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SD 01 – Barbarian Barotseland
home > self drive safaris > sd 01 – barbarian barotseland
Introduction
Larger than France, Austria, Switzerland and Hungary combined Zambia sprawls over 750 000km in Central Africa. Completely landlocked by Zimbabwe, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania, The Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola, the country consists mainly of a kidney shaped plateau about 1300m above sea level that descends gently in the south towards the Zambezi River. Dotted with vast open grassy plains, Zambia is also an extremely well watered country. The Zambezi and Kafue rivers and tributaries, Lake Kariba and Lake Tanganyika and the hundreds of other smaller rivers comprise about 45% of all the water in Southern Africa.
 Described by the Kololo tribe living in the area in the 1800’s as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ – ‘the Smoke that Thunders’ and in more modern terms as ‘the greatest known curtain of falling water’, Victoria Falls are a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, bordering Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Columns of spray can be seen from miles away as 546 million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge (at the height of the flood season) over a width of nearly two kilometers into a deep gorge over 100 meters below. The wide basalt cliff, over which the falls thunder, transforms the Zambezi from a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges.
Facing the Falls is another sheer wall of basalt, rising to the same height and capped by mist-soaked rain forest. A path along the edge of the forest provides the visitor who is prepared to brave the tremendous spray with an unparalleled series of views of the Falls.
One special vantage point is across the Knife edge bridge, where visitors can have the finest view of the Eastern Cataract and the Main Falls as well as the Boiling Pot where the river turns and heads down the Batoka Gorge. Other vantage points include the Falls bridge and the Lookout Tree which commands a panoramic view across the Main Falls.
Kafue is Zambia’s oldest park and by far the largest. It was proclaimed in 1950 and is spread over 22 400 square kilometers – the second largest national park in the world and about the size of Wales. Despite the Park’s proximity to both Lusaka and the Copperbelt, it has remained underdeveloped until the most recent years. Despite the depravations of poaching and lack of management, the Park is still a raw and diverse slice of African wilderness with excellent game viewing, birdwatching and fishing opportunities.
 Liuwa Plains are known for one of the great migrations of antelope in Africa. Is the route of their incredible journey hard-wired into their genes. Does it drift to them on the wind or is it the fruit of bitter, generational experience. As the horizon dissolves into dust at the approach of thousands of Blue Wildebeest and Zebra across the Liuwa Plains, these are questions that clamor for clarity. They may never be answered. Sometimes the creatures travel in bunches, at other times in long lines, which seem to stretch endlessly across the plains. The trek is not always coordinated. There's coming and going and some creatures seem to mill about in dusty confusion.
Safari Venues
- Kwanokeng
- Nata Lodge(Botswana)
- Livingstone (Victoria Falls)
- Kafue National Park(Zambia)
- Liuwa Plains(Zambia)
- Barotse Flood Plains (Zambia)
- Kabula Tiger Lodge (Western Zambia)
- Chobe River (Botswana)
Time of Year
- 29 Oct 2009 – 11 November 2009
Itinerary
Day 0
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We suggest that you spend the evening at Kwanokeng. You can do your reservation with Clinton at Clinton@botsnet.bw. Kwanokeng is situated on the on the Botswana side of the Limpopo River. |
Day 1
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Meet and Greet
André Van Vuuren, Managing Director of Explore Africa and fully qualified safari guide, will meet you at Maartinsdrift border post in Botswana from where we will depart for the campsite at Nata Lodge where we will spend the first night. It is quite a long drive from Gauteng (800 Kilos) but the roads are good and it is worthwhile since "the real Botswana starts here". |
Day 2
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Cross into Zambia, visit Vic Falls, camp at Zambezi Waterfront in Livingstone
Break down camp and leave for Livingstone for a visit to the Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls is approximately 1690m wide and varies in height from 62m (Devil's Cataract) to 109m (Eastern Cataract). In comparison the Niagra falls are 968m wide and 45m high. Various activities e.g. bungi jumping, white river rafting, jet boating, Flight of the Angels etc. are available at the Falls. |
Day 3
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Itechi Techi Dam in southern section of Kafue
Time to move north and we head for New Kalala which is situated on Lake Itezhi-Tezhi where we will spend the night. |
Day 4
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Lufupa Camp in Northern Kafue
Leave early morning for Kafue National Park where we will stay at Lufupa Camp for the next three nights. Africa's largest game reserve, the Kafue, diverse and richly endowed, remains as it has been for centuries. Bordered by the blue-green Kafue River, the park stretches from the vast Busanga Plains in the north to the Miombo woodlands of Nanzhila in the south. The vast Basunga Plains – flooded in the wet season – and a dry season spectacle: red lechwe congregate in thousands, zebra and wildebeest frolic, buffalo swarm in reedbeds, sable race and hippos squable in mudholes, black maned lions lead huge prides, cheetahs stalk and dash, vultures circle and there is nobody there!
Prolific indigenous as well as migrant bird life is encouraged by the Kafue and Luangwa rivers as well as Lake Itezhi-Tezhu in the South. |
Day 7
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Stay over in Mongo or Kalabo
After breakfast we take down camp, do a final game drive in the park and return via the ferry to Kalabo where we will have a rest day – doing washing and small repairs if necessary. There is a reasonable campsite at Nalusheko lodge with flushing toilets, hot water showers and (maybe!) cold beers in the pub overlooking the river. |
Day 8
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Liuwa Plains
We drive from Kalabo or Mongo and head into Liuwa Plains, one of Africa's last hidden secrets where we will spend the next two nights in our own exclusive tented bush camp pitched in one of the beautiful tree islands. This is serious, un-commercialized Africa and a once in a lifetime experience for most of us. Explore Liuwa Plains and be a part of the migration. |
Day 10
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Bushcamp in the Forest of the Barotse Flood Plains
We have a long hard day of driving, thick sand, lots of bush and mud. This is real 4x4 stuff. We will enter the Barotse Flood Plains just before dark and pitch a bush camp next to the road where we will spend the night. |
Day 11
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Kabula Tiger Lodge
From Zambia we enter into Namibia at the Wenela border post and we will refuel and stock up in Katima Mulilo. From here we travel via Ngoma border post to Kabula Tiger Lodge. (Total distance 208 km). The last 30km could be tough going depending on the condition of the road.
Kabula Tiger Lodge was developed by Explore Africa and we will stay for the next two nights in the exclusive campsite on the banks of the Zambezi. Tiger fishing is the main activity at Kabula. The days other adventures could include a ride in an authentic mokorro (dug out canoe) in search of a Pel's Fishing Owl's nesting site and later perhaps an exotic island walk or a visit to a nearby cultural village. A sunset cruise on the Zambezi is a magnificent experience along with the sounds of the wild, which only Africa can provide. (Chalet accommodation will also be available at additional cost. Visit www.kabulalodge.com for more details). |
Day 13
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Chobe National Park in Botswana
Leave early morning for Kasane (300 Kilos) and stay over at Chobe Safari Lodge, which is located on the lush banks of the Chobe River. (Beautiful campsite and ablutions, hot water showers, swimming pool and a characterful thatched pub overlooking the Chobe River.)
The Chobe is proud of, and very famous for its abundance of elephants, the highest concentration to be found anywhere in Africa. Chobe is also famous for its huge herds of buffalo, for its rich bird life and, not least, for its exquisite sunset boat cruises (included in the package), a wildlife experience not to be missed. We spend the night in the Explore Africa private campsite at Chobe Safari Lodge. |
Day 15
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End of Safari
This is the end of our Safari and we are heading for South Africa. |
Costs
The costs listed below are based on a minimum of 7 vehicles/14 adults.
( All prices are subject to
changes )
| Adults |
R 6 000 per person |
| Children 8-17 yrs |
R 3 000 per person |
| Children < 8 yrs |
R 500 per person |
Included
- FGASA & DEAT registered guide
- Level 2 First Aid Personnel
- Fully equipped recovery vehicle
- All park entry fees
- All camping fees
- All vehicle entries
Excluded
- 3rd Party insurance
- Road tax
- Ferry fees
- Personal purchases
- All Activities
- Camping Equipment
- Fuel, Food and Beverages
- Activities at Kabula Tiger Lodge
- Acitvities In Livingstone
Deposit
A non-refundable deposit of 50% per person is required in order
to confirm a booking. The balance is due a minimum of 14 days prior to departure.
Enquiries & Bookings
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