This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more

Skip to main content

Talk to an expert 1-800-242-2434 Lines open now

User menu
FROM US$4,980-US$5,530

Fruit Bat Safari

Offering a highly specialised experienced, this safari uses two simple bases for access to South Luangwa and Kasanka National Parks. Visit between October and December when you will witness the world’s largest mammalian migration of millions of fruit bats.

Fruit Bat Safari: Day-by-day

More detailed information of what each day entails, and the various places you’ll stay on the Fruit Bat Safari. Everything we do is completely tailor-made so while this is an idea which works well, we’ll always design an itinerary just for you.


Day 1

Starts: Lusaka International Airport

Day 1

Lusaka to South Luangwa by air & 4WD

Depart Lusaka on a 70-minute flight to Mfuwe Airport, gateway to the South Luangwa. A guide from Flatdogs will meet you with an open-topped 4WD for the drive of around 45 minutes to the lodge, just outside the park entrance, passing the sprawling community of Mfuwe on the way.

Flatdogs Camp
Days 1-3

Flatdogs Camp

2 nights
Full BoardSouth Luangwa National Park, Zambia

A fun, friendly camp, Flatdogs is a justifiably popular stalwart of South Luangwa's safari scene. The local nickname for the crocodile, ‘flatdog’, was an apt name choice when the original backpacker haven was opened in 1992 at the old crocodile camp.

Flatdogs Camp

A fun, friendly camp, Flatdogs is a justifiably popular stalwart of South Luangwa's safari scene. The local nickname for the crocodile, ‘flatdog’, was an apt name choice when the original backpacker haven was opened in 1992 at the old crocodile camp.

Flatdogs is unrecognisable from those early days, but has retained the friendly, chilled atmosphere which made it so popular. Today, Flatdogs enjoys a super riverfront location, just outside the national park, with plenty of shade from winterthorn & mahogany trees. It’s an extensive & imaginatively designed camp just outside of the park and with some of Mfuwe’s friendliest staff waiting to welcome you. Owners Ade, Jess and Paulo exude warmth and hospitality, an attitude which extends to every member of staff.

Part of Flatdogs' charm is its proximity to wildlife – it may be outside the park, but it's right on the river where a great deal of wildlife wanders by to drink, from shy bushbuck to elephants and hippos. A good population of giraffe are attracted by the acacia trees and some very cheeky baboons hang out here too.

There’s a wide range of accommodation available, from classic safari tents to chalets, a villa & two super, exclusive-use safari pads. With 100Ha of space, everything is well spread around the grounds where there’s an open-plan bar, 2 lovely swimming pools & an all-day, à-la-carte restaurant serving delicious meals. Wildlife and cultural activities can be booked with ease.

"would have been happy to stay longer"

Mr & Mrs RfromSolihull

Arrived 7 Sep 2022, 1 night

For a good-value safari with a bit more flexibility than camps and lodges sometimes offer, then Flatdogs delivers. See our full report on Flatdogs Camp

98%
74 reviews of Flatdogs Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Night drive

Day 3

South Luangwa to Kasanka by 4WD & light aircraft

Today's journey will see you return to Mfuwe Airport for the light-aircraft flight of about an hour to Mulembo Airstrip in Kasanka National Park. Here, a guide will be waiting with a 4WD for the drive of around 2km to Wasa Lodge, on the shores of Lake Wasa.

Wasa Lodge
Days 3-6

Wasa Lodge

3 nights
Full BoardNorthern Zambia, Zambia

Wasa Lodge is located in the remote Kasanka National Park in northern Zambia.

Wasa Lodge

Wasa Lodge is located in the remote Kasanka National Park in northern Zambia.

"... if you go here, it should be for the bats and the sitatunga ..."

Mr JfromCoventry

Arrived 4 Nov 2020, 3 nights

Wasa is usually best visited in combination with its sister-camp in the park, Luwombwa Lodge as well as some other remote areas in northern Zambia and is a great spot for an off-beat safari and keen birders alike. See our full report on Wasa Lodge

89%
11 reviews of Wasa Lodge by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Guided walking safari

Day 6

Kasanka to South Luangwa by air & 4WD

After a morning activity at Wasa Lodge, you'll board a light aircraft for the return to the South Luangwa, landing at Mfuwe after about an hour. As before, a guide will be waiting for the 4WD drive to Flatdogs, allowing you to take in the village sights once more.

Flatdogs Camp
Day 6

Flatdogs Camp

1 night
Full BoardSouth Luangwa National Park, Zambia

A fun, friendly camp, Flatdogs is a justifiably popular stalwart of South Luangwa's safari scene. The local nickname for the crocodile, ‘flatdog’, was an apt name choice when the original backpacker haven was opened in 1992 at the old crocodile camp.

Flatdogs Camp

A fun, friendly camp, Flatdogs is a justifiably popular stalwart of South Luangwa's safari scene. The local nickname for the crocodile, ‘flatdog’, was an apt name choice when the original backpacker haven was opened in 1992 at the old crocodile camp.

Flatdogs is unrecognisable from those early days, but has retained the friendly, chilled atmosphere which made it so popular. Today, Flatdogs enjoys a super riverfront location, just outside the national park, with plenty of shade from winterthorn & mahogany trees. It’s an extensive & imaginatively designed camp just outside of the park and with some of Mfuwe’s friendliest staff waiting to welcome you. Owners Ade, Jess and Paulo exude warmth and hospitality, an attitude which extends to every member of staff.

Part of Flatdogs' charm is its proximity to wildlife – it may be outside the park, but it's right on the river where a great deal of wildlife wanders by to drink, from shy bushbuck to elephants and hippos. A good population of giraffe are attracted by the acacia trees and some very cheeky baboons hang out here too.

There’s a wide range of accommodation available, from classic safari tents to chalets, a villa & two super, exclusive-use safari pads. With 100Ha of space, everything is well spread around the grounds where there’s an open-plan bar, 2 lovely swimming pools & an all-day, à-la-carte restaurant serving delicious meals. Wildlife and cultural activities can be booked with ease.

"Really lovely place to start trip, better than Lusaka as originally planned..."

MrwebbofromSussex

Arrived 5 Sep 2022, 2 nights

For a good-value safari with a bit more flexibility than camps and lodges sometimes offer, then Flatdogs delivers. See our full report on Flatdogs Camp

98%
74 reviews of Flatdogs Camp by travellers since August 2007

Activities

4WD Safari

Birdwatching

Cultural excursion

Guided walking safari

Night drive

Day 7

South Luangwa to Lusaka by 4WD & air

You may have time for a morning activity before you say farewell to the guides at Flatdogs and your final drive to Mfuwe. Here you'll board a scheduled flight for Lusaka, landing after around 70 minutes in time to make your onward connections.

Day 7

Ends: Lusaka International Airport

Inspire me

Need inspiration?

Let our trip chooser narrow down the options for you

Inspire me

Experiences you can add to this trip.

Optional extra day-trips and excursions possible whilst staying at lodges on this trip. These are usually best arranged in advance so talk to us.


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
100% (1 reviews)

Login to Expert Africa

Sign in with password

Sign in with email link


New to Expert Africa? Create an account

Forgotten your details?

It's free & quick to set up

  • Save your wish-list
  • Send us an enquiry
  • Pay online for your trip
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Give us feedback on your trip
  • Full site benefits of the site

Need some help? Talk to our team

Africa