The South Luangwa is Zambia's finestnational park and is widely consideredto be one of the greatest wildlifesanctuaries in the world. Bounded by theMchinga Escarpment to the west and theLuangwa River to the east, the parksupports over 60 species of mammal andalmost 500 species of bird, plus aconcentration of wildlife unsurpassed insouthern Africa. The sweeping turns of thebeautiful Luangwa River, full of Hippos andNile Crocodiles, and its complex, ever-changing pans and ox-bow lagoons,provide the backdrop for Lion, Elephant,Greater Kudu, Eland, Puku and a multitudeof other animals. The park is most famousfor its large population of Leopards, whichwe will hope to see on night drives, and awealth of waterbirds and other riversidebird species which include colonies of theexquisite Carmine Bee-eater. During the dryseason, when we visit, the concentration ofgame amassed along the Luangwa Riverand its associated lagoons is as great asany in Africa, indeed the world. It is anunspoiled wilderness, the likes of which arehard to find today, and the wealth ofmammals, birds and other natural historywithin this ecosystem is the focus of this'ultimate' safari. In particular, the specialfeature of this holiday is a 7-night staywithin the park. Here, by using four smalland exclusive bush camps that aresituated, in individual isolation, at intervalsalong the Luwi Valley, we are able to offeryou the opportunity to walk from camp tocamp - a fascinating trek through apeaceful region of the park in which youwill be able to track and watch wildlife onfoot, and are most unlikely to encounterany other tourists! Should you prefer not towalk between the camps, you may choose to drive instead, reserving yourenergy for the morning and eveningwalking safaris that we also offer each day,and for the night-time spotlighting drivesthat are such a feature of a South Luangwasafari (as they are not permitted in manyother African countries).Each of our groups will be limited to amaximum of eight participants, since thebush camps are very small. Each will beled throughout by one of our excellent,English-speaking, local naturalist guides,and also accompanied by an armed scoutduring walking safaris, all of whom willpoint out the tracks and signs that theyuse to interpret the bush. These guides are amongst Africa's best, part of atradition of excellence in local guidingestablished by the late Norman Carr, therenowned pioneer of walking safaris inZambia in the 1950s. We begin our tour with a 2-night stay atKapani. This delightful and verycomfortable thatched lodge lies at theedge of the park and overlooks a lagoonteeming with birdlife, Nile Crocodiles,Hippos and much other wildlife. Above all,it provides the ideal level of comfort andfacilities (including a lovely swimmingpool) amongst which to relax and unwind.Being close to the main gates of SouthLuangwa National Park, it is also the ideal place from which to begin an explorationof the park on morning and evening safaridrives. The latter are completed in thedark, when we attempt to spotlight suchnocturnal mammals as Crested Porcupine, Honey Badger, Large-spottedGenet, African Civet and, above all,Leopard, which is seen in South Luangwamore frequently than in any other park inthe world. Next we drive for 30 kilometres, deep intothe bush of the park, to Luwi Bush Camp, awonderfully rustic camp set in the shade oflarge trees close to a permanent lagoon.The rooms at Luwi have grass walls andthatched roofs, with bathrooms that areopen to the trees and stars above. It issimple and idyllic; utterly peaceful .except for the noises of the night, as Lions,Leopards, Honey Badgers and others huntin the vicinity of - or even through - thecamp! Nsolo, the next bush camp on ouragenda, is similarly small and exquisite -its stilted grass and thatched huts offeringbedroom and balcony views straight intothe bush. Further down the Luwi River, ajourney we can again complete on foot, isKakuli Camp. Sited at the confluence of theLuwi and Luangwa Rivers, Kakuli is atented camp that offers stunning views ofthe river - together with Elephants, otheranimals and birds, and literally hundreds ofHippos and Nile Crocodiles. Game-viewinghere again takes place on foot, although,with a few roads in this area, it is possibleto use vehicles to greater effect - nightdrives being particularly rewarding onaccount of the dense population ofLeopards in this area.Finally, a real taste of luxury awaits us atMchenja. This, the last of our camps, is setunder the shade of immense Ebony Trees,the individually designed tents each havinga bath inside, as well as an outside showerand toilet. The main chitenje houses asmall pool alongside the bar and meals areusually taken on the river bank. The gamein this area of the park is abundant, so ifthere is anything you have yet to see, thechances are you may find it here!Zambia on Foot - Ultimate Africa! The ultimate (12-day) safari, enjoying on foot the mammals, birds and other naturalhistory of Zambia's magnificent South Luangwa National Park and staying at some ofthe most exclusive and luxury bush camps in Africa. Sunday 9th September - Thursday 20th September Cost: £4,795Outline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2/3Kapani Lodge, SouthLuangwa National Park.Day 4/5Luwi Bush Camp, SouthLuangwa National Park.Day 6/7Nsolo Bush Camp,South Luangwa NationalPark.Day 8/9Kakuli Bush Camp,South Luangwa NationalPark.Day 10Mchenja Bush Camp,South Luangwa NationalPark.Day 11South Luangwa, thenfly/overnight Lusaka.Day 12Fly London.AccommodationIn the South Luangwa Valley, luxuryand exclusive lodges and bushcamps throughout (all exceptKapani being situated in remotelocations within the national park).A comfortable tourist hotel is usedin Lusaka. All rooms have privatefacilities.FoodAll included in the price, except formeals in Lusaka. Allow £20.GradingGrade B. This holiday will includeregular morning, evening and night-time safari drives, but its focus is onwalking safaris, primarily aroundand between the four different bushcamps that we will be using. FocusBirds, mammals and the eco-system of South Luangwa. LeadersLocal naturalist guides.Single room supplementGenerally unavailable except onrequest (when £1,495 if available).Web quick search: ZMB05182Call now or visit www.naturetrek.co.uk for your free Trip ItineraryBOTSWANA NAMIBIA ANGOLA DEMOCRATICREPUBLIC OF THECONGOTANZANIA MOZAMBIQUE MALAWI ZIMBABWE LUANGWA BANGWEULU RIVER SWAMPS SOUTHLUANGWANATIONAL PARKLUSAKAVICTORIA FALLS LIUWA PLAINS KAFUE RIVER MONGU ZAMBEZI RIVER LAKE KARIBA ZAMBIA LeopardLilian's LovebirdsOn safari

The southern African countries ofZambia and Malawi lie adjacent toone another, yet they could hardly bemore different. Malawi is a country of greatscenic splendour, with its mountains,marshes and lakes - in particular LakeMalawi, the third largest lake in Africa.Zambia, by contrast, is a flat countrywhere extensive floodplains and bushsupport large concentrations of classicAfrican 'big game'. Both, however, are wellknown for their walking opportunities,whether in the hills and mountains ofMalawi or in the bush of Zambia where'walking safaris' were originally pioneeredby the late Norman Carr. Both, too, arehome to some of the friendliest people inAfrica; Malawi, in particular, being knownas 'the warm heart of Africa'. With suchvariety spanning two countries, it makessense to combine the two to offer, what weconsider to be, the very best of Africa.Indeed, all the more so because Malawi'scapital, Lilongwe, is so much closer toZambia's top game reserve (SouthLuangwa National Park) than Zambia'sown capital, Lusaka. We begin this safari in Malawi's beautifulLiwonde National Park that straddles thepalm-lined Shire River. This river, the onlyoutlet of Lake Malawi, was a major routeinto the interior of Africa for the earlyexplorers, missionaries and traders. Entering the park by boat, it is as thoughnothing has changed since these earlydays. Numerous Hippos wallow at everybend in the river, Elephants and Waterbuckgraze the riverine grasslands and hugecolonies of White-breasted Cormorantsnest in the trees along the banks. Ourthree nights in Liwonde will be spent atMvuu Wilderness Camp, a beautiful tentedcamp set on the banks of the river, andduring our time at Mvuu we will explorethe park on foot, by landrover and byboat. Here we hope to find two of Africa'smost beautiful antelopes, the Sable andGreater Kudu, plus a wealth of birdlifeincluding Giant and Malachite Kingfishers,Palmnut Vulture, Pel's Fishing Owl, Brown-breasted Barbet and the rare and localisedBöhm's Bee-eater. It is also possible toventure out on night drives in search ofsome of Africa's nocturnal inhabitants -perhaps a Hyena, Rusty-spotted Genet,African Civet or Lesser Bushbaby.Next we will drive on to Zomba Mountain,stopping first in Zomba's colourful marketplace before winding our way up to theZomba Plateau at 1,800 metres. Here wewill spend two nights based at ZombaForest Lodge, an excellent spot fromwhich to explore both the plateau and itsbirds. Following mountain streams and themany trails in this attractive region, we willenjoy such species as Green Lourie, Long-tailed Wagtail, White-tailed CrestedFlycatcher and Saw-wing Swallow.The white sandy beaches of Lake Malawi,and its idyllic offshore islands where wewill be staying for two nights, provide anopportunity for rest and relaxation. We canalso enjoy the wildlife here, either bykayaking quietly around the islands, or byexploring on their network of trails.Beneath the surface of the lake's warmand clear blue waters exists another world,which you may choose to explore bydonning a mask and snorkel. Indeed thisnational park was first set asidespecifically to protect its brightly colouredfreshwater fish species (many of which areendemic to the lake) of which morespecies occur than in any other lake in the world. From Lake Malawi we will take a flight to South Luangwa National Park, Zambia's finest game park.Bounded by the Mchinga Escarpment tothe west and the Luangwa River to theeast, the park supports over 60 species ofmammal and almost 500 species of bird,plus a concentration of wildlifeunsurpassed in southern Africa. Thesweeping turns of the beautiful LuangwaRiver, full of Hippos and Nile Crocodiles,and its complex, ever-changing pans andox-bow lagoons, provide the backdrop forLion, Elephant, Greater Kudu, Eland, Pukuand a multitude of other animals. The parkis most famous for its large population ofLeopards, which we will hope to see onnight drives, and a wealth of waterbirdsand other riverside bird species whichinclude colonies of the exquisite CarmineBee-eater. During the dry season, when wevisit, the concentration of game amassedalong the Luangwa River and itsassociated lagoons is as great as any inAfrica, indeed the world. To enjoy it, we willfirst be based at a luxury lodge, Kapani,situated beside a lagoon at the edge ofthe park. We will then move to a remoteand exquisite bush camp in the heart ofthe park for our ultimate wildlife experienceof the tour: a most fitting place in which toconclude this lavish safari - ourmanaging director's favourite!Zambia & Malawi - The Best of AfricaAn irresistible 14-day itinerary combining the wetland wildlife of Malawi's beautiful Liwonde NationalPark, the mountain habitats on the Zomba Plateau, the idyllic islands and enticing waters (teemingwith tropical fish) of Lake Malawi, and magnificent game in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park. Sunday 9th October - Saturday 22nd October 2011 Cost: £4,495Sunday 7th October - Saturday 20th October 2012 Cost: £4,495Extensions in Zambia/southern Africa available on request.Book direct on 01962 733051or see page 280 for Booking InformationZAMBIATANZANIAMOZAMBIQUEZIMBABWESOUTH LUANGWANATIONAL PARKMFUWELUSAKALIWONDENATIONALPARKLENGWENATIONAL PARKLILONGWELAKEMALAWIMALAWIZOMBAPLATEAUOutline itineraryDay 1Depart London.Day 2/4Liwonde National Park.Day 5/6Zomba Plateau.Day 7/8Lake Malawi.Day 9/10Fly Mfuwe; transferKapani Lodge, SouthLuangwa National Park.Day 11/12Luxury 'bush camp',South Luangwa NationalPark.Day 13South Luangwa, thenfly/overnight Lusaka.Day 14Fly London.AccommodationA mixture of comfortable hotels andpermanent tented camps in Malawiand luxury bush camps and lodge inSouth Luangwa, Zambia; all withprivate facilities, except at LakeMalawi where they are shared.FoodAll included in the price.GradingA/B. This is a traditional safari-styleholiday that includes wildlife-viewingby vehicle (on regular morning,evening and night-time safari drives)and by boat. It also includes somewalking safaris from our bush campsin South Luangwa and on ZombaPlateau. FocusBirds and mammals. LeadersLocal naturalist guides.Single room supplementAvailable on request (thoughgenerally unavailable on the twonights in South Luangwa's bushcamps).ExtensionsAvailable on request to other areasof Zambia and southern Africa.Web quick search: ZMB04183Luangwa RiverLake MalawiSouthern Giraffes