DAY ONE: Arrival at Lusaka
Airport pick-up and welcome to Zambia! Your adventure begins! You will be collected from the airport and transferred to our accommodation. Includes a visit to the Elephant Orphanage at feeding time (11:45 – 12:00) for those who arrive in the morning.
Meals: Dinner, bed and breakfast
Accommodation: Wild Dogs Lodge or similar
Type: Room
https://www.wilddogs-safaris.com
DAY TWO: Lusaka to Serenje
Today we head out early on the Great North Road (T2), which is a major route linking Lusaka to Tanzania. We will stop for coffee and cake at Fig Tree Café in Kabwe. This will be a long day of driving (approximately 400kms).
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Fika Lodge
Type: Chalets/Rooms
DAY THREE: Serenje to Mutinondo Wilderness
Today we are heading to Mutinondo Wilderness, stopping to visit Kundalila Falls en route. The top of Kundalila Falls offers one of the most spectacular views over the vast Luangwa Valley and there is a
delightful natural pool famed for its wildflowers at the foot. The name means ‘cooing or crying dove’ in Bemba (and you’ll hear many bird sounds in this tranquil setting). This waterfall is an official Zambian Natural Monument.
Mutinondo Wilderness is a privately owned, hidden gem on the plateau located 30m west of the Luangwa Valley in northern Zambia. It boasts 10 500ha of magnificent bush and is idyllic for nature lovers and rustic travellers with over 1700 plant species identified (1632 of which are published in a photographic guide based on the flora of Mutinondo). Adding to the rich biodiversity is a 362-species bird list, and 688-species invertebrates list (of which 283 are butterflies).
Meals: Breakfast, late lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mutinondo Wilderness Chalets
Type: Chalets and camping (crew)
Mutinondo Wilderness – West of Luangwa Valley, Zambia (mutinondozambia.com)
DAY FOUR: Mutinondo Wilderness
Today we do a full-day hike to Mutinondo Waterfalls, exploring this magnificent area. At night, we will enjoy sky-watching and stargazing (there is extremely low light pollution, making for incredible views of the night sky).
Meals: Breakfast, packed lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Mutinondo Wilderness Chalets
Type: Chalets and camping (crew)
DAY FIVE AND SIX: Kapishya Hot Springs on Shiwa Ngandu Estate
Departing our wilderness area, we will embark on a 254km drive and arrive at Kapishya in time for lunch. The rest of the day will be spent relaxing in the hot springs and exploring the area. Kapishya Hot Springs is run by Shiwa Safaris – a family business started in 1980 by John and Lorna Harvey and continued by their son Mark and his wife Mell. Mark is the grandson of legendary Stewart Gore-Browne who, after serving in the First World War, moved to the then Northern Rhodesia and built an enormous English manor house, known as the Shiwa House (also known as The Africa House after the historical novel of the same title). Our second day will be spent exploring the estate and a tour of the manor house.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Kapishya Lodge or similar
Type: Rooms (sharing)
DAY SEVEN & EIGHT: Mpulungu
Today we head further North to Mpulungu. We will leave our vehicles here and the lodge will collect us and transfer us via boat. Situated close to the border, with Tanzania on the Eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika, Kalambo Falls Lodge is a timeless sanctuary.
With intriguing décor that combines African artefacts and European antiques, Kalambo Falls Lodge is a celebration of diversity, capturing the wealth of Zambia’s history. You would be hard-pressed to find a more exclusive and secluded location on the shores of Lake Tanganyika. Built as a stone fortress, the lodge is comprised of various materials from the land, blending seamlessly with the surrounding forest and natural environment.
On our second day, we will have a guided hike to the falls (two hours each way) and enjoy a sunset boat cruise on Lake Tanganyika. Kalambo Falls is Africa’s second-highest single-drop waterfall and the twelfth highest in the world. With a 221m single drop into the gorge below, Kalambo Falls is twice the height of Victoria Falls. The climb from the lake is steep, but rewarding, with spectacular views from the escarpment. From viewpoints near the top of the falls you can see the Kalambo River plummeting over the cliffs and into the deep gorge below, before winding its way to Lake Tanganyika.
The area around Kalambo Falls is considered an important archaeological site, with continuous human occupation spanning over 250 000 years. Kalambo Falls is on the list to be recognised as a protected World Heritage site. We should be back for lunch and a relaxing afternoon.
The less energetic can spend the day relaxing on the shores -with its exceptional scenery and unique setting, Kalambo Falls Lodge is a truly enchanting haven where nature captures your soul.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Kalambo Falls Lodge
Type: Rooms or chalets
DAY NINE: Kasama
After departing from Mpulungu we will fetch our vehicles and drive to Mbala (where, incidentally, the Germans surrendered to the British at the end of WWI). Here we will have the opportunity to visit Moto Moto Museum and other historical sites. We will stop for lunch at Lake Chita Lodge before heading to Kasama for our overnight stay in a local guest house.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Kalambo Falls Lodge
Type: Rooms or chalets
DAY TEN, ELEVEN AND TWELVE: South Luangwa
Today will be a long day of travel. We will fly to Lusaka, where we will connect with another scheduled flight to Mfuwe. Our lodge will collect us at Mfuwe airport, and we will head to our accommodation for the next three nights. Zikomo Safari is in Zambia, across the river from South Luangwa National Park and is set amidst an ancient valley filled with diverse African wildlife. This peaceful eco-lodge in the African bush offers spacious accommodations with comfortable hand-crafted chalets and an exclusive private house. Zikomo Safari Camp is situated under an enormous canopy of trees on the banks of the Luangwa River, and its placement in the isolated Nsefu sector allows us access to one of the least crowded, wildlife-rich areas in the world.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Accommodation: Zikomo Safari Camp
Type: Safari tents
https://www.zikomosafari.com
DAY THIRTEEN & FOURTEEN: Victoria Falls
Another long day of travel today, to get to our final destination. The lodge will drop us at Mfuwe airport to connect us with our scheduled flight to Lusaka, and then another flight to Livingstone. We will be collected and transferred to Victoria Falls where we will spend our final two nights exploring Victoria Falls town.
We will be staying at Pioneers – a new gem in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe – which is a short 2.5km from the magical Victoria Falls, in a peaceful residential suburb. The nostalgic era of the pioneer explorers has been perfectly blended with modern amenities to meet all the requirements of today’s travellers, and the property is exclusively reserved for residents, ensuring privacy. Set in lush gardens with beautifully manicured lawns the lodge’s elegant rooms are spacious and tastefully decorated, each with a garden view. Guests will have the opportunity to visit Victoria Falls and explore the town.
Meals: 2 x Bed & Breakfast, lunch, dinner, *Day 14 – lunch for own account
Accommodation: Pioneers Lodge
Type: Chalets/camping
Activities: Day 14 – Victoria Falls tour and Zambezi Dinner cruise. (There is a wide range of extra activities in Victoria Falls that can be added to your itinerary, for your account).
https://www.pioneersvicfalls.com/
OPTION: For those guests not wanting to continue to Zimbabwe, there is an option to depart via Lusaka International Airport on Day 13
DAY FIFTEEN: Home
Early breakfast and then a transfer to Victoria Falls International Airport for final farewells. You are certain to depart with a lifetime of memories, having made meaningful connections with like-minded women from around the world.
Meal: Breakfast
OPTION: You are welcome to extend your stay in Victoria Falls. Please chat to Carla: carla@blueskysociety.co.za
When you are with us, you are among friends. Together we are in a safe space, allowing you the freedom to be yourself and explore. Whether you have never left your home country, or are a seasoned solo traveller, this trip is guaranteed to offer you adventure, friends, and breathless beauty!
These adventures are organised and led by Carla Geyser, the founder of the Blue Sky Society Trust (BSST) and Blue Sky Expeditions who has led many successful trips into Africa. If you are an enthusiastic adventurer who is passionate about conservation and takes life as it comes, then this is for you! #JWP brings together like-minded people from around the world on trips that focus on visiting and raising funds for wildlife initiatives along the way