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Nyati BIG-5 Classic “Best of Zambia” Safari Experience: Lower Zambezi, Kafue (Busanga Plains) and South Luangwa National Parks – 11 days

11 days
From Lusaka to Mfuwe
2.0
1 traveler review
Nyati BIG-5 Classic “Best of Zambia” Safari Experience: Lower Zambezi, Kafue (Busanga Plains) and South Luangwa National Parks – 11 days - Lochinvar Safaris
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$6,200
-50%
US $3,100
+ $460 local payment costs
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Price based on per person in NYATI PACKAGE for departure 28 March 2025

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Plan your adventure:
Partially Guided
Independent travel, featuring selected guided excursions
Guided in English
Other languages on offer: French, Spanish
Group Size 2 - 10
Age range 5 to 99
Image of a map showing the route of the tour

Highlights

  • Explore Zambezi River basin on game drives and canoe/boat rides.
  • Try your hand at fishing in the Zambezi River.
  • Spoil yourself with a memorable wildlife viewing visit to the South Luangwa National Park ( a world-renowned wildlife haven). 
  • Get up close to some of Africa’s most stealthy predators in the South Luangwa National Park.
  • Experience a life-enriching encounter in the world-renowned Busanga Plains teeming with Lions and Leopards.

Itinerary

Expand All
  1. Introduction
  1. Day 1 You arrive in Lusaka, capital city of Zambia
  2. Day 2 Travel from Lusaka to Chirundu town en route to Lower Zambezi Valley (192km)
  3. Day 3 Full Day Game Drive in Lower Zambezi Game Management Area and Lower Zambezi National Park
  4. Day 4 Return from Lower Zambezi valley and proceed to Lusaka city enroute to Mumbwa
  5. Day 5 Travel to the Busanga Plains of the Kafue National Park (KNP) - northern region
  6. Day 6 Full days activities in Busanga Plains (KNP) - Zambia's best kept secret
  7. Day 7 Leave Busanga Plains – Return to Lusaka
  8. Day 8 Lusaka - fly to Mfuwe Airport en route to South Luangwa National Park
  9. Day 9 South Luangwa National Park
  10. Day 10 More activities in South Luangwa National Park
  11. Day 11 Return to Mfuwe – End of tour
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What's Included

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  • Accommodation
  • Guide
  • Meals
  • Additional Services
  • Transport

What's Not Included

  • Flights
  • Insurance
  • Optional
  • Additional Services
4.1
(31 reviews)

Number of tours

22

Age Range

8 to 99 years old

Response time

8 hours

Response rate

100%

Lochinvar Safaris is proudly Zambian citizen owned medium-sized Tour Operator ecotourism business. It is an owner full hands-on deck run and managed tour operator business. It is complimented by a highly experienced and qualified support team in tourism.

Your Peace of Mind Options

Cancellation Policy

A transparent overview of applicable fees.

Travel Insurance

Be covered for any unforseen circumstances.

Customer Reviews

  • Overall Rating
    Rather poor
    2.0
  • Itinerary
    Average
    3.0
  • Guide
    Excellent
    5.0
  • Transport
    Average
    3.0
  • Accommodation
    Bad
    1.0
  • Food
    Average
    3.0
  • 4.1
  • JY
    · September 26th, 2024
    Overall, I had a very mixed experience travelling with Lochinvar Safaris, which I feel I must share so that other travelers can be forewarned and hopefully avoid some of the negative aspects that I encountered on my tour. To begin with, the guides (Fines, Alick, and Renford) were excellent and a true pleasure to be with. They are great and hardworking guides and will greatly enhance your visit to Zambia. Unfortunately, however, the accommodation choices, as well as the ultimate behavior of the company director/owner, was extremely problematic, bordering on fraudulent/"bait and switch" business tactics, which I will outline below. Despite being in good contact on TourRadar and WhatsApp ahead of my travel, I was surprised when I landed in Zambia to learn that several "changes" had been made to my itinerary, without prior discussion or approval. For example, in Lower Zambezi NP, I was informed that the promised canoe tour would not be possible due to the low water level (Zambia IS currently experiencing a significant drought, which is also playing havoc with their power supply, which depends on hydroelectric generation). While this was certainly understandable, I wish it could have been communicated in advance, and/or replaced with a motorized boat tour (of which I saw many plying the river during my stay). In terms of the accommodation choice in Lower Zambezi, I was very disappointed to learn that the chosen lodge was a solid 3/3.5 hour drive from the park entrance, meaning that we left at 5:30am, only to arrive in the park around 9am, which is already a bit too late in the morning to see animals during their time of peak activity. This was extremely disappointing and reflected poor planning and communication on Lochinvar's part, especially as there was only that one day dedicated to game viewing in the park. This said, the most significant and egregious of these (never discussed in advance) "changes" to my itinerary pertained to the portion of my trip in South Luangwa NP. While my itinerary indicated that I would be staying in a tourist class lodge on the banks of the Luangwa River (and just a 5 minute drive from the park entrance), upon arrival in Lusaka I was told that due to the heat, I had been "upgraded" to an AirCon room (without ever indicating that I would need/desire such a change in the first place). And oh boy, was this a shambolic change. This new "hotel" turned out to be a solid 45 minute drive away from the park entrance, was still in the process of being built (giving off the ambiance of a construction site), and lacked solar power or its own generator to deal with the frequent load shedding caused by the drought referenced above. After 1 night, I could not tolerate the location any more, and I booked myself a room in one of the lodges on Expedia (one that was originally indicted in my itinerary to begin with!) This lodge had its own solar power--a critical factor to look out for if one is concerned about the heat. When I gently suggested that Lochinvar reimburse me for this out-of-pocket cost, Mark, the owner/tour director, flipped out, feeding me some line about "not appreciating the Zambian reality" and then subsequently avoided any and all future attempts to communicate for the remainder of my trip (i.e. ignoring my WhatsApp messages, despite previously utilizing the app as our primary communication tool). This shirking of responsibility and/or any communication at all has continued since my return home, and is perhaps one of the most disappointing aspects of my trip (and frankly, reflects shocking and unprofessional conduct from a tour operator towards an "active client"). In addition, while my itinerary made reference to "nature walking tours" (South Luangwa NP is famous for its "walking safaris"), upon arrival there/in Mfuwe, I learned that no such tour had been booked for me, and that, I would not, in fact, be taking any "nature walking tours." Much like the aborted canoe ride previously, this was very disappointing, and again, something that could have clearly been communicated to me in advance of my tour. While Mark has been able to hide and avoid any responsibility for my own restoration of the original itinerary, I was extremely happy to have been able to change my hotel (despite the additional out of pocket expense) as the original lodge from the itinerary was a significant class above the one Mark stuck me in, and I had good access to the park, delicious food and a steady fan/supply of power (not to mention the breeze coming off of the river, and wild animals walking directly across the river to the Lodge's grounds.) So in the end, by paying out of pocket, I managed to salvage an otherwise untenable situation, but the extent to which Mark is now avoiding me leads me to believe that there is more shadiness/crooked business practice taking place than I had wanted to believe. The tour indeed did not offer good value for money, and the disparity in accommodation quality (and prices! A quick online search can bring up the comparison) led me to feel that I was taken advantage of, and I would urge other travelers to look carefully at all of the Zambia tours and options before choosing to book with Lochinvar. That said, I can't fault the guides on the ground for the decisions/actions taken by the head office/Mark, and do want to emphasize again that they were generally great. So again, I had an overall mixed trip, but on the whole, the lack of communication and seeming dishonesty was a huge turn off, and I can't in good conscious recommend this company based on my experience. Of course every person's trip is subjective, and in reading some of the other reviews on this site, I suspect that if one were to travel on one of their more well-beaten paths (e.g. Lusaka-Livingston) that the experience could have been quite different. Unfortunately, I was just unlucky and encountered enough price differentials between what was promised and ultimately delivered that it felt like a classic "bait and switch." Travel carefully, my friends, but Zambia is ultimately a wonderful place.
    Show more
    Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review
    Dear Jeff, I would like to take this moment to express our sincere appreciation for your kind words and gratitude regarding your recent safari experience with us. It brings us great joy to know that you found our guides—Fines, Alick, and Renford—to be... Show more
    Trip date: September 2024

Dates & Availability

11 days
Nyati BIG-5 Classic “Best of Zambia” Safari Experience: Lower Zambezi, Kafue (Busanga Plains) and South Luangwa National Parks – 11 days
From Lusaka to Mfuwe

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    Friday
    28 Mar, 2025
    Monday
    7 Apr, 2025
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    Monday
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    22 May, 2025
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    Wednesday
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    21 Jun, 2025
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    28 Jun, 2025
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    26 Jun, 2025
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    6 Jul, 2025
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    6 Jul, 2025
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What our customers ask about this tour

    The content in our FAQ section is subject to change.
    • What should I carry in terms of luggage?

      Please try as much as possible to travel light.
      WHAT TO BRING
      One large kit bag
      No hard suitcases (max. weight = 12kg)
      One item of hand luggage (e.g. a small backpack)
      Torch with spare batteries and globes
      Hat/Cap
      Warm Jacket Natural Clothing (i.e. No bright colours, bush friendly colours is recommended)
      A pair of light weight long pants and a lightweight long sleeve shirt (to use against the sun)
      Comfortable walking shoes and strops/sandals
      Camera Equipment, Binoculars, and lots of spare memory cards & batteries
      Personal Toiletries in small bag, not a vanity case
      Malaria (Prophylaxis)
      Mosquito repellent lotion/spray

    • If I still have another question that is not covered here, can I reach out to you and ask?

      Ooh yes you can. You can communicate with us via the TourRadar BCP platform and ask any other questions.

    • If hearing English during the tour is hard for me, what assistance can you offer me?

      Please reach out to us and explain your language barrier situation. We will might be able to assist you in one way or another.

    • Kindly tell me what else I should know in advance.

      (I). Of late, the weather in most National Parks in Zambia is extremely hot. Please come prepared to protect yourself from the direct scorching savannah sunlight unless it is in winter.

    • Is Insurance cover compulsory on this tour?

      It is a standard requirement that you take up travel insurance on this tour.

    • How much tip do I give on this tour?

      Tipping is not compulsory in Zambia. For this reason, you should give with a free will to any deserving person who has gone out of his/her way to give you good service. You may give them anything between USD 15 – 100 or even more!

    • Where can I change dollars into Zambian Kwachas?

      You can change your dollars into Kwacha in most Commercial banks or Bureau DE Charge in Lusaka city centre. Please do not change money on the streets!

    • How much USD and local Zambian currency should l carry on this trip?

      Please remember to carry at least USD 400 into smaller USD 20 notes for your park entry fees and other local requirements. Kindly carry the most recent manufactured USD as the old US Dollars are not accepted to pay for your park entry fees. For convenience, it is advisable for you to carry some local Zambian Kwacha currency with you. This can be anything in the range of between ZMW (K) 800 – K2,500. You can use this money to buy souvenirs along the way, tip some waiters, helpers or security guards in the various National Parks.

    • Are VISA credit or Debit Cards accepted as a mode of payment?

      In most places in Lusaka especially in the major supermarkets and hotels, they accept VISA cards for you to pay for your goods and services. However, in the Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi National Parks, these are remote places where there is no POS swiping machines for you pay using VISA Cards. So, use Kwachas to pay for goods and services.

    • So, what other short activity can I do before or after the tour in Lusaka?

      You may request to do a Lusaka City Tour either before the commencement or after the tour. In order to request for this Lusaka City Tour, kindly go to the Pricing section, then select Lusaka City Tour.

    Can’t find the answer to your question?
    Reach out to the experts at Lochinvar Safaris with your enquiry, they usually respond within 8 hours.

    Good to Know

    Tour ID: 186853

    • Currency
      $
      US Dollar
    • Plugs & Adapters

      As a traveler from USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M, G. As a traveler from England you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, D, M. As a traveler from South Africa you will need an adaptor for types C, E, F, G.

      Type C
      Zambia
      Type E
      Zambia
      Type F
      Zambia
      Type D
      Zambia
      Type M
      Zambia
      Type G
      Zambia
    • Vaccines
      • These are only indications, so please visit your doctor before you travel to be 100% sure.
      • Typhoid - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Hepatitis A - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Cholera - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 2 weeks before travel.
      • Tuberculosis - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 3 months before travel.
      • Hepatitis B - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 2 months before travel.
      • Rabies - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 1 month before travel.
      • Meningococcal meningitis - Recommended for Zambia. Ideally 3 weeks before travel.
    • Visa
      • Unfortunately we cannot offer you a visa application service. Whether you need a visa or not depends on your nationality and where you wish to travel. Assuming your home country does not have a visa agreement with the country you're planning to visit, you will need to apply for a visa in advance of your scheduled departure.
      • Here is an indication for which countries you might need a visa. Please contact the local embassy for help applying for visas to these places.
    • Payment information
      • For any tour departing before January 16th, 2025 a full payment is necessary. For tours departing after January 16th, 2025, a minimum payment of 10% is required to confirm your booking with Lochinvar Safaris. The final payment will be automatically charged to your credit card on the designated due date. The final payment of the remaining balance is required at least 33 days prior to the departure date of your tour. TourRadar never charges you a booking fee and will charge you in the stated currency.
      • Some departure dates and prices may vary and Lochinvar Safaris will contact you with any discrepancies before your booking is confirmed.
      • The following cards are accepted for "Lochinvar Safaris" tours: Visa, Maestro, Mastercard, American Express or PayPal. TourRadar does NOT charge you an extra fee for using any of these payment methods.
    • Cancellation Policy
    • Accessibility
      Some tours are not suitable for mobility-restricted traveler, however, some operators may be able to accommodate special requests. For any enquiries, you can contact our customer support team, who are ready and waiting to help you.

    Video

    Self Introductory video