Adventurous Zambia 4x4 Road trip
2023 Zambia
4x4 road trip in 3 national parks in Zambia
May 7-28, 2023
3-week road trip in Zambia, a country in southern Africa, in a rental 4x4 (camping and off-road equipped). My trip began in Lower Zambezi National Park, located on the Zambian side of the Zambezi River. South Luangwa is located in the southern part of Zambia. Kafue is the largest national park in southern Africa and is known for its diversity of landscapes, which include savannahs, forests and mountains. Observation of many animals, including elephants, lions, leopards, buffaloes, zebras, giraffes and hippos, crocodiles.
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Monday, May 8 - Arrival at the international airport in the capital, Lusaka
Flight via Nairobi, withdrawal of local currency (kwacha), then purchase of a prepaid data SIM card. Transfer to Pioneer Lodge Camp, rest before the big day ahead.
Camping with my Hilleberg tent and dinner at the Pioneer Lodge Camp
Tuesday, May 9 - Transfer and vehicle pickup at 'FairCar Rent a Car' then departure south
Picked up by FairCar at the lodge around 8:25 am and arrived at their office around 9 am. Vehicle not ready... Various mishaps (credit card authorization, fuel... a very long 3 hours) then stocked up on groceries at the nearby ShopRite and left Lusaka at 1 pm. Fire and dishes made by a lodge staff member. Bedtime around 9 pm.
Arrived at Mvuu Lodge at 5:50 pm as night was falling, the closest campsite to the Lower Zambezi NP entrance without a lunch break. Lots of trucks and slow vehicles. Bedtime around 9 pm after this very long route.
Tuesday, May 9 to Thursday, May 11 - Lower Zambezi National Park
Departed around 7:00 AM from the campsite and arrived 40 minutes later at the Chongwe Gate entrance. Visitor fee: USD 25 + 25.5 Kwacha for the vehicle (registered in Zambia, otherwise USD 25). Saw a few elephants, impalas, kudus, crocodiles, zebras, and 3 buffalo. Returned to the campsite around 1:40 PM with hippos in the background. Saw a kingfisher catching its fish in a dive. Lion roared twice near the campsite in the evening. One or more elephants visited the campsite during the night.
Gate Chongwe - one of the entrances to Lower Zambezi NP. You have to ford a river to get there.
Beautiful pack of about fifteen wild dogs or African wild dogs.
Mother elephant with her calf
Beautiful buffalo (quite timid)
The campsite is laid out in two tiers on the banks of the Zambezi River and features hippos
Cooking over a wood fire 'braai' (lit here by the lodge)
Another view of the banks of the Zambezi
Lower Zambezi Park track (not very busy)
Nice herd of warthogs, rarely seen in such large numbers
Beautiful sunset on the Zambezi River
Thursday, May 11th to Friday, May 12th - Transit and logistics: Lower Zambezi National Park, capital Lusaka, and overnight stay at Bridge Camp
Transfer/logistics day via Lusaka.
Departure 6:40 AM, entered Lusaka at 11:10 AM. Heavy traffic in the capital. Departure after some errands at 2:00 PM from eastern Lusaka. Arrival at 5:45 PM, halfway to Bridge Camp
Long transit leg from Lower Zambezi NP via the capital Lusaka to an intermediate campsite, Bridge Camp
Saturday, May 13th to Wednesday, May 17th - South Luangwa National Park
Departure at 7:00 AM and arrival in Chipata at 11:45 AM. The road is really well resurfaced between Bridge Camp and Chipata (compared to the rest, and that's an understatement). Full tank of fuel and departure at 2:00 PM to arrive at Wildlife Camp at 4:15 PM
First giraffe right at the entrance to the Wildlife Camp.
Campsite on the banks of the Luangwa River at the Wildlife Camp (average reception and service)
Beautiful sunset on the Luangwa River
The gateway to South Luangwa National Park: Mfuwe Bridge Gate. The facilities are still very basic. The rangers don''t have a vehicle for patrolling.
View of the Luangwa River from the bridge crossed immediately after the Mfuwe Bridge Gate
Quite a few zebras in the park.
A map of the trails in the antediluvian park and the trails that lead nowhere because the vegetation has reclaimed the land.
A remarkable baobab tree in the park (landmark)
Mushilashi Bridge, the riverbed with lions in the distance (the photographer isn't always quick to react: spotter, grab the SLR camera and aim)
The same river on the other side of the Mushilashi Bridge
Another very beautiful sunset on the Luangwa River
Herd of gazelles (waterbuck?)
Heading towards Chichele, plains in the southwestern part of South Park Luangwa
Herd of springbok
Hippopotamuses near their flower pool
Beautiful Masai giraffe
Dawn at 5:40 AM from the campsite by the river at Croc Valley Lodge
Sunrise at 6:15 AM from the campsite by the Luangwa River at Croc Valley Lodge
Lion and 2 lionesses during the morning game drive
Mother elephant and her calf a few meters from the safari vehicle
Thursday, May 18th to Friday, May 19th - 2-stage transit and logistics to Lusaka via Bridge Camp
Departure at 7:00 AM. Fuel fill-up in Chipata. Arrival at Bridge Camp at 3:00 PM, approximately 7 hours of driving (+ 1-hour break)
Departure from Bridge Camp around 7:00 AM. Some shopping at a mall in Lusaka, then arrival at Harry & Geke's property (lucasa.info guesthouse)
Transit day on a long ribbon of tarmac
or ribbon of dirt.
Arrival at the north entrance 'Chunga Gate' (of the southern section) of Kafue National Park. Largest park in the country.
Saturday, May 20 to Tuesday, May 23 - Kafue National Park - Southern section
Departure around 7:40 am and arrival at 2:15 pm (6.5 hours) with a break, full tank of fuel, and payment of park entrance fees for 6 days (6 nights). Three nights at Kasabushi bush camp (run by Tessa and Quentin) in a bend of the Kafue River
Campsite on the shaded banks of the Kafue River at Kasabushi bush camp
View of the campsite on the Kafue River
Nightfall on the Kafue River
Morning sunrise. We left camp around 4:30 am to be on the hill before 6:00 am, after an hour on a dirt track and a bit of walking
Morning sunrise. Sunrise over the plains and the Kafue River
Morning sunrise. Sunrise over the plain and the Kafue River
Morning sunrise. Sunrise over the plain and the Kafue River
Morning sunrise. Sunrise over the plain and the river Kafue
Morning sunrise. Sunrise over the Kafue Plain and River
Long track to explore southern Kafue National Park
Sunset over the Kafue River (6:15 PM)
Monday, May 22 - Kafue National Park - Southern section
Departed at 6:20 am, arrived at the Shishemba loop at 7:00 am. Saw a hyena, a jackal, a puku, and two lions
Tall savanna grass at the beginning of the hot season
Tall savanna at the beginning of the hot season, making it difficult to spot animals
Contemplation of 2 lions on the Spinal Road near the Shishemba Loop
Sunrise on the Kafue River (6:10 AM)
Tent packed and ready to leave for northern Kafue Park
The Spinal Road in the south of Kafue Park (a good dirt road, unlike the north)
Tuesday 23 to Thursday 25 May - Kafue National Park - Northern section
Arrival at the southern entrance 'Lufupa Gate' of the northern section of Kafue National Park. The largest park in the country. The northern track is quite rough.
Afternoon reading. Night lulled by hippos and the roars of a nearby lion (on the other side of the Kafue River).
Morning game drive at 6:30 am on May 24. Hippopotamus in the bush camp and a leopard 1 km away
Sunset on another section of the Kafue River
Last day in Kafue National Park on May 25 before returning to Lusaka on Friday. Last morning game drive at 6:30 am. Saw the Yesterday's leopard, then a second one much further along the road back (the guide reportedly only saw three last season). Quite lucky, then
My spot by the water at Mapunga Bush Camp
A hippopotamus keeping me company a few meters from my campsite (its head is above the water's surface)
Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27 - Return to Lusaka and end of the trip
Last few turns on the track before leaving Kafue National Park and returning to the capital, Lusaka
Last 24 hours before the airport at the highly recommended 'Lukasa BnB & Campsite' with Harry and Geke (www.lukasa.info or the clickable link at the bottom of the page)