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The Island Trail Canoe Safari
Location:
Lower Zambezi
Accommodation:
Camping
Price:
$610 per person
Max group size:
12
Days:
4
A relaxing 4 days canoe safari through one of the most scenic areas of the Lower Zambezi.
Daily Routine
During the hot summer months, early morning departures are encouraged to a) Make the most of the canoeing while it’s cool and b) In many instances to get a reasonable mileage in before the wind picks up. The same applies for the late afternoons, while shade is sought during the hottest time of the day for our lunch breaks.
We generally encourage all participants to transfer to the Zambezi Breezers lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River which is the starting point of the canoeing safari. Options to camp, stay in rooms or assume a more comfortable lodging in one of the private en suite lodges are available.
Transfers may be arranged from Lusaka on the day of the safari but the clients must be spending the night in Lusaka and not coming in off an early morning flight due to possible delays.
Day One
The departing time for these canoeing safaris is 10.30am after the guides have briefed everyone on what to expect in terms of a safety and a general canoe orientation.
These steady canoes are generally easy to handle whilst the guides aim for the quieter waters to start with until everyone has the hang of things.
This day we cover approx 12 – 15km stopping briefly for a cold lunch on an island before paddling through to the evening camp.
We aim in winter to reach our over night island by 5pm in winter and by 5.30pm in summer. As mentioned before everyone is expected to assist in setting up their tents and bedding and dealing with the contents of their canoes
Day Two
We rise early to make the cool part of this day after tea/coffee and biscuits whilst using this usually calm time of day to make reasonable head way before the wind picks up. After a few hours canoeing, we stop off for an hour’s breakfast before setting off downstream again until we find a shady stop. Lunch is taken on main land where we are more likely to find deeper shade to retreat into when the day is at its hottest. Lunch is taken usually between 12.30 and 2.30 pm where there is time for a quick lie down on the camping mattresses while we wait out the heat.
By 3 pm we are on our way again through to our island camp site which the guide will choose according to the progress being made on that day. Guides will gauge the pace through out the safari against the prevailing conditions ensuring everyone comfortable with his or her abilities.
Should all go according to plan we should comfortably cover approx 25km on this day with a variable river current carrying us along at 4 km along assuming there is no wind factor.
Day Three
Again on this day we strive to emulate the previous day’s distances with much the same routine. This day however becomes a little more interesting as the river splits into a multitude of channels where the guide can then break off into the quieter back waters for a different take on the river.
Camp on this day is set on a long sand bar called Nyamangwe Island.
Day Four
On this day we break with protocol and have breakfast on the island followed by a leisurely 5 km paddle to the end of the canoeing safari.
Here we meet our support vehicle for the return road transfer to Zambezi Breezers. This is a 3 hour journey back with all the canoes and equipment loaded on a trailer. The road back takes us through a game management area and several rural fishing villages where the local way of life can be observed. Before arriving though we have to cross the Kafue River on a ferry which is an experience of its own at times.
We generally aim to be back at Zambezi Breezers by 2.30pm allowing adequate time for those who want to get back to Lusaka on that day to do so.
Daily Routine
During the hot summer months, early morning departures are encouraged to a) Make the most of the canoeing while it’s cool and b) In many instances to get a reasonable mileage in before the wind picks up. The same applies for the late afternoons, while shade is sought during the hottest time of the day for our lunch breaks.
We generally encourage all participants to transfer to the Zambezi Breezers lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River which is the starting point of the canoeing safari. Options to camp, stay in rooms or assume a more comfortable lodging in one of the private en suite lodges are available.
Transfers may be arranged from Lusaka on the day of the safari but the clients must be spending the night in Lusaka and not coming in off an early morning flight due to possible delays.
Day One
The departing time for these canoeing safaris is 10.30am after the guides have briefed everyone on what to expect in terms of a safety and a general canoe orientation.
These steady canoes are generally easy to handle whilst the guides aim for the quieter waters to start with until everyone has the hang of things.
This day we cover approx 12 – 15km stopping briefly for a cold lunch on an island before paddling through to the evening camp.
We aim in winter to reach our over night island by 5pm in winter and by 5.30pm in summer. As mentioned before everyone is expected to assist in setting up their tents and bedding and dealing with the contents of their canoes
Day Two
We rise early to make the cool part of this day after tea/coffee and biscuits whilst using this usually calm time of day to make reasonable head way before the wind picks up. After a few hours canoeing, we stop off for an hour’s breakfast before setting off downstream again until we find a shady stop. Lunch is taken on main land where we are more likely to find deeper shade to retreat into when the day is at its hottest. Lunch is taken usually between 12.30 and 2.30 pm where there is time for a quick lie down on the camping mattresses while we wait out the heat.
By 3 pm we are on our way again through to our island camp site which the guide will choose according to the progress being made on that day. Guides will gauge the pace through out the safari against the prevailing conditions ensuring everyone comfortable with his or her abilities.
Should all go according to plan we should comfortably cover approx 25km on this day with a variable river current carrying us along at 4 km along assuming there is no wind factor.
Day Three
Again on this day we strive to emulate the previous day’s distances with much the same routine. This day however becomes a little more interesting as the river splits into a multitude of channels where the guide can then break off into the quieter back waters for a different take on the river.
Camp on this day is set on a long sand bar called Nyamangwe Island.
Day Four
On this day we break with protocol and have breakfast on the island followed by a leisurely 5 km paddle to the end of the canoeing safari.
Here we meet our support vehicle for the return road transfer to Zambezi Breezers. This is a 3 hour journey back with all the canoes and equipment loaded on a trailer. The road back takes us through a game management area and several rural fishing villages where the local way of life can be observed. Before arriving though we have to cross the Kafue River on a ferry which is an experience of its own at times.
We generally aim to be back at Zambezi Breezers by 2.30pm allowing adequate time for those who want to get back to Lusaka on that day to do so.