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FROM US$6,040-US$7,210

Scrub Hare Safari

Camps run by welcoming owners with a passion for their environment are rare, and Tafika is one of the best. Combine this with walking safaris at equally excellent bushcamps for the best of the South Luangwa.

Scrub Hare Safari: Summary

Scrub Hare Safari in a nutshell

The Scrub Hare Safari encapsulates the best of what makes South Luangwa National Park special – an owner-run operation where guests are welcomed as friends, memorable wildlife experiences and exhilarating walking safaris.

Camps and lodges run by on-site owners who have spent their lifetime in the bush and have a passion for their surroundings, wildlife and community are as rare as hen’s teeth, and Tafika Camp is one of the best. John and Carol Coppinger are dedicated to the home where they brought up their children. Many of their highly experienced guiding team have been at the camp almost as long, testament to the excellence of Tafika's operation.

This safari combines nights at this great camp, where the mix of activities on offer including game drives, walks, mountain biking and community visits, with time at two small bushcamps, Chikoko Tree and Big Lagoon Camp. Both are Tafika’s satellite camps, focusing on walking safaris in areas of the park devoid of roads. These aren’t the morning nature walks offered by many safari camps, but a fascinating exploration of nature’s best classroom in the company of an expert guide. Sidle past a sleeping elephant, watch and wait by a hyena den, surprise a leopard from her kill, circumnavigate a vast buffalo herd – these are all experiences we’ve enjoyed on walks here and we highly recommend you try it too!

At a glance

Starts: Lusaka International Airport
3 nights Tafika - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia Full Board
2 nights Chikoko Tree Camp - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia Full Board
2 nights Big Lagoon Camp - South Luangwa National Park, Zambia Full Board
Ends: Lusaka International Airport

Tafika

Days 1-4

Home to the Coppinger family, Tafika is a small and outwardly rustic camp on the banks of the Luangwa River. Its location, on the northern side of the beautiful Nsefu Sector within in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, makes Tafika – along with its two satellite bushcamps on the other side of the river – the most northerly of South Luangwa's safari camps. This allows most activities to be carried out in quiet areas of the park, where you’ll invariably have wildlife sightings to yourself

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Chikoko Tree Camp

Days 4-6

Chikoko Tree Camp is an exceptionally small, intimate and rustic bushcamp that overlooks the seasonal Chikoko River – a scenic, winding channel lined by shady ebony trees. It is set in a remote area of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park that is exclusive to walking safaris; there are no vehicles here to break the silence, and other visitors are rare.

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Big Lagoon Camp

Days 6-8

Big Lagoon Camp, which replaces Crocodile Bushcamp a kilometer away, is one half of a pair of bushcamps, known as Chikoko Trails. Together they form the base camps for one of Zambia's best walking safari experiences. With just three rooms, expertly made of reed and thatch, and overlooking a permanent lagoon that attracts wildlife year-round, Big Lagoon offers a tranquil base from which to explore this walking-only area of South Luangwa park.

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Tafika

Tafika

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Chikoko Tree Camp

Chikoko Tree Camp

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

Big Lagoon Camp

Big Lagoon Camp

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia

About image

Highlights

Our thoughts on five of the top experiences of this Scrub Hare Safari.

  • Walking in the wilderness with an expert guide
  • A variety of activities and environments
  • A very warm welcome at truly excellent camps
  • Mountain biking to a nearby village
  • Wildlife viewing with few to no other humans around

Activities

Some activities which can be included in the Scrub Hare Safari: talk to us about those which interest you.

  • 4WD Safari

  • Birdwatching

  • Cultural excursion

  • Guided walking safari

  • Mountain biking

  • Night drive

About image

Key species to see on the Scrub Hare Safari

Based on our travellers' observations, we’ve estimated the likelihood of seeing these species during the Scrub Hare Safari. Click on the animals and our wildlife surveys page for more info.


Buffalo

100% chance

Elephant

100% chance

Giraffe

100% chance

Hippo

100% chance

Zebra

100% chance

Lion

98% chance

Spotted Hyena

96% chance

Leopard

93% chance

Wild dog

70% chance

Wildebeest

61% chance

Eland

38% chance

Roan antelope

30% chance

Sable antelope

7% chance

Pangolin

5% chance

Aardvark

0% chance

Side-trips whilst on this safari

We may be able to build in some of these optional excursions from the Scrub Hare Safari. Talk to us: they’re usually best arranged when you book.


Tribal Textiles Tour

Tribal Textiles Tour

One - two hours

Visit the Tribal Textiles workshop, where hand-painted textiles are produced by more than a hundred local people. The workshop is close to Mfuwe Airport, so is ideally placed for a stop en route to/from the South Luangwa. With products ranging from cushion covers to bags and T-shirts, it's a great place for souvenir shopping while at the same time supporting the local community.

More about Tribal Textiles Tour
Kawaza Village Visit

Kawaza Village Visit

Two to three hours

Just outside Zambia's South Luangwa National Park lies a normal, working rural African village which is open and welcoming to visitors to the Luangwa valley. There is nothing artificial or contrived about Kawaza Village, and it offers a rare opportunity to experience and appreciate Kunda culture, and meet local Zambians.

More about Kawaza Village Visit
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