Flying into the Victoria Falls, Livingstone or Kasane, tours can either move northwards into Zambia or westwards along the Caprive into Botswana. Wonderful birding may be found in both directions -- with the bonus of big game in many areas. We usually plan tours to cover a variety of habitats in the Caprivi & thence south into the Okavango Basin. Alternatively one can plan to start in the Caprivi and then into southern Zambia to greate birding places like Locinvar and the Kafue Flood Plains. Venturing futher afield into Northern Zambia one can visit the Mutinondo Wilderness with its Miombo woodlands, or Kasanka National Park with woodlands and floodplain habitats, or even further north to the Bangwelu Swamps in search of the elusive Shoebill. However, road access to the Bangwelu basin is difficult and groups would be advised to fly into Shoebill camp from Kasanka NP. Even in winter there is the potential to see over 350 species of birds. The summer count is well over 500 species! There are also over 25 big game species including some unusual species like Liechtenstein's Hartebeest. For the keen birders it should be possible to extend these tours to include the northern & southern Luangwa. We will visit the Victoria Falls first if members wish to do so and then transfer by road to Ichingo Lodge .

You can fly by SAA into Victoria Falls, Livingstone or Lusaka, or Air Botswana into Kasane. We normally spend 4 nights at Ichingo &/or at Imbabala. From Ichingo we shall proceed by road. This lodge is situated near the only place in the world where 4 countries "join" at a single point -- Botswana, Namiia, Zambia, Zimbabwe. This will be the "focus point" of the FOUR CORNERS TRANS-FRONTIER PEACE PARK which is gradually being developed.

After Ichingo there are various options available to groups:-

Traveling by road to Livingstone, we could take a scheduled flight to Lusaka, and then a charter flight to Kayila or Royal airstrip in the Lower Zambezi National Park area. We spend 3 nights at Lower Zambezi River Camp and 2 nights at Chifumbe Camp on the escarpment - part of the Great African Rift System which stretches from the Red Sea to the mouth of the Zambezi. We take an air charter to Mfuwe and by road to Flatdogs Camp in the South Luangwa National Park. We spend 3 nights here before taking a charter flight back to Lusaka where you can catch the SAA flight back to Johannesburg. It may also be practical to fly BA from London to Lusaka, scheduled flight from Lusaka to Livingstone and then by road to Ichingo. N.B. as we shall be flying charter flights, each person is allowed a maximum of 10 kg of luggage in soft bags. We plan to arrange for hard cases to be left in the Safari offices while we are on tour.

We could go by road north to Lochinvar and the Kafue area in search of the great variety of water birds to be found here when these areas are flooded.

Alternatively we can travel westwards through the Caprivi strip and down to places like the Selinda Spillway, Savuti and into the Okavango Basin with its wonderful waterways and incedible birdlife.

Some Notes on the Camps

ICHINGO RIVER LODGE:  Situated on an island in the Caprivi overlooking the Kasai Channel, this lodge offers superb game and bird viewing from the comfort & safety of a boat. My most memorable moments here include the elephant herds, Cape Buffalo feeding on the rank grass in the shallows attended by Great White Egrets & African Spoonbill and in summer the African Skimmer fishing at dusk.Accommodation is in Safari Tents with en suite facilities. The food at this lodge was really special on my last visit. 220 volt power from a generator in the evenings only.

CHIFUMBE & LOWER ZAMBEZI RIVER CAMPS:  These are both situated near the Lower Zambezi National Park. The former is on the massive fault escarpment, inland away from the river and offers some interesting Combretum & Acacia woodlands to explore. They are directly opposite Mana Pools in Zimbabwe and the game viewing is comparable. All species of big game occur in the park. Interesting bird species include Lillian's Lovebird, Crowned Eagle, Augur Buzzard etc.Both camps have "Meru" type tents on wooden platforms with en suite facilities. Lighting is by solar power.

FLATDOGS CAMP:  This camp is situated just outside the Lower Luangwa National Park where the game viewing is usually outstanding. It is considered to be amongst the best in Africa. Along the river there are oxbow lakes providing shallows for wading birds. Open grassland attracts the grazers which in turn attracts the predators - both Lion and Leopard are regularly sighted. The park has a large population of Puku which is an unusual species not recorded south of Zambia. The woodlands are mainly Mopane and Acacia but others species also occur.NB: Because we shall be flying charter to Lower Zambezi & Luangwa, passengers will only be allowed to carry 10 kg of luggage each from Lusaka onwards and this must be in soft bags. Please bear this in mind when packing. We should be able to leave cases with Senanga Safaris Lusaka offices while on tour. All lodges offer laundry on a daily basis so 3 changes of clothes should be adequate.

WEATHER:   This is the southern hemisphere winter so days should be cool to warm. Nights can be cool to cold as heat loss by radiation because of clear skies results in nights cooling down rapidly. A pullover is necessary. However, a cold SE wind can blow at any time of the year so it is essential that you have a light weight windproof jacket which can slip over whatever else you are wearing. It is unlikely that we shall experience any rain in June through September. Early mornings are cool to cold, especially when out on an open safari vehicle, so one needs layers which can be taken off as the day warms up.Light shirts and trousers (shorts or longs) are normally adequate for daytime wear. Please bring walking shoes or boots (we will not be hiking any long distances). It is essential that you wear long trousers and long-sleeved shirts in the evening to protect against mosquitoes. A mosquito repellant is also advised. However, winter being dry, mosquitoes & hence malaria are not normally a major problem. Even in winter sunburn is a possibility - wear a sun barrier during the day. Use a hat with a wide brim to protect the face. Carry one which can be folded up and packed for travelling.

MALARIA:  You are strongly advised to take malaria prophylactics.