13 Days Pristine Zambia and South Africa

On your arrival at Kenneth Kaunda Airport, you will be greeted by our 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.

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.

After a delectable breakfast, you will be taken to Mfuwe Airport for your flight to Jeki Airstrip. Here, our representative 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, you will be met and assisted by our agent to transfer to Phinda Vlei Lodge. 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.

You will be collected after breakfast by our representative 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. 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.

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.

After a delightful breakfast, you will be transferred to King Shaka Airport for your onward travel arrangements.