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Floating with giant beastsZambia

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Close encounters of the thick-skinned kind are frequent on this 163-kilometre paddle down the mighty Zambezi. It’s not uncommon to manoeuvre around partially submerged hippos, glide past elephants bathing in the shallows or observe crocodiles sunning themselves on the banks during this six-day aquatic adventure with River Horse Safaris.

There’s no other tour that takes visitors into this part of Zambia, traversing the entire floodplains of the Lower Zambezi and journeying through isolated Mupata Gorge before ending where the Zambezi meets the Luangwa River. Each day, the camp is packed up before dawn, everyone climbs into twin canoes and the journey begins before the heat kicks in. Wildlife abounds here, where humans are few and the landscape is vivid and unexpected. Vast walls of volcanic rock rise from the water in the Great Rift Valley, and estuaries running off the main river feel as though they’re completely unexplored.

At night, tents are set up on the sandy banks of the river and everyone helps out by preparing dinner or cleaning up. There’s also the chance to go on game drives and walks, looking out for animals that make their home further away from the river’s edge. With a maximum of 12 guests on any given adventure, this is an intimate way to observe the vast African wilderness.

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not sure?

Embarking on a unique adventure into the little-explored floodplains of the Zambezi
Getting up close to wildlife in the river and on land
Giving up your creature comforts for evenings camped out by the river, the sounds of nature lulling you to sleep

There’ll be a significant amount of paddling, and your arms are likely to feel like noodles at the end of each day!
Camping by the river means charging gadgets isn’t an option – you might need to consider splashing some cash on a portable charger so you won’t miss out on capturing happy snaps

price guide

The five-night Great Zambezi Canoe Safari starts at about US$1,000 per person, including canoeing and camping equipment, meals and soft drinks, and an overland transfer back to Lusaka at the end of the tour.

difficulty

You’ll test your canoeing endurance and outdoor skills during this extended paddling adventure.

contact

River Horse Safaris
riverhorsesafaris.com

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Tags: animal encounter, into the wild, safari, Zambezi, zambia

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love

Embarking on a unique adventure into the little-explored floodplains of the Zambezi
Getting up close to wildlife in the river and on land
Giving up your creature comforts for evenings camped out by the river, the sounds of nature lulling you to sleep

not sure?

There’ll be a significant amount of paddling, and your arms are likely to feel like noodles at the end of each day!
Camping by the river means charging gadgets isn’t an option – you might need to consider splashing some cash on a portable charger so you won’t miss out on capturing happy snaps