Zambia > Safaris > Kheper’s Return to the Wild
Trip Summary | Kapani Safari Lodge | Luwi Bush Camp | Nsolo Bush Camp | Kakuli Bush Camp | Mchenja Bush Camp | Locations
 This unique and flexible journey with Norman Carr Safaris offers a special opportunity to explore the remote wilderness of the South Luangwa National Park. A combination of remote bush camps with differing characteristics enables guests to select their ideal balance between exploring on foot or by game vehicle.
The legendary Norman Carr lived in the Luangwa Valley for over 50 years and was the founder of photographic walking safaris and the concept of “eco-tourism”. His legacy now lives on through his family and dedicated staff.
Days 1-2: You are met at Lusaka International Airport for a flight to South Luangwa National Park, where you spend two nights at the luxurious Kapani Safari Lodge, situated on the banks of a large lagoon beside the Luangwa River on the border of the Park.
Kapani offers an excellent base for guests to recover from a long flight or to acclimatize to being in Africa. Others might wish to head straight into the remote wilderness and spend more nights at the bush camps.
Gameviewing activities are tailored to the guests in camp but normally involve twice daily game drives in the Park. Night drives with a spotlight are one of the highlights of the Luangwa Valley giving the chance to see nocturnal animals, particularly leopard, for which the area is now famous.
With prior arrangement, it is possible for guests to visit the local school and meet the local community.
Days 3-4: Today a game drive brings you to Luwi Bush Camp, the most remote and rustic of the camps you will stay at. Luwi consists of only four grass and thatch chalets, each with en-suite facilities, nestled beneath huge shady trees. Your two nights at this walking camp provide a truly African bush experience.
There is a hippo hide at Luwi and a resident pride of lions – the thrill of tracking lion on foot is not to be missed. The camp has also provided the setting for some amazing wild dog sightings. These occasionally occur at first light as guests are enjoying a light breakfast before their morning walk, with the open plain in front of camp suddenly bursting into life with puku, impala and waterbuck dashing towards the dry riverbed at top speed with wild dogs in close pursuit.
Days 5-6: Today you walk to your new camp, Nsolo Bush Camp, where you will spend the next two nights. The walk follows a winding route crossing and re-crossing the Luwi dry river bed – there are pools all along the river which attract a great variety of animals and birds. The terrain changes along the route - from thickets to mopane forest to open plain - and there is a good chance of seeing hartebeest, eland and wildebeest en-route as well as the more common species. You might also sight the elusive roan antelope.
Nsolo is a romantic, thatched camp under the shade of a large grove of trees. Four spacious open-sided thatched chalets are built on raised wooden decks with reed walls and en-suite bathrooms. Each chalet has a private veranda overlooking the surrounding bush.
In front of Nsolo is a small waterhole at which buffalo, elephant, antelope, lion and leopard regularly drink – it is also a favourite spot for mud-bathing warthog! You can sit overlooking the waterhole all day and see masses of game or set out on foot, accompanied by your guide and armed scout, to explore the surrounding bush. A hyena den has been sited near to camp for a number of years and the residents have become accustomed to visitors from Nsolo who can often watch the comings and goings of the pack and sometimes even see the first outside steps of the new pups emerging from the den overseen by one of their many “aunties” – a fascinating glimpse into the softer side of this much maligned animal.
Nsolo has also been a favourite haunt of a group of old bachelor buffalos for years and they often come to sleep next to one of the four raised chalets and graze on the fresh grass growing by the en-suite shower overflows!
Days 7-8: A transfer on foot brings you to Kakuli Bush Camp. The walk from Nsolo takes you through more new habitat as the bush turns into the classic riverine landscape so typical of the South Luangwa.
Kakuli is positioned on an elevated stretch of river bank overlooking the confluence of the Luwi and Luangwa Rivers. The river here is wide and meandering and the views are spectacular. You can enjoy watching some of the several hundred hippos living in this stretch of the river.
The camp has five large safari tents each with an en-suite bathroom open to the sky. All of the tents enjoy stunning views of the river.
Activities from the camp include walking explorations and game drives. Kakuli is situated in one of the best areas for leopard spotting.
Days 9-10: A final transfer on foot or by game vehicle brings you to Mchenja Bush Camp. The camp is situated a few kilometers walk or drive upstream of Kakuli in a magnificent grove of ancient ebony or Mchenja trees, after which the camp is named.
Images supplied courtesy of Norman Carr Safaris
This luxurious and elegant tented camp overlooks a huge sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. The safari tents are extremely comfortable and widely spaced apart. Each has private en-suite facilities with a freestanding Victorian style bath and outside shower overlooking the river. Dining here - as in all the camps - is al fresco, often on the river bank and accompanied by the grunts of the resident hippo pod.
Activities from the camp include walking explorations and game drives.
Day 11: Today you transfer by light aircraft to Lusaka International Airport. Depending on your flight time, you may require an additional night in Lusaka prior to your international flight.
Each of the five camps featured in this itinerary offers a different experience and by adjusting the number of nights at each camp it is possible to place greater emphasis on either walking or game drives. All of the transfers between camps can be done by vehicle rather than on foot if preferred.
Additional Fly-Camp Option: Return to the Wild
This is the ultimate wilderness experience with Norman Carr Safaris.
Sleep out under the stars in the spectacular Luwi dry river bed. With just a bed roll and a mossie net, you are taken back to the days of the first safari pioneers. Indeed Norman Carr himself first explored the Luangwa Valley in a similar manner back in the 1930s.
Only for the most adventurous of spirit – this overnight safari is led by top guide Abraham Banda and veteran scout John Saili – between them they have over 60 years experience in the bush.
Guests venture out from the remotest bushcamp on foot, find a spot to camp, make the camp fire for a game ranger’s dinner which they help to cook themselves. Then, having shared adventure stories around the fire – sleep out under the magnificent Africa sky whilst the guide and scout keep a watch till morning.
This opportunity is available for a maximum of 4 guests for one night between two of the existing bushcamps. Please ask us for further details.
Please note that all of our itineraries are tailor-made to suit the particular interests and requirements of our guests. The itinerary shown above is just one recommended combination of camps. Please contact us for a bespoke proposal.
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