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Tour Overview

Encounter the spectacular wildlife and incredible scenery of Zambia in as intimate and active way as possible. The mighty Zambezi is an excellent location for a canoe safari. Camping on secluded beaches, the days are spent relishing magnificent scenery and abundant game, while passing the ever-present basking crocodiles and hippos. Away from the water, we have plenty of time for game walks and drives to experience the diverse wildlife and remarkable scenery this region offers. ...more ...less

Highlights

  • Experience the peace and tranquillity of canoeing on the Zambezi

  • Camp under the stars on secluded islands

  • Game drives in Chiawa Game Management Area, renowned for elephant sightings

  • Game walks and canoeing in the Lower Zambezi National Park

Itinerary

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Day 1 : Start Lusaka; transfer to the Zambezi River

Location: Zambezi River

Accommodation Name: Wild camping (semi-participatory)

Meals Included: Lunch, Dinner

We gather at Lusaka Airport for our transfer to the Zambezi River. Most of this journey to the start of the safari is on tar road with the last section along a bush dirt track, meaning a change to a 4x4 vehicle is necessary. Depending on the time we arrive at the Zambezi River, we cross over to our evening campsite on Nyamumba island by canoe or motorboat. Dinner is prepared by the guide.Please note: If you’re booking your own flights, do not book one arriving after 1.30pm.Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory) ...more ...less

Day 2 - 4 : Three days of canoeing and wildlife watching on the Zambezi River, camping on remote islands

Location: Zambezi River

Accommodation Name: Wild camping (semi-participatory)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We have three days canoeing with early starts, as it is often better to canoe in the early hours when it is not so hot and, more importantly, when the easterly head wind is weakest. The pace is moderate, which allows us to make the most of our wildlife-viewing opportunities. We look for elephants feeding on the banks, basking crocodiles and numerous colourful bird species including the magnificent African fish eagle. The list of species we spot may include buffalos, baboons, vervet monkeys, pied kingfishers, goliath herons, carmine bee eaters and maybe even lions. We frequently pass hippo pods basking in the deeper water, who will no doubt keep an eye on us! There are few signs of human habitation throughout our time on the river. Lunches and breakfasts are either taken on islands or on the riverbanks.



Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)



Distance covered: 12mi (20km) per day on average

Day 5 : Morning canoeing; afternoon game walk and drive in Chiawa Game Management Area

Location: Chiawa Game Management Area

Accommodation Name: Fly camp in Game Management Area (comfortable)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We canoe to the Chiawa Game Management Area, which is 11mi (18km) from the Lower Zambezi National Park, just opposite the Mana Pools, where we spend the night in our fly camp on the mainland. This is a wildlife-rich area and renowned for numerous elephant sightings. It is also home to warthogs, waterbucks, impalas, kudus and rare samango monkeys, with many riverine bird species including the lilac-breasted roller. We have an afternoon game walk or game drive through the reserve, where we hope to spot other nocturnal species such as genets, civets, hyenas, porcupines, aardvarks and, if we’re really lucky, the elusive leopard.



Accommodation: Fly camp in Game Management Area

Day 6 : Canoe to Lower Zambezi National Park; morning game walk; afternoon game drive back to camp

Location: Lower Zambezi National Park

Accommodation Name: Fly camp in Game Management Area (comfortable)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we canoe from the Chiawa Game Management Area into the Lower Zambezi National Park (approximately 5mi/8km downstream). We have a morning game walk with a guide, and then lunch in the park under the shade of the trees or on the banks of the Zambezi River. After lunch, we are taken on a game drive through the park back to our fly camp on the riverbanks of the Game Management Area. If river water levels are too high in winter (May-July) – which can happen when excess water is released from Lake Kariba – we may use a boat transfer as certain road crossings may be flooded.



Accommodation: Fly camp in Game Management Area

Day 7 : Transfer to our riverside camp

Location: Zambezi River

Accommodation Name: Zambezi Breezes or similar (semi-participatory)

Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

We are transferred by road from our bush camp in the Game Management Area to Zambezi Breezes. Should river conditions necessitate, we may use a boat transfer where required.



Accommodation: Zambezi Breezes or similar (semi-participatory)

Day 8 : Transfer to Lusaka; end

Location: Lusaka

Meals Included: Breakfast

We have an early start today. After breakfast, we transfer approximately four to five hours to Lusaka where our tour ends in the late morning. If you’d like the adventure to continue, speak to your sales representative about extending your stay.

What's Included

  • All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners

  • All accommodation

  • All transport and listed activities

  • Tour leader throughout

What's Not Included

  • Travel insurance

  • Single accommodation

  • Visas or vaccinations

Food

All breakfasts, seven lunches and seven dinners are included.



Meals are prepared for you but group members are asked to assist in preparation and washing up.



Typical meals



Breakfast: Cereals or coffee and toast plus a fried breakfast on most days

Lunch: Fresh salads, cold meats, cheese, bread, condiments, fruit

Evening meal (biggest meal of the day): Stews, pasta, curry, local cuisine



Vegetarians can be catered for but, given the difficulties of preparing different meals while wild camping, the variety of food may be limited.



Please indicate special dietary requirements (eg vegetarian or allergies) when booking. We supply the following drinks: fruit squash served throughout, and tea or coffee served with breakfast and dinner.



There is always a plentiful supply of chlorinated water available (sometimes even chilled!) and we encourage you to drink water throughout the day to avoid dehydration.



All other beverages are at your own expense and can be purchased at the supermarket in Lusaka prior to travelling to the river.
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Accommodation

We spend four nights camping in two-person dome tents and three nights in set-up bush camps with showers, toilets and large tents.



The camping is semi-participatory. You are asked to assist with camp chores and have to put up and dismantle your own tents on the canoeing safari. Most nights are spent wild camping with no facilities provided. All camping equipment is provided.
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Check out our Q&As

  • What type of accommodation is provided during the Zambezi Canoe Safari?

    The accommodation includes four nights of camping in two-person dome tents and three nights in set-up bush camps with showers, toilets, and large tents. The camping is semi-participatory, meaning you will assist with camp chores and set up and dismantle your own tents during the canoeing safari. All camping equipment is provided. ...more ...less

  • What wildlife can I expect to see during the canoeing safari on the Zambezi River?

    During the canoeing safari, you can expect to see a variety of wildlife including elephants feeding on the banks, basking crocodiles, and numerous bird species such as the African fish eagle, pied kingfishers, and goliath herons. You may also spot buffalos, baboons, vervet monkeys, carmine bee eaters, and possibly lions. Hippo pods are frequently seen in the deeper waters. ...more ...less

  • What meals are included in the Zambezi Canoe Safari?

    All breakfasts, seven lunches, and seven dinners are included in the safari. Meals are prepared for you, but group members are asked to assist in preparation and washing up. Breakfast typically includes cereals or coffee and toast, with a fried breakfast on most days. Lunch consists of fresh salads, cold meats, cheese, bread, condiments, and fruit. The evening meal, which is the biggest meal of the day, includes stews, pasta, curry, and local cuisine. ...more ...less

  • Are there any special dietary accommodations available on the tour?

    Vegetarians can be catered for, although the variety of food may be limited due to the challenges of preparing different meals while wild camping. It is important to indicate any special dietary requirements, such as vegetarian preferences or allergies, when booking.

  • What activities are included in the Zambezi Canoe Safari?

    The safari includes canoeing on the Zambezi River, game drives in the Chiawa Game Management Area, and game walks in the Lower Zambezi National Park. You will also have the opportunity to camp on remote islands and enjoy wildlife watching throughout the journey.

  • What should I know about the water and beverages provided during the safari?

    There is always a plentiful supply of chlorinated water available, sometimes even chilled, and you are encouraged to drink water throughout the day to avoid dehydration. Fruit squash is served throughout, and tea or coffee is served with breakfast and dinner. All other beverages are at your own expense and can be purchased at the supermarket in Lusaka before traveling to the river.

  • What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?

    If you wish to make any changes to your booking, particularly if you need to alter any flights booked through us, please let us know as soon as possible. There is a booking or flight amendment fee of £40 per change and flight amendments often incur extra airline costs depending on the changes to be made and if the ticket has been issued or not.

  • How long has the tour company been trading?

    Exodus has been trading since 1974

  • What documents will I receive before I travel?

    Your final joining instructions and flight details, if booked with us, will then be sent out 2 to 3 weeks before departure. If you would like a hard copy posted, or if you require these any earlier, please contact the customer operations team. We advise that if you are booking connecting travel before receiving these, please ensure you leave plenty of time.

  • Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?

    Travellers are welcome to opt to share a room with a tour member of the same gender for no additional charge. If you'd like your own room, we can request a single supplement so that you will have your own room throughout.

  • Can I join the tour once it has departed?

    You are welcome to meet the group after the tour has departed however there is no reduction in rate for joining a tour after the departure date.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Best. holiday. ever

Best. Holiday. Ever. I cannot recommend enough. CB is bloody amazing as a leader and guide. He's one guide I will always remember - most guides on adventure holidays are great but instantly forgettable. But his humour and patience meant I felt like he was a friend! Great knowledge and communication skills. A really well organised trip. Group size perfect too. Tents and mattresses perfect. Plenty of water and fruit. We were pleased that upon arrival we didn't hop directly in the canoes - we stayed at the mainland campsite (sunrise! Honking hippos!). This was fab because there is a shower block there and you are hot and dusty from the transfer/flight. The canoeing is awesome. The campsites were perfect. The food brilliant (I'm veggie). But the animals! My god! So many incredible experiences. I don't know if we struck lucky but every day got more amazing than the last. It's so much better to see animals from a canoe than from a Dusty 4x4. Lastly- the group were brilliant!! Tips: We got a kaza visa online, no drama - but you only need this is you are travelling after to Zimbabwe. You need a sticker in your passport not just a stamp! (Our first mistake). By the way, Livingstone is well worth a visit and CB organised a local bus for us. You need minimum kit - we washed in the river every day. As suggested, carry your canoe stuff ready to go in hand luggage. Bring a red light torch (for bugs) gloves (just in case) and definitely binoculars (We were so stupid!) And a zoom lens. And a bottle of rum?! We took a 10 litre dry bag each for clothes and another for the sleeping bag and then shared a camera bag. ...more ...less

Kayaking the Lower Zambezi

This was definitely a trip to get me out of my comfort zone (wild camping and kayaks instead of hotels and minibuses) and certainly did not disappoint. The fact you get so close to the wildlife far outweighed the fact you are wild camping (which I though I would struggle with). The sense of achievement at the end of the week was overwhelming, having travelled such a long distance in a kayak. The safari element far exceeded anything you would imagine and felt far more real than if you were in the back of a safari jeep (which I have done in South Africa). Animals spotted included elephants, hippos, lions, warthogs, buffalo, impala, zebra, baboons (and other monkeys), fish eagle, kingfisher and lots of others too much to mention. The group I was with was amazing and everyone got on so well and helped each other. The food was good throughout the week and we even had a celebratory BBQ on the last night. All in all I can safely say if I can do this holiday (and enjoy it) then anyone can! ...more ...less

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

The trip was totally amazing - I enjoyed every moment. Although, I have never done either camping or canoeing, I really loved both.        

A great way to chill out and see wildlife at VERY close quarters

Fantastic experience, the best way to see wildlife and great way to relax.

The Zambezi Valley.

An amazing experience.You get really close to nature!

AMAZING!

One of the best wildlife experiences ever - to get so close to the hippos and elephants on the river in the canoes was incredible

Wildlife heaven!

Saw so many hippo, crocs, elephants and a few buffalo in the 10 days! Hard paddling, especially the 1st day, but wonderful animals and scenery make it all so worthwhile!

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

An absolutely brilliant trip and our guide TK was superb - that's from someone who isn't easily impressed! 

Paddling adventure into nature

This is a great active safari that will get you close to nature and sleeping out under the stars. We saw lions, birdlife galore, paddled past hippos and were able to stop the canoes and get close to herds of elephant. The canoes are the perfect vehicle for the journey, yes you need to be relatively fit and have a bit of knowledge about a canoe ( they can provide advice or in uk go on a simple paddle start of 1 star canoe intro), but you get so close to animals and they were often relaxed. Also you have great fields of view across the water front. Yes the campsites are basic - pitch a tent on a sandy island but the food is great and plentiful, you don't need a shower you can dip in the safer shallows of the Zambezi, and you get to wake up to beautiful African sunrises. You do have early starts and early nights but what you get back is worth it. Advice is to have plenty of drybags and try and get a paddle suitable for your height. But anyone with a sense of adventure, a desire to see wildlife and reasonable fitness will enjoy this. ...more ...less

Frisky lions!!!

Awesome trip - simply has to be done!

Read all 46 reviews

1 Select your preferred date

Saturday - Saturday

Jun 21, 2025 - Jun 28, 2025
$3073 $2925 (USD)

Operator discount: -$148 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Jul 19, 2025 - Jul 26, 2025
$3075 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Sep 13, 2025 - Sep 20, 2025
$3075 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 11, 2025 - Oct 18, 2025
$3150 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Jun 20, 2026 - Jun 27, 2026
$3300 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Jul 25, 2026 - Aug 01, 2026
$3375 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Sep 05, 2026 - Sep 12, 2026
$3420 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Sep 19, 2026 - Sep 26, 2026
$3420 (USD)

Saturday - Saturday

Oct 10, 2026 - Oct 17, 2026
$3450 (USD)

Book with Confidence

  • Transfer as credit to Future Tours

    Exodus Adventure Travels allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform exodus adventure travels, 43 days before departure.

  • Low Deposit

    Exodus Adventure Travels requires a minimum deposit of 25% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of exodus adventure travels charges.

    Up to 70 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

Zambezi Canoe Safari

8 Days Starting and ending in Lusaka

Visiting: Zambezi River, Chiawa Game Management Area, Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka

Tour operator:

Exodus Adventure Travels

Tour code:

WZC

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

4 - 12

Physical rating:

Moderate & Challenging

Age range:

16-99

Special diets catered:

Please inform Exodus of specific dietary requirements

Tour operated in:

English

Interests:

Wildlife Tours

Activities:

Canoeing-Kayaking, Walking

From: $3073 $2925 (USD) Operator discount: -$148

NB: Prices correct on 15-Mar-2025 but subject to change.

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