An exciting new 6-night safari adventure is kicking off in Kafue National Park. African Parks has teamed up with Lowveld Trails to create Wilderness Walking Trails through the Malala Wilderness Area of the park.

Trekkers will spend two nights in an en suite chalet at Nanzhila Lake Camp, three nights sleeping under the stars at a wild campsite in Malala, and a final night back at Nanzhila. The camp has views of the Musa river, a tributary of the great Kafue, and of Lake Itezhi-Tezhi with morning and afternoon game drives to go in search of any game not seen on the walk. The campsite at Malala has an ablution block with a shower, basin and toilet.

The Malala campsite in Kafue National Park

The area is a rich tapestry of miombo and mopane woodland, dambos and rivers that support plenty of puku, lechwe, roan, buffalo and elephant that in turn attract lion, wild dog, leopard and crocodile. The terrain is mostly flat but walkers must be fit enough to carry their own backpack (about 60-70l and 15kg / 33lb), get up steep riverbanks and move about 10km / 6mi a day on their own steam. The trails can accommodate a minimum of four guests and a maximum of eight.

For optimum walking conditions, set departures will run in dry season only at a cost of USD4 600 per person:

  • 16-22 July
  • 4-10 September
  • 10-17 September
  • 11-18 October

The rate includes all accommodation, transfers within the park, meals, drinks and activities like game drives. It excludes transport to Kafue and selected spirits.

A reduced self-catering rate is available for Zambian residents who want to do the trail. The park also offers a no-frills yamu loko option – please contact visit.kafue@africanparks.org for more details. For more information on Kafue in general, please click on www.visitkafue.org

This is a rare opportunity to see Zambia’s largest park on foot while beginning and ending with a classic game-drive safari during peak season.

To book, email reservations@lowveldtrails.co.za

PHOTOS African Parks | Emma Badger