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Area
Royal Zambezi Canoe Safaris operate between the Kafue and Chakwenga Rivers along the Zambezi on the Zambian side of the river. These safaris are semi-luxury.
Safari Options
(2 nights / 3 days)
This safari starts approximately 20 km down river from Chirundu on the Zambezi River, on which you will spend the next couple of days ending approximately 58km from your starting point. Your first night will be spent in a traditional African village.
(3 nights / 4 days)
This trip is along the Zambezi river past the Mana flood plains, taking in the spectacular Zambezi escarpment and the famous Mana shoreline. Your first night will be spent in a traditional African village and your second and third nights in the same tented camp on the banks of the river.
(2 nights canoeing / 2 nights in camp)
Along the majestic Zambezi River taking in a traditional African village, excellent game viewing and on to the luxurious Royal Zambezi Lodge.
Minimum and Maximum PassengersMinimum passengers 3
Maximum passengers 9
Double and triple trips on request. Additional guides will be provided. Agents must remember that the camps are designed to accommodate 9 pax and 1 guide. Any extra pax will sleep on ground mats in dome tents.
Age Restrictions
Minimum 15 years. The minimum age can be varied if the children are accompanied by their parents and if the trip is private.
There is no maximum age limit. Please use your discretion.
Experience & fitness
No previous experience is required for canoeing safaris. Guests need to be reasonably fit.
Canoe specifications
Canadian style 2 man canoes, 5.5 metres long and 0.92 metres wide. Each canoe has 5 buoyancy tanks so the canoe does not sink if overturned or holed. The canoes also have seats with a backrest and canvas cushions. Paddles - Carlisle, single bladed, light weight. Canoes are very stable and can carry up to 450 kg with ease.
Backup Status
All trips are supported by a three-man team (one cook, and two others). All camps are semi-permanent. Guests sleep in two-man cottage tents on comfortable camp beds. All camps have flush toilets and hot/cold showers. In the event of an accident on the river, all guides carry radios.
Equipment supplied
Sleeping bags, mosquito nets, liners and pillows are provided. Chairs, tables, cutlery and crockery are provided.
Food
All food is prepared in camp.
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Breakfast: Cereal and fruit, bacon and eggs, toast and jam, tea, coffee and orange squash. Picture on the left: A typical breakfast in one of the river camps |
| Lunch: Various cold meat and salads. Cordials are provided. Picture on the right: Sometimes lunch is served in shallow water in the river. |
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Dinner: Various starters and main meals usually consisting of beef or chicken and vegetables, tea and coffee. Picture on the left: A typical dinner served in one of the river camps. |
Vegetarian or other dietary preferences can be catered for providing we are warned well in advance.
Drinks
Ice for drinks is available, and complimentary wine is served with the evening meal. Cordials are supplied free of charge but other drinks can be purchased before leaving Kariba. Cooler boxes are set aside for keeping drinks cold whilst on the river.
Clients must bring!
Clients must try and keep luggage to a minimum, preferably approximately 10kgs, as all luggage and food has to be carried in the canoes. It is preferable that guests pack personal items into a soft duffle bag.
Daily routine and ablution facilities
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Generally the day starts with tea/coffee and biscuits plus a full English breakfast. Stops can be made at any point of interest. The trip continues until a stop for a light lunch between noon and 14:00 hours. The night stop is reached at approximately 16:30 - 17:00 hours. Distance covered per day is approximately 22 kilometres. Picture on the right: Tents in one of the river camps. |
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Each camp is fully equipped with flush lavatories and hot/cold showers.
Guides, safety and communications
All guides are fully qualified river guides and have a good knowledge of the flora and fauna. Safety is our first priority.
Guides carry radios. If any problems should occur during the trip, there are various contact points along the length of the river. There is a complete radio coverage net and all guides carry first aid kits.
Safari departure times and places
The safari begins the night prior to departure with a briefing at the Kariba Breezes Hotel at 18:30 hours. Clients will be collected from their respective hotels for the briefing. The purpose of the briefing is to give the clients a chance to get acquainted with each other and to discuss the forthcoming safari. Guests will then be returned to their hotels. On the morning of departure guests will again be collected between 07:00 hours and 08:00 hours and taken to the Kariba Breezes. Guests are advised to leave their valuables in the Shearwater office for safekeeping. Departure times will be 08:30 hours from the Kariba Breezes Hotel.
Guests are to organise their own visas. The charge for visas is USD 20.00 and they should be obtained in advance. Guests must carry their passports with them at all times.
General
Valuables such as wallets, air tickets and car keys etc, are to be left in the hotel safety deposit box or they can be locked up at the Shearwater office in Kariba.
Health
The Zambezi River is not considered a bilharzia risk. Malaria is a risk and guests must take a course of anti-malaria pills before, during and after the safari. Deltaprim and Paludrine are recommended but please contact your doctor for advice.
Drinking water is obtained from the river, and is considered to be safe. Water will be boiled for drinking if guests so wish.
Medical Air Rescue Services (MARS)
At this time the company subscribes to MARS and all guests are insured with the organisation which provides the facilities and staff to evacuate any guest who needs medical attention to a hospital. Thereafter guests will be asked to settle their own medical bills.
Physical features of the river
The Zambezi River is the fourth largest in Africa, after the Nile, Zaire and Niger respectively. It has its source at Kalima Hill in North Western Zambia and flows approximately 2800 kilometres to Chince in Mozambique where it empties into the Indian Ocean. Below Kariba Dam the narrowest point is approximately 80 metres and the widest point is 4.2 kilometres near Chikwenya.
From the put-in point, a short distance below Kariba Dam wall, the Kariba Gorge is narrow and fairly steep sided and continues for 18 kilometres before opening into a wide flood plain. The flood plain continues to the Chewore river mouth, where the river narrows down again for the start of Mupata Gorge, which is approximately 46 kilometres long. This gorge is not as steep as Kariba Gorge, but is beautiful and remote.
The river has not flooded since the wall was built and the wall regulates the flow. There are not enough tributaries below the wall to cause a flood during the heavy rains.
There are no rapids on this section of the river. The water is flat all the way from Kariba to Kanyemba. The depth of the river varies from 24-30 metres in the gorges to as little as 150 centimetres in the flood plain areas. There are many islands and sandbanks which make good camping spots.
Wildlife
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Wildlife is abundant in the valley especially during the winter months. Wildlife will be seen on
every trip, most commonly impala, water buck, hippo, crocodiles, elephant and buffalo. Animals
such as lion, leopard etc are more difficult to see but are certainly present. Picture on the left: A rare Puku next to the river. |
Royal Zambezi Lodge
The lodge is situated on the Zambian side of the Zambezi river, on the western border of the Lower Zambezi National Park. Accommodation is in luxury tents sheltered by thatch. The lodge sleeps up to 14 people. Activities include fishing, boating and game drives. The camp is well known for the excellent fishing and the breathtaking view from the bar!
Transfers out are by speed boat to Chirundu.
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