21-Day Zambia Safari: Lower Zambezi, Kafue & Liuwa Parks

Two game drives daily across four national parks, camping under African skies

This 21-day guided safari tour through Zambia's Lower Zambezi, Kafue, Liuwa and Sioma Ngwezi national parks combines morning and afternoon game drives with all meals and camping accommodation included. Small groups stay under twelve travelers, and a live English-speaking guide leads the route through remote wildlife reserves where you'll encounter elephants, big cats, giraffes and rare bird species. Children from age 12 are welcome; moderate fitness is needed for the full itinerary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Arrival and transfer to lodge

• Arrive at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport
• Transfer to Wild Dog Lodge
• Rest and settle into accommodation
• Optional explore Lusaka city

Day 2 — Drive to Lower Zambezi National Park

• Breakfast at lodge
• Drive to Lower Zambezi National Park
• Scenic sunset game drive
• Settle at Kasaka Camp

Day 3 — Lower Zambezi game drives and activities

• Morning guided game drive
• Afternoon guided game drive
• Optional boat cruise or canoeing
• Stay at Kasaka Camp

Day 4 — Full-day game drive in Lower Zambezi

• Full-day game drive with picnic
• Optional boat cruise on Zambezi River
• Return to Kasaka Camp

Day 5 — Transfer back to Lusaka

• Breakfast at Kasaka Camp
• Transfer to Lusaka with scenic views
• Check in at Lukasa Guest House
• Rest evening with no activities

Day 6 — Drive to Kafue National Park

• Breakfast at guest house
• Drive to Kafue National Park
• Relaxed sunset game drive
• Settle at New Kalala camp

Day 7 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at camp
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to New Kalala camp

Day 8 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at camp
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to New Kalala camp

Day 9 — Transfer to Royce Campsite

• Breakfast at New Kalala
• Pack camp and transfer to Royce Campsite
• Game drive en route
• Settle at Royce Campsite

Day 10 — Game drives around Royce Campsite

• Morning game drive
• Breakfast and leisure time
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to Royce Campsite

Day 11 — Morning game drive and afternoon options

• Morning game drive
• Lunch and rest at Loyal campsite
• Afternoon game drive or optional boat cruise
• Return to Loyal campsite

Day 12 — Transfer to northern Kafue

• Breakfast at Loyal campsite
• Pack camp and transfer to Mozhi Campsite
• Game drive en route
• Afternoon leisure at Mozhi Campsite

Day 13 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at Mozhi lodge
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to Mozhi lodge

Day 14 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at Mozhi lodge
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to Mozhi lodge

Day 15 — Transfer to Mutoya Campsite

• Breakfast at Mozhi lodge
• Transfer to Mutoya Campsite
• Check in and relax at campsite

Day 16 — Rest day at Mutoya Campsite

• Relax at lodge or campsite
• Enjoy surroundings at own pace

Day 17 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at Katoyana
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to Katoyana

Day 18 — Morning and afternoon game drives

• Early morning game drive
• Breakfast and rest at Katoyana
• Afternoon game drive
• Return to Katoyana

Day 19 — Transfer to Sioma Ngwezi National Park

• Breakfast at Katoyana
• Transfer to Sioma Ngwezi National Park
• Check in and relax at Community Campsite

Day 20 — Transfer to Livingstone

• Early breakfast at campsite
• Depart for Livingstone
• Lunch en route
• Check in at Maramba River Lodge
• Leisure time in afternoon

Day 21 — Departure from Livingstone

• Breakfast at Maramba River Lodge
• Check out and transfer to airport
• End of safari adventure

The Experience

You arrive at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka and transfer to Wild Dog Lodge for a rest day—no safari activities scheduled, just time to settle in after travel. The next morning the real journey begins: you drive to Lower Zambezi National Park and check into Kasaka Camp on the Zambezi River's banks. From here, two game drives each day (early morning and afternoon) put you in the field when wildlife is most active. A sunset drive on arrival introduces the park; full-day drives follow, with picnic-style refreshments served in the bush. Boat cruises on the Zambezi are available at additional cost.

After Lower Zambezi, you transfer back to Lusaka, then drive south to Kafue National Park—Zambia's largest reserve and one of its most biodiverse. You'll base yourself at three campsites (New Kalala, Royce, Mozhi) over several days, each offering morning and afternoon game drives through different habitats. The route includes a full-day game drive combined with your transfer between camps, so wildlife viewing continues even as you move. One afternoon you can choose between a standard game drive or an optional boat cruise. All meals stay included; the camps provide basic but comfortable accommodation in the heart of the park.

The second half of the tour takes you north and west through Liuwa Plain and Sioma Ngwezi national parks. You'll rest one full day at Mutoya Campsite near Mongu, then continue with morning and afternoon drives before transferring to Sioma Ngwezi. The final leg is a scenic drive to Livingstone, where you spend one night at Maramba River Lodge before heading to the airport. Throughout the 21 days, private transportation, all park entrance fees, lodging and meals are arranged—you focus entirely on the safari.

What’s included

• Private transportation throughout the 21 days.
• entrance fees to all four national parks.
• camping or lodge accommodation at each stop.
• all meals from day two through day twenty.
• two daily game drives led by an English-speaking guide.
• scenic transfers that double as wildlife viewing opportunities.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelNot for pregnant travelers

Operated by Livingstone Explore Africa Wildlife & Safaris

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to spend three weeks revisiting the same four parks across multiple days rather than moving daily—the repeated exposure to each ecosystem dramatically increases your chances of rare sightings and deeper understanding than a checklist approach.

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Top questions

What wildlife can I expect to see on the game drives?

Lower Zambezi and Kafue hold elephants, lions, leopards, giraffes, buffalo and a wide variety of birdlife. The early morning and afternoon drives time your viewing to when predators hunt and herbivores graze most actively. Rare species and seasonal migrations vary by the time of year you travel.

How does the camping work on a 21-day safari?

You stay at established campsites with basic but comfortable accommodation—Kasaka Camp sits on the Zambezi River, while Kafue campsites are positioned for wildlife access. All meals are prepared and included, so you eat at the camp and don't need to arrange food yourself. Tents or basic cabins depend on the specific camp.

Is there flexibility if I want to skip a game drive or rest?

One full rest day is built into the itinerary near Mongu with no scheduled activities. On other days, the morning and afternoon drives are the core of the tour. Optional activities like boat cruises and walking safaris are available at additional cost, but the standard game drives are what the itinerary centers on.

What's included in the price and what costs extra?

Transport, park entry, accommodation and all meals are included throughout the 21 days. Drinks, optional boat cruises, canoeing, walking safaris, and personal expenses are not included. Dinner on your arrival night in Lusaka and dinner in Livingstone are at your own cost.

Do I need experience or fitness for this tour?

Moderate physical fitness is recommended because game drives involve early starts, long hours in vehicles and some uneven terrain. Children from age 12 are welcome. Pregnant travelers are not recommended for this itinerary due to the remote locations and extended duration.

How many people travel together on this safari?

Small groups stay under twelve travelers, which keeps the experience personalized and allows the guide to tailor stops and timing to the group's interests. Your live English-speaking guide leads all drives and provides insider knowledge of the parks and wildlife behavior.