- Canoe the mighty Zambezi, spotting elephants, hippos and crocodiles as you go
- Gain fascinating insights into the wildlife and environment from your knowledgeable tour leader
- Wild camp on remote islands, sleeping beneath the dazzling stars
- Join a ranger-led nature walk in the Lower Zambezi National Park
- Venture out on a night safari drive to spot elusive nocturnal animals
- Finish at a riverside camp, complete with a bar, pool and hot showers
Zambezi Canoe Safari
8 Days
Excluding Flights From
10 Days
from
Wildlife
Activity Level
Moderate & Challenging
See our Activity Level Guidelines to check if this holiday is right for you.
Comfort Level
Simple
Paddle the Zambezi, camping as you go, to spot Africa’s wildest locals – elephants, hippos, crocodiles and more
Flowing between Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Zambezi is a lifeline for some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife. On this active adventure, you’ll explore its channels by canoe, sharing the water with elephants, hippos, crocodiles and a tour leader who knows all the animals’ favourite hiding spots. Each evening, you camp wild on secluded beaches, gathering around the campfire to share stories with the group and gaze into the star-sprinkled sky. If you want to experience African wildlife as it should be – truly wild – this is the trip for you.
Highlights
Key Information
- Accommodation: 7 Simple nights (semi-participatory camping, 3 wild camping and 4 campsites)
- Travel by open canoes (no previous experience needed)
- Group normally 4 to 12, plus tour leader. Minimum age: 16
- Countries visited: Zambia
What's Included
- All breakfasts, six lunches and seven dinners
- All accommodation
- All transport and listed activities
- Tour leader throughout
- Group arrival and departure transfers available
What's Not Included
- Travel insurance
- Single accommodation (available on request)
- Visas or vaccinations
Start
Finish
Availability
Land Only Trip Price
Optional Single Supplement
Saturday Friday
11 Oct 2025 10 Oct 2025
Saturday Sunday
18 Oct 2025 19 Oct 2025
Availability Sold Out
Land Only Trip Price USD 3300
Optional Single Supplement
+USD 413
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is guaranteed to go ahead and is now fully booked, although we may have people holding spaces without payment. Please contact our Sales team for further information.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
20 Jun 2026 19 Jun 2026
Saturday Sunday
27 Jun 2026 28 Jun 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price USD 3300 Book with USD 825 deposit Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+USD 405
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
25 Jul 2026 24 Jul 2026
Saturday Sunday
01 Aug 2026 02 Aug 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Limited) Only 4 spaces left!
Land Only Trip Price USD 3300 Book with USD 825 deposit Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement
+USD 405
Available upon Request
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
05 Sep 2026 04 Sep 2026
Saturday Sunday
12 Sep 2026 13 Sep 2026
Availability Guaranteed (Available)
Land Only Trip Price USD 3420 Book with USD 855 deposit Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +USD 405
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings and has reached the minimum number of passengers required to go ahead. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip NotesSaturday Friday
10 Oct 2026 09 Oct 2026
Saturday Sunday
17 Oct 2026 18 Oct 2026
Availability Available
Land Only Trip Price USD 3450 Book with USD 862 deposit Book with USD 500 deposit
Optional Single Supplement +USD 405
Availability
This departure is available for new bookings, and will be guaranteed to go ahead once it reaches minimum numbers. Please click Continue to proceed with booking or contact our Sales team for assistance.
View Trip Notes
Itinerary
Lusaka, Zambia Lusaka, Zambia
Start Lusaka • To the Zambezi
We meet at Lusaka Airport, where we begin our transfer (4hr 30min) to the shores of the Zambezi. Most of this journey is on tar road with the last section along a bumpy dirt track.
En route, we stop at a supermarket, where you can pick up snacks and drinks for the adventure – there are no shops on the wild banks of the river!
Your tour leader then prepares a welcome dinner, where we can get to know each other a little better.
Please note: If you’re booking your own flights, do not book one arriving after 1.30pm.
Accommodation: Campsite (semi-participatory)
Three days of canoeing and wildlife watching on the Zambezi, camping on remote islands
Spend three glorious days canoeing the Zambezi. This is a safari adventure, so you can expect to see many iconic African animals. We frequently pass hippo pods basking in the deeper water, who will no doubt keep an eye on us, and look for elephants feeding on the banks, basking crocodiles and numerous colourful bird species, including the magnificent African fish eagle.
Each day, we start early to avoid the hottest hours and to catch the easterly headwind at its weakest. The pace is moderate, which allows us to make the most of our wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Lunches and breakfasts are either taken on islands or on the riverbanks, while nights are spent at our wild camps, gazing at the African sky and sharing tales from the day.
Accommodation: Wild camping (semi-participatory)
Canoe to our fly camp • Night drive in Chiawa Game Management Area
This morning, we paddle to our fly camp in the Chiawa Game Management Area. After three days of wild camping, the hot showers and chance to relax will be welcome. Our site also overlooks the Mana Pools, where wildlife regularly comes to drink – there’s even a lookout point for an excellent view!
Later, after the sun has set, we embark on a 4×4 game drive, on which we hope to spot nocturnal animals, such as genets, civets, hyenas, porcupines, aardvarks and, if we’re really lucky, the elusive leopard.
Accommodation: Fly camp in Chiawa Game Management Area
Ranger-led nature walk in the Lower Zambezi National Park
Either jump in a canoe or hop in a motorboat (depending on wind and river conditions) and cruise along the river to the Lower Zambezi National . Here, we join a local ranger for an insightful nature walk, in which our guides take us on a loop, sharing their expertise on the animals tracks, plant life and wildlife found here.
After lunch, we return to our fly camp and enjoy the rest of the day to relax, watching the animals who come to drink at the Mana Pools.
Accommodation: Fly camp in Game Management Area
To Zambezi Breezes • Farewell dinner
Bid farewell to our fly camp hosts and take the motorboat to Zambezi Breezes. Our new camp has a lovely riverside location, plus a cash bar serving cold drinks, a swimming pool and a toilet and showers block.
It’s the ideal spot to spend our final evening, gathering with the group around a table and retelling the adventures we’ve shared together (and perhaps start planning the next!).
Accommodation: Zambezi Breezes or similar (semi-participatory)
Upgrade to a chalet with private bathroom today – speak to your sales representative for more details
To Lusaka Airport
You’ve canoed a long stretch of the Zambezi, gazed up at the twinkling Zambian night sky and spotted countless animals, but today the journey ends and we transfer (four to five hours) back to Lusaka Airport to catch our onwards flights.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
To Lusaka Airport
You’ve canoed a long stretch of the Zambezi, gazed up at the twinkling Zambian night sky and spotted countless animals, but today the journey ends and we transfer (four to five hours) back to Lusaka Airport to catch our onwards flights.
Alternatively, if you’d like to extend your adventure, speak to your sales representative to discuss our large range of extension options.
Arrive London
Camping under the African sky
There’s no better way to immerse yourself in the wilderness of Zambia than wild camping. On this trip, we spend three nights wild camping in two-person dome tents, camping on riverine islands, and four nights in set-up bush camps (on the Zambian side of the river) with showers, toilets and tents.
On this trip, camping is semi-participatory, which means you’ll be actively part of the group, assisting with camp chores and dismantling your tents. We’ve found there’s a real camp spirit to this, which only adds to the experience.
Evenings are extra special. They often start with a magnificent sunset, before the twinkling night sky comes out and you can clearly see the Milky Way.
Upgrade to a chalet with private bathroom on Day 7 of the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.
Reviews
Add your own reviewA whole new meaning to getting Into the Wild!
This was an experience of a lifetime! I cannot recommend this trip enough. If you want to go wild camping in the African bush where you can completely disconnect from every day life and get back in touch with nature, then don’t hesitate to book this trip. You will be surrounded by wild animals, bird sounds and highly experienced staff.
Most Inspirational Moment
Being surrounded by elephants at our camp and canoeing past so many pods of hippo's. They are in abundance here! Seeing so many different bird species, including the carmine bee-eaters' & their nests which only occurs at a certain time of year. Being a part of the best group of adventurist souls on this departure! Canoeing on the Zambezi of course!
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader, CB and assistant guide, Julius, were top notch! They were caring, compassionate, extremely knowledgeable (you can ask them anything) and very experienced. I had a great time canoeing with their crew in training, Chuchu. This is not excluding the flycamp crew who tended to our every need and, even though it was camping with basic amenities, they gave us five star service.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Read the trip notes! Everything you need is in there. Make sure you follow the guidelines. I used a large drybag to pack my first 4 days' worth of baggage and had a small shoulder bag that I could keep with me while canoeing for things like binoculars, sunscreen, shades etc. For the warmer months, a sarong or two is very much recommended. You can wet this and cover your shoulders and your legs to keep cool and protect yourself from the sun. The 2x2m tents are actually large enough for two to share. You will have a mattress on a stretcher at the fly camp so you will be elevated from the ground. Take carabiners to clip your items to things like your tent/bag/ the showers. These I found to be super useful. Phone signal is almost non-existent on the trip, so keep this in mind when going back into the wild!
An incredible trip, from start to finish
There were so many unforgettable moments on this adventure, but seeing the wildlife in such a natural way, without lots of people round them, was incredible. Camping wild and going off-grid felt like an amazing reset and the tents were very comfortable. Couldn’t recommend this trip more!
Most Inspirational Moment
Hmmm lots to choose from! Watching two elephants playfighting from the fly camp, being taught how to navigate using the stars by our tour leader, going to sleep to the sound of elephants and hippos.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Martin was incredible. His knowledge about the local wildlife, plants, culture and history was so impressive. He worked tirelessly to make sure we had an amazing trip, always making sure we were comfortable and safe. Such a pleasure to spend the week with him. His assistant Stuart was fantastic too - also went the extra mile to make sure we had a great trip!
Amazing
This trip is suitable for all regardless of canoeing or camping experience. The proximity to the wildlife is far superior to any previous safari’s I have been on. The pace was relaxed, excellent comping equipment, great guide, good food and scenery/wildlife was amazing
Most Inspirational Moment
The sunrises and sunsets - beautiful
Thoughts on Group Leader
Put our safety and wellbeing first, but was always happy to laugh and joke with us :-)
Advice for Potential Travellers
Just enjoy it
A true adventure
This was a brilliant trip for seeing so much wildlife, and getting so close to it, particularly the elephants and hippopotami. Whilst we couldn’t believe how many elephants we saw, we also saw lesser numbers of lions, crocodiles, water buffalo and a miscellanea of birdlife. Insect life was also plentiful, colourful dragonflies by day and fireflies by night.
Most Inspirational Moment
The fact that you could get safely so close to wild animals like elephants, which you could never do on land. It was magical to go to sleep in your tent knowing elephants and hippos would wander past during the night.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our group leader was very friendly, knowledgeable and helpful, one of the best. There were 13 people and six canoes, so one canoe had to take three and we ended up in the canoe with the guide. This was great as he did most of the paddling, making ours a premium adventure! The trip has its' potential hazards; at one stage a large crocodile sallied forth towards us, but our guide got us to splash the water with our paddles which drove it away; he would keep a close eye on us and get us to move back if we were getting potentially too close to elephants in the water.
Wildlife galore!!
I’ve just got back from canoeing the Zambezi Valley- what a trip!! We saw hippos, elephants, crocodile, monkeys, baboons, Impala, Kudu, warthogs and even a porcupine and a leopard!! The tents provided were really good- tall enough to stand up in, with mesh panels so you could look out if you wished. The stars at night were beautiful so I’d really recommend that. The canoeing was at a steady pace and suitable for all abilities- the hardest part was often getting in and out of the boat!! If you haven’t camped or kayaked before, don’t be put off, the pace was just right and the support from the leader and assistant leader was great. We also had a couple of game walks and a night game drive. The food was simple, but tasty and there was plenty of it.
Most Inspirational Moment
Seeing all the wildlife- I loved the hippos and we even had an elephant join us for lunch one day!
Thoughts on Group Leader
CB was a very good leader- knowledgeable and quick to help with any problems. He definitely had a sense of humour as well! Evans, the assistant leader, was quieter, but always on hand to help.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Tips- you definitely need a torch and a camera! There are no shops on the trip so if you want snacks or alcohol, buy it on the way to the campsite from the airport. This is not the trip for anyone who likes a lie-in! We had breakfast at 7 every day.
Canoeing down the Zambezi
Go on this trip. Yes, it involves wild camping (no toilets, showers, etc) but the rewards are immense. Close encounters with wild animals, beautiful scenery. The trip is well organised, food is good, and guides are great.
Most Inspirational Moment
We had visited Kruger Park earlier this year and seen many animals but it was not the same as seeing then close up and personal on this trip. Many close encounters. Highlights include elephants gatecrashing my birthday celebrations, close up views of hippos, crocs, and numerous antelope. Apart from the wildlife, sunrises and sunsets over the Zambezi were pretty impressive.
Thoughts on Group Leader
Our leader CB exuded a sense of calm and always seemed in control of situations which included persuading elephants to leave our camp. He and his assistant Best looked after us and cooked wonderful meals. It is difficult to praise them too highly.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Travel light. You do not need that extra t-shirt. Make sure you have sufficient sun cream. Take a camera.
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!
Most Inspirational Moment
Getting so close to the elephants (which is the main reason I chose the holiday). the sense of achievement for actually getting to the end without breaking!
Thoughts on Group Leader
CB was amazing. Very knowledgeable, humorous, kind, professional and clearly enjoyed his job. It is no wonder he is an award winner. Best made the perfect assistant guide and is clearly learning a great deal from CB. Both together looked after us so well and work brilliantly as a team.
Advice for Potential Travellers
sunscreen. I ran out of 2 tubs (although half of one ended up at the bottom of the safari truck). Deet - I had 2 and ran out although I was probably the one with more bites than anyone else. Bite cream offers a major relief for the bites. Head torch (with a red light), gloves for the rowing. Prepare for no showers until the comfortable camping half way through but we were able to cool off and kind of clean off in the river a couple of times. It is proper wild camping so there are no toilets until the comfortable camp but the views you get when behind the bushes are literally stunning :-) If you can, add on a quick trip to Livingstone for the Victoria Falls. You are so close it would be a shame to miss it. As well as bringing a load of school supplies bring an extra suncream with you if you can. They give any spare suncream to a charity looking after albino children as it is prohibitively expensive in Zambia.
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 4×4.
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
The animals!
Thoughts on Group Leader
He was just wonderful.
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.
Most Inspirational Moment
Paddling to one of the islands to watch the gorgeous sunset with elephants eating 50m away. Then listening to them as drift off to sleep. Seeing a pride of 5 lions on a game drive was also pretty special.
Thoughts on Group Leader
CB was well liked by everyone, right combination of humour, knowledge and always there with advice or a calming reassurance. He clearly loves the job and all the guests agreed he was as much like a friend on the tour as well as never stopping in looking after us. If you needed it then CB would have it or find a way to get it for you. First class guide and especially nice to see him teaching Best the assistant guide in any downtime.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Packlight but bring an extra t-shirt or top. Antibacterial soap can wash hardwearing clothes if want to do that too. Plenty of bug spray and sunscreen as you will use it. Bring a good point and shoot as well as dslr as in the canoe wielding a big lens isn't always practical. Change about $50 at the airport and get a few bonus items at the shop on the way - you will need about 1 - 2l for the drive in the heat. Try and find a right sized paddle Lastly have most of your stuff for the first 3 nights ready to go in a separate daysack in your softbag. When you reach the 1st camp it is often dark and you don't have much time.
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
Most Inspirational Moment
Sat in the front of the canoe looking a huge male elephant in the eye just 19 feet away
Thoughts on Group Leader
TK and his assistant Beste were fantastic - helpful, knowledgeable, encouraging, great cooks and brilliant sense of humour.
Advice for Potential Travellers
Take rowing gloves to prevent blisters
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Zambezi Canoe Safari
8 Days
Excluding Flights From
10 Days
from