on their 60th wedding anniversary. The history of the hotel reaches back even further! In 1869, it was built as a beach cottage before the town of Umhlanga had even been founded.
- All flights:
– Kenneth Kaunda International Airport/Mfuwe Airport
– Mfuwe Airport/Jeki Airstrip
– Jeki Airstrip/Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
– Kenneth Kaunda International Airport/King Shaka International Airport - All road transfers:
– Kenneth Kaunda International Airport/Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka and return
– Mfuwe Airport/ Time + Tide Chinzombo and return
– Jeki Airstrip/Sausage Tree Camp and return
– King Shaka International Airport/andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve and return
– King Shaka International Airport/The Oyster Box Hotel and return - Accommodation and listed activities per the itinerary
- Breakfast at Southern Sun Ridgeway Lusaka and The Oyster Box Hotel
- Three meals daily and local brands of alcoholic and soft beverages at Time + Tide Chinzombo, Sausage Tree Farm and andBeyond Phinda Vlei Lodge, as well as refreshments on game drives
- Conservation levy, bed levy and park fees
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
- Administration fee
- All flights
- Visa costs
- Vaccinations
- Health insurance
- Travel insurance
- Additional travel requirements outside of included transfers
- Gratuities
- Additional activities
- Carbon Offsetting through Climate Care
Particularly suited to:
- Land and water safari lovers
- Keen photographers
- Walking enthusiasts
- Those looking to venture off the beaten track
Suitable for ages 8 to 80
The minimum age at Time + Tide Chinzombo is 6, and children must be aged 12 or over to participate in canoe and walking safaris (at guide's discretion). The minimum age at Sausage Tree Camp is 8 and children must be aged 12 or over to participate in canoe and walking safaris. Children of any age are welcome at Phinda Vlei Lodge, but must be 12 or over to participate in game drives. 6 - 12 year olds may be permitted on game drives at the ranger's discretion.
Tanzania
