Zambezi Canoe Safari

8 Days Starting and ending in Lusaka

Visiting: Zambia

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
From: $3000

NB: Prices correct on 07-Nov-2024 but subject to change.

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.







This trip includes a few of our Citizen Science Departures. These special departures offer you the opportunity to be involved in the collection of freshwater samples during the trip. The environmental DNA information derived from this sample contributes directly to the eBioAtlas, the world’s largest repository of flora and fauna species data, contributing to the conservation and restoration of biodiversity both locally and globally. To book onto one of these special departures, see the Dates & Prices tab. For more information on these departures and the eBioAtlas, click here.

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

Expand All

Day 1 : Start Lusaka; Transfer To The Zambezi River

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 midday.



Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)

Day 2 - 4 : Three Days Of Canoeing And Wildlife Watching On The Zambezi River, Camping On Remote Islands

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

Check out our Q&As

  • 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

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

On arrival and seeing canoes i thought what have i let myself in for, but after a short introduction and 1st paddle all went well. The holiday was above all expectations, with helpful and friendly guides nothing was to much trouble. Would recomend this holiday to anyone for the back to nature adventure.

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.        

What an adventure

This trip was awesome. Canoeing, walking and wild camping. Surrounded by all the wild life and beautiful scenery. You get so close to the animals so you will get some great photos and memory's that will last a lifetime. As you are working as a team with the group and the two guides you will quickly become good friends with everyone.

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

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

Zambezi Valley - Awesome

This really was roughing it for 4 days and nights wild camping and canoeing, 2 days in a fly camp with comfortable beds and showers/toilets and 1 night at Zambezi Breezers with a Bar! An awesome trip with great people and a fantastic guide and assistant guide.

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

If you want to be in 'real' Africa without the queues of game viewing vehicles and not a fence in sight then this is perfect. A brilliant way to see Africa from the water and certainly no shortage of Hippo or Elephant viewing.

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.

The Zambezi Valley

A superb trip, full of wildlife and wilderness adventure. And, almost as scary, a classroom full of 6 year olds.

Exhilirating -- and a little bit exhausting!

This is the one for you if you're happy to rough it, leave the comfort zone, sleep in tents for seven nights on the trot, go without much booze, but gulp down the thrill of knowing you're transported yourself along a gentle giant of a river and gazed at game from a breathtakingly short distance.

Frisky lions!!!

Awesome trip - simply has to be done!

Read all 46 reviews

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May 31, 2025 - Jun 07, 2025
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Prices last published on 06-Nov-2024

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.

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