A wildlife safari is a trip to observe and photograph wild animals in their natural habitats. Zambia offers an incredibly pristine wilderness with a great variety of wildlife and environments – and less people – making it a top destination for a safari.

Of course we do! Apart from our safari ideas on our website, we do have a pricing list that will give you some ideas of budget and itineraries. These can be customised to suit our needs. 

South Luangwa is probably the national park with the biggest concentration of animals out of the many destinations in Zambia. It’s perfect for a week-long (or more) safari. It has the largest population of leopards and wild dogs in the country.  saying that, we also encourage to combine South Luangwa with another park such as Lower Zambezi to also experience water-based safaris. 

Zambia has a pleasant climate which is roughly divided in three season: cool and dry from May to August, hot (very hot) and dry from September to November, and then warm and wet from December to April. These seasons will determine the type of game viewing one can expect. During the rains, unless for birding, there is less reasons to come as roads can be very difficult to navigate. That is the reason why we close completely from January through March. 

April and May are great months, with green scenery and cool temperatures. The bush is still thick so observing animals such as leopards and lions is more challenging, but extremely rewarding. June to October is the peak of the safari season (and when our bush camps are also open) with the bush slowly drying and thining. The waterholes attract wildlife and make it easier to observe the great variety of animals. It will get hotter however with October reaching temperature of 40c or 100f regularly.  November will see the first rains, often picking up in December. The bush is blooming again, water is available everywhere and animals start spreading. But the game viewing is still extraordinary. 

Of course if you have specific animals you want to see (ex wild dogs, or carmine bee-eaters) the ideal time to come may slightly differ. 

Read our blog “When is the best time to visit Zambia for safari” for more details. 

The South Luangwa has over 60 species of mammals and 500 species of birds, so it’s safe to say you will probably see a lot! South Luangwa is renowned for its large population of leopards, and in recent years wild dogs have significantly increased too. You will also see lions, hyenas, elephants, giraffe, zebras, hippos, many types of antelopes…  so most of the iconic African animals. However we don’t have cheetahs or rhinoceros. 

Birding is extraordinary with a special mention of the Pel’s Fishing Owl and the Carmine Bee-Eater. 

Have a look at our Guest Gallery, to see photos shared by our guests. That will give you a good idea of what sightings are like! 

Absolutely! Zambia has incredibly kind and hospitable people, and so does South Luangwa. 

You will be amazed at how friendly our staff is!

You don’t need any specific vaccination although just like any exotic travel, we recommend to have the typical vaccinations against tetanus, diphteria, hepatitis A & B and possibly typhoid.

The yellow fever vaccination is not required unless you are coming from a country affected by Yellow Fever (read the WHO latest info).

We strongly recommend an anti-malaria preventive course. 

In terms of visa, this depends on your nationality and it is best to always check before travelling. A large number of nationalities are dispensed of a visa, but not everyone. Always travel with a passport that has more than 3 full blank pages and a validity of at least 6 months. This is important! 

Visit the website of the Zambian Department of Immigration for full information. 

First you will have to find your way to Lusaka, which is Zambia’s capital. Several international airlines have scheduled flights to Lusaka. 

Once in Lusaka, we recommend flying to Mfuwe with Proflight who have regular flights, even multiple flights a day in peak season. The flight is just about one hour. 

We will then collect you from Mfuwe airport and take you to Kafunta River Lodge, which about a 45 minute drive. Should you go to our remote camps, you will switch vehicle from here. 

If you are coming from another national park, there may be options for a direct flight or a chartered private flight.

If you are coming from Malawi, there is a direct flight Lilongwe-Mfuwe.

Some visitors prefer driving, which is also possible but will take a lot longer (count on 8 to 10 hours between Lusaka and Mfuwe, and 5-6 hours between Lilongwe and Mfuwe). 

All in all there are several options, and we’re always happy to help you plan the best itinerary, and book transfers for you. 

This varies of course, from a week to several weeks depending on your budget. For Zambia, we recommend a minimum of 7 nights and ideally 10 to 14 nights for an extensive experience, especially if you want to combine several parks and see the Victoria Falls. 

This is based on a fly-in safari. If you are keen on self-driving, allow for a much longer period as roads will slow you down and parks are very far apart. 

Generally speaking, accommodation options include classic safari lodges (permanent structures, usually with solid walls and gauzed windows, with extra facilities such as a pool and a spa), tented camps (canvas tents but styles will go from basic to very luxurious, with all amenities included), or authentic bush camps (usually made of reed with possibly open showers). Star beds options are also very popular. 

At Kafunta Safaris each of our property is very different. Kafunta River Lodge is a classic safari lodge, The Sunset House is a private safari accommodation combining canvas and solid walls, Three rivers Camp is a sophisticated canvas camp with individual star beds, and finally Island Bush Camp is a rustic grass camp with elevated open-fronted chalets. 

Download our detailed brochure to understand each of our accommodation option. 

A safari typically involves early morning and late afternoon game drives in open 4X4 vehicles. This is the best way to see wildlife. Night drives offer a chance to see nocturnal animals. 

South Luangwa is also renowned for its walking safaris, where we set out on foot through the bush. We spend more time on the little things such as tracks, pooh, vegetation and observe bigger animals from a safe distance. 

Boat safaris and water-based activitities are available in parks with high-level rivers such as in Lower Zambezi, Kafue or on the Zambezi River near Livingstone (Victoria Falls).

Outside of game viewing activities, there are also cultural experiences through which you can understand how the local communities live and deal with the challenges of living in rural Africa. You can visit local craft shops too. 

Responsible tourism is our top priority, and dictates many of our operational choices. 

And by staying with us, you will have a positive impact on the local community as well as the protection of wildlife. Indeed, a portion of the rate goes back to three local organisations that we support: Project Luangwa, Conservation South Luangwa, and Chipembele Wildlife Educational Trust. 

But we do a lot more! Read our Responsible Tourism page of our website for full details of the many ways we give back and how you can contribute to this too. 

Yes of course! But there might be minimum ages depending on the properties. 

At Kafunta River Lodge and The Sunset House we welcome children from the age of 6, while we consider younger children on a case by case basis.  

At our bush camps, the minimum age is 12 years old, unless you privatise the camp. This is due to the minimum age for the walking safaris. 

Yes we can assist with that too. We can design an safari itinerary that is very specific to what you want in terms of duration, accommodation, parks and so on. The dates are of your own choice, as long as there is availability in terms of accommodation and transports. Once at the lodge or camps, you will be paired with other guests for activities. 

If you want a completely private safari, that is also possible by booking this in advance. You will have your private guide and vehicle for activities (additional cost). At The Sunset House, this is already included and it is perfect for families or small groups, it will guarantee complete flexibility. 

Safaris are often considered premium, once-in-a-lifetime experience, and they are relatively costly compared to standard vacations. 

A safari holiday will vary in cost depending on the duration of your stay, the type of camp you choose, the time of year, etc. 

At Kafunta Safaris, we do our best to keep our rates affordable and offer a great value safari experience. And our rates are typically all inclusive, so when you compare with other quotes make sure to understand what is and isn’t included. Keep in mind that we have short seasons, and that challenges of operating in remote areas usually bring the cost up. 

You can book directly with us or through a travel agent. The most important is to communicate clearly about what your expectations are and only deal with African specialists agents who know what they are talking about! 

You can see our international rates here, and we would be happy to give you a specific quote. Simply email us with your inquiry. 

This will depend if you booked directly with us or through a travel agent. 

But if you book with us, we accept cancellations without penatlies up to 91 days prior to arrival. If you cancel between 90 and 46 days, you will forfeit your deposit (20%). Our terms and conditions are listed here. 

If you book through a travel agent, inquire with them for specific conditions as they may vary. 

Our cuisine is inspired by Africa’s rich cultural heritage, it is sophisticated, tasty and healthy! 

And yes we can accommodate most diets and allergies. 

We invite you to read more about all this on our Dining page. 

We work with a daily set menu which varies every day, and our restaurant is catering to our resident guests at specific hours. We don’t offer an à la carte service, but we certainly adjust to any dietary request. 

Your packing will vary depending on the time of year, but typically it includes comfortable outdoor clothing and footwear, a hat and sunglasses. Some periods may be colder, while other months may be very very hot. Same goes for rain, proper gear may be needed for specific periods. 

Then there are all the little things you should consider. But we’ve covered this in this handy packing list. 

Or you can read our blog too. 

Yes we do! In our properties we provide shampoo, hair conditioner and shower gel. 

We provide an insect repellent lotion (lemon-grass based), but you might want to come with your own spray. 

The rooms at Kafunta River Lodge and Sunset House have hairdryers. But they are not permitted at Three Rivers Camp or Island Bush Camp due to insufficient power. 

No we don’t, so it is best that you bring your own equipment and lots of memory cards for your camera. 

We’ve written a great blog with our 21 Best Photography Tips. Don’t miss it!