Walking safari with elephants, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Zambia: Walk on the Wild Side - 8 Days

Changa Safari Lodge Pool, Matusadona, Zimbabwe

“This ramped up our idea of safari to a whole new level - expert guides, insane experiences - walking right in the heart of the African bush!"

Step into the heart of the wild with this legendary mobile walking safari — an unforgettable 8-day adventure deep in Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley, one of Africa’s last great untouched wildernesses. From the comfort of Nkwali Camp to five immersive nights on foot through pristine bush where vehicles can’t go, and a final night at Nsefu or Tena Tena, this safari offers a rare chance to truly feel the wild. Walk along ancient trails with expert guides who’ll awaken your senses to every whisper of the bush — from a rustle in the grass to the call of distant birds. Including all meals, drinks, laundry, and transfers from Mfuwe Airport, this June–September experience lets you disconnect from the world and reconnect with nature in the most authentic way imaginable.

This is no ordinary safari — it’s a full sensory immersion where every sound, scent, and footprint tells a story.

An interactive itinerary can be viewed below.

South Luangwa National Park - 5-night Walking Safari - Nsefu Sector

This package is only available June to September due to seasonal closures.

June
From AUD$9,750 per person (two people sharing)

July - September
From AUD$11,950 per person (two people sharing)

Maximum Group Size: 6 people.

All walks are led by an experienced naturalist and accompanied by an armed game scout.

Minimum age 21 years.

Walking fitness level

In general, you are walking around 10 km in 4 hours on varied ground.

This does not mean this is the distance and timing every day. But it gives you an idea of how fit you need to be. You should also be able to run 50 metres, but please understand that this is not because you will be running from any animal! It's just another way of showing a level of fitness.

Interactive itinerary

Detailed itinerary

On arrival at Mfuwe International Airport a guide will meet you and drive you to Nkwali Camp. A 1 hour drive through colourful villages, agriculture as well as the fabulous bush.

Nkwali Camp has a wide view of the Luangwa River overlooking the South Luangwa National Park. Nkwali is ideally situated for the start of your safari. The six rooms all look out over the river and have open air bathrooms. Depending on your arrival time, you will enjoy a lunch looking out over the lagoon at the back of Nkwali, or an afternoon tea before your afternoon and night safari drive.

Stay at:
Nkwali or similar (fully inclusive)

After an early breakfast, you will head off to start your walking mobile safari. Your drive is some 90kms to the Mupamadzi River along a bush road, through remote parts of the South Luangwa National Park. You arrive in camp for lunch around mid-day. The camp is already set up for your arrival with well-equipped walk-in tents. The shower is under a tree and the toilet is a long drop with a wooden throne. Enjoy a relaxing siesta after lunch, before tea and going for a walk around camp in the afternoon, to return for sundowners and dinner in the open under the stars.

On Day 3, you will up at sunrise for the morning walk. The area is remote and wild, the terrain and habitats varied and the game shy and unused to people. From ants to buffalo, a bird’s nest to tracking a lion, you will learn many facets of the bush. Today, the mobile camp will be packed and moved to Camp 2 and lunch will be ready as you arrive late morning. Lunch, siesta and an afternoon walk will follow.

Day 4: Explore the area on foot – returning to the same campsite.

Day 5 & 6: The camp will be moved to Camp 3 during the morning as you walk further down the river. The Mupamadzi River is a major tributary of the Luangwa.

Stay at:
Mobile Walking Safari Camp (fully inclusive)

After an early breakfast, transfer to the Luangwa River crossing point opposite Tena Tena. This is a 4 to 5-hour drive. Tena Tena staff will meet and boat you across the river, and then a 20-minute drive to Tena Tena camp. This remote and small camp lies within the National Park and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. Most meals are taken under the shade of a huge Mahogany tree in the centre of the camp. On arrival you will be shown to your tent and then lunch will be served followed by a well-deserved siesta before the afternoon and evening safari drive. Time to rest those weary legs!!

Note: The last night can be spent at Nsefu Camp.

Stay at:
Tena Tena or Nsefu Camp or similar (fully inclusive)

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