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We stayed in the remote Nkonzi Bush Camp for a week doing daily safari activities including game drives, game walks and night drives. We had excellent guides and good sightings including wild dog, leopards, lions and many birds. The accommodation, hospitality and food was also excellent especially given the remoteness of the camp. We than had a three night extension at Waterberry Lodge near Livingstone and visited Victoria Falls (both sides) and doing activities provided by the Lodge which were both lovely and relaxing. Naturetrek offer group tours (the safari part) and also provided a bespoke extension at Waterberry Lodge. Our whole booking experience, choice of extension and service were excellent. Any minor quibbles were quickly and efficiently dealt with and flight connection times allowed enough time for the inevitable ‘African Time’ delays.
S.P. Northumberland, Oct 23
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Zambia's South Luangwa National Park - Nkonzi Camp
Tour Code: ZMB09A 10-day safari to Zambia's South Luangwa National Park based at the small and remote Nkonzi Bush Camp.
£5,695 (Inc flights)
£4,795
Highlights
Tour Itinerary and Reports
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Summary
Zambia's South Luangwa National Park lies in the south-eastern corner of the country and is one of southern Africa's finest wildlife havens. The reserve is home to a wonderful variety of classic large African mammals including Thornicroft's Giraffe, Crawshay's Zebra, African Buffalo, Impala and large herds of Elephants. The permanent waters of the Luangwa River cut through the park along its eastern fringes, attracting abundant game and their attendant predators – especially in the dry season – including prides of Lion, one of the largest populations of Leopard on the continent and several packs of rare African Wild Dogs. The birdlife is equally exciting and includes dazzling colonies of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters which return each year between August and November to nest along the sandy backs of the Luangwa River. This exciting safari is based for seven nights at Nkonzi Bush Camp, a small temporary camp that holds a maximum of only 10 guests and is set deep within the reserve. This is not a luxury lodge, but a small authentic bush camp set up between June and November and featuring five large walk-in safari tents with comfortable beds and en suite bathrooms. Here they focus on the wildlife experience rather than offering luxury accommodation, although Nkonzi Bush Camp still has everything you will need for a comfortable and unforgettable stay.
- Seven nights in a small tented bush camp deep within the South Luangwa National Park.
- Maximum of only 10 guests.
- Daily game drives or walking safaris
- Night drives in search of Leopard & other nocturnal wildlife.
- Open vehicles, excellent for photography.
- Abundant mammals including Elephant, Thornicroft's Giraffe, Greater Kudu and Lion.
- One of the best places in Africa to view Leopards!
- Abundant birdlife.
- Southern Carmine Bee-eater colonies.
- Expertly guided by local naturalists.
Grading
A mix of vehicle safaris & walking safaris.Outline Itinerary
What's Included?
- Flights
- Accommodation:
We will be based for seven nights at Nkonzi Bush Camp, a small temporary bush Camp that holds a maximum of only 10 guests in five twin-bedded, en suite tents. Single occupancy not available.
- Food: All included except for meals in Lusaka.
Reviews
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Off the beaten track bush camp in South Luangwa National Park, with excellent staff and great game drives. Really good to be in a small group and to have our individual requirements catered for. Lots of wildlife, and very experienced and knowledgeable leaders. The information given before the holiday was timely and clear. It was great to have an e-mail directly to a tour expert to ask any questions and get a direct answer.
A.I. Fife, Sept 22 -
My holiday was in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park and provided everything I needed for an unforgettable trip. I was lucky that the rest of the group were really lovely people and we had some great socialising as well. We were lucky with sightings and the camp crew were amazing too. This trip is not for everyone as there is no real luxury and no swimming pool which suited me perfectly, as I was there for the animals, and being a small group we could set our own agenda with no crowds around the animals.
R.P. Wiltshire, Oct 19 -
Our guide Sam was absolutely brilliant. A top bloke. This was our first safari and more than surpassed our expectations. We had numerous lion sightings, including a pair mating. We also had several opportunities to experience wild dogs for prolonged periods. Then there was the Leopard in broad daylight in full view in a tree and more hippos and elephants than you could imagine. The night drives sightings included bush baby, porcupine, honey badger ,hyena and elephant shrew. Then there are the ever present impala and puku. With waterbuck and kudu seen most days. Bird highlights were southern ground hornbill, oxpecker, marabou stork, African fish eagle and of course carmine bee eater and many many more. We had not expected to see many of the mammals at incredibly close proximity. The lions in particular allowed us to approach within a few feet in a Land Rover. Then there is the amazing experience of walking in the African bush, with our guide pointing out tracks made by lion, leopard and elephant. We also stood on a termite mound and could feel the heat coming from inside it. This is a holiday we will never forget.
P.M. East Yorkshire, Sept 19 -
Great game drives excellent viewing, enjoyed the night drives too. Two all day drives and chance for walking safaris and night drives. Very enjoyable trip, all camp staff very friendly and made us very welcomed.
A&N. E. London, Sept 19 -
This was our fourth visit to the area and we have never been disappointed. All the staff at the camp were excellent and both the Guides went out of their way to make sure as many animals and birds were seen during the holiday.
S.W. Essex, Sept 19 -
A week staying in Nkonzi camp in South Luangwa, Zambia was wonderful because we had plenty of opportunity to see the smaller nocturnal mammals, scrub hare, genet, civet and porcupine, as well as the diurnal birds and mammals. The crimson bee eaters colony is wonderful at this time of year. And it is a real experience to camp out in the bush, but with enough comfort to make it an entirely pleasurable experience.
D.W. Surrey, Oct 18 -
Staying at a permanent camp in a remote part of South Luangwa National Park, Zambia, we were surrounded by diverse flora, over 150 species of birds, and mammals great and small. Numerous groups of elephants, three prides of lions, and five different leopards seen in a series of game drives and escorted walking safaris.
W.H. Hertfordshire -
First safari, walking safari and game drives available most days. Bush camp was just that, no wifi phone or electricity just solar power. Wild animals did wander through at night, all very exciting. Trip was as good and better than described in the brochure. Lots of birds and animals seen. Excellent staff and guides, small group, 8, which worked well.
C.H. Cornwall
Dates & Prices
2025
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The majority of our wildlife tours focus primarily on birds, allowing us to offer a huge choice of bird holidays. On most of our birdwatching tours we aim to see a wide variety of species, while taking time to enjoy other wildlife as well as cultural highlights and architecture.
Naturetrek Birdwatching Tours
We have one of the largest selections of professionally organised, small group birdwatching holidays around the world and all of our birdwatching tours are accompanied by at least one professional ornithologist leader with detailed knowledge of the area.
The majority of our bird tours have a relaxed, flexible approach which allows more time for photography, detailed wildlife exploration, leisure time and the region’s people, culture, history and architecture, while allowing the group to see a wide range of bird species.
Here is a small selection of our many bird holidays:
- Southern Morocco – an exploration of the birdlife in Morocco’s southern deserts, oases and mountains
- The Camargue in Spring – a short break to enjoy the spring birds of the Rhône Delta and Camargue wetland
- Wallcreepers & Cranes in Northern Spain – a 2-centre holiday focusing on Lammergeier, Wallcreepers, raptors, Cranes, bustards, sandgrouse and more!
- Madeira & Desertas Islands – A Seabird Extravaganza! – a short break focusing on special breeding seabirds, including a night on the remote Destertas Islands
- Peru – Macaws & Machu Picchu – searches for boobies, macaws and Inca Terns
- Spain & Morocco: Birding on Two Continents! – watch the spectacular spring bird migration from both sides of the Straits of Gibraltar
Our Bargain Birdwatching Selection
Our Bargain Bird Tours are intensive birdwatching holidays suitable for the serious birder. They are led by expert English-speaking local guides (and not accompanied from the UK by a tour leader). You can expect a higher-paced tour and to spend long hours in the field.
Our specialist recommends...
Byron Palacios - Tour Leader
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Mammal Watching Holidays
Many of the world’s mammals are instantly recognisable to us. Animals such as Lions, Tigers, elephants and bears capture our imaginations from an early age. At Naturetrek, we take great pleasure and pride in helping people to fulfil their lifelong dreams of seeing these iconic species in the wild. We also enjoy introducing our clients to some of the world’s more unusual mammals, many of which are just as fascinating.
Naturetrek Mammal Watching Tours
Many of our tours have a primary focus on mammals and we offer the widest choices of mammal-watching holidays across the globe, from the poles to the tropics. Our holidays are guided by at least one professional naturalist tour leader and usually benefit from additional guiding by expert local naturalist guides. We have holidays to see an incredible range of the world’s most sought-after mammals, such as orangutans, lemurs, bats, polar mammals, big cats, and mammals of the African savannah. A significant number of tours also targets some of the planet’s more unusual and elusive species, from pottos and pangolins to slender lorises and obscure cetaceans.
Here’s a selection of our mammal tours:
- India’s Kanha and Pench Tiger Reserves
- A cruise to Spitsbergen in search of Polar Bears
- A chance to see the ‘Big Five’ and much more in South Africa’s Kruger National Park
- Search for Blue, Fin and Sperm Whales in the Azores
- Close-up views of Brown Bear and Wolverine in Finland
- Enjoy the mammals of Kenya’s Masai Mara, while staying in luxury camps
- Search for elusive nocturnal mammals, such as Aardvark, Black-footed Cat and Aardwolf, in the Kalahari Desert
Bargain mammal selection
We offer a range of action-packed bargain holidays for the dedicated mammal enthusiast, which are exceptional value for money, from Belize to Zambia.
Our specialist recommends...
Paul Stanbury - Operations Manager
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Safari Holidays – Experience Earth’s Greatest Continent for Wildlife
Why choose Africa for wildlife safaris?
When people think of visiting Africa, safari holidays are regularly at the top of the list. Riding in an open-top jeep along dusty tracks and looking out across sun-baked savannahs teeming with big game is arguably one of life’s best experiences.
For the nature enthusiast, Naturetrek’s African safari holidays offer unparalleled opportunities. Africa is the world’s greatest continent for wildlife, being home to many of the planet’s most iconic mammals and birds.
Many of these animals are relatively easy to observe and exist in scarcely believable abundance, guaranteeing that our African safari tours are always full of amazing sightings.
From the Okavango Delta in Botswana and Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to Namibia’s Etosha National Park and the superb Kruger National Park in South Africa, our African wildlife safaris will take you to all the continent’s most unmissable destinations.
Classic African safari holidays
We offer classic safari-style packages to Botswana, Zambia, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa and Namibia.
On these African safari tours you will stay in or very near the prime game-rich areas such as national parks and reserves, heading out daily for wildlife watching in vehicles. There will usually be additional chances to join night drives and look for nocturnal species.
On the majority of our African wildlife safaris, even those in our bargain range, we are able to use superb accommodation, including in remote locations. Tented, fully serviced camps with private facilities are the norm.
Expert naturalist guides
All of our African safari tours are led by expert naturalist guides. Most of our tours are led by superb local guides (the quality of guiding in many parts of Africa is second to none), while some of our longer tours are joined by a UK leader.
What wildlife might I see?
Africa is the best place in the world for seeing large concentrations of big game such as African Bush Elephant, Lion, Cape Buffalo, Giraffe and Blue Wildebeest. On Naturetrek’s African safari tours we visit some of the world’s most famous national parks and reserves, such as the Serengeti, Kruger and Okavango Delta, as well as some less well known regions, in search of a full range of the continent’s most spectacular mammals, from Hippos, Wild Dogs and White Rhinos to Leopards, bushbabies and African Wildcats.
The birdlife is equally staggering, with an enormous variety of charismatic species found across the continent, from bee-eaters and hornbills to finches, weavers and a stunning diversity of birds of prey. Naturetrek’s African wildlife safaris offer a chance to search for a superb variety of species and avian spectacles, such as flamingo-lined lakes in the Rift Valley, bizarre Shoebills in Uganda’s swamps, and giant Ostriches strutting across endless savannahs.
See our list of the best African Safari Holidays
Our specialist recommends...
"We offer a superb choice of expert-led African safari holidays ranging from 9-day bargain tours in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park to a 17-day birdwatching and mammal-viewing safari through Namibia, Botswana and Zambia. For those who have previously enjoyed a traditional safari, I would recommend our ‘South Africa’s Rare Mammals’ tour, which targets some of the continent’s most rarely seen creatures, such as Aardwolf, Black-footed Cat, Cape Porcupine, African Wildcat, Brown Hyaena and the iconic Aardvark
Paul Stanbury – Operations Manager
Big Cat Safari Holidays
Big cats are among the most admired and sought-after mammals on the planet, and we are proud to offer a broad and comprehensive range of big cat safari holidays. We offer inspiring and truly memorable wildlife tours to enjoy sightings of all of the world’s iconic species in their natural habitats, including Tigers in India and Nepal, Jaguars in the Pantanal, Pumas in Chile and Snow Leopards in India and Mongolia and we certainly do not neglect the smaller cats either.
We offer a range of itineraries around Africa and encounter the continent’s high-profile species like Lions, Cheetahs and Leopards and also the lesser known species such as Caracal, Sand Cat, Black-footed Cat, Serval and African Wild Cat. We also have wildlife holidays that catch sightings of the Asiatic Lion in India and the elusive Leopard in Sri Lanka.
We also offer a pioneering tour to try to see the most difficult of all big cats the Sunda Clouded Leopard in Borneo with Leopard Cat, Marbled Cat and Flat-headed Cat all having being seen on our Borneo holidays. Closer to home, we offer holidays in Europe to go in search of Wildcat and both Eurasian and Iberian Lynx.
We have run these holidays for many years with great success, working with the best local contacts and guides and staying at the very best locations with carefully crafted itineraries which allow the optimum amount of time to achieve sightings.
Our specialist recommends...
Tom Mabbett - Operations Manager
Why Naturetrek?
At Naturetrek we craft expertly-guided group and tailor-made wildlife holidays and cruises to all seven continents. On one of our holidays, you can be assured that our passionate team will enable you to experience and enjoy the best of the world's wildlife and natural spectacles in as comfortable and rewarding a manner as possible, caring as best we can for the environment in the process. We are proud to provide:
- The widest choice of wildlife holidays worldwide
- Tours managed and led by naturalists, for naturalists
- Outstanding value and exceptional customer service
Furthermore, as a Naturetrek client, our office team are always to on hand to help you – so if you have any queries about your holiday, whether before or after you have booked, we will be delighted to answer them on the phone. Please just give our team a call!
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