ZAMBIA’S ‘GREEN SEASON’ IN LUANGWA VALLEY

A jaundiced foam leopard called Zakumi, complete with green wig (camouflage against the green of the football pitch…), plenty of attitude and his own biography, has been unveiled as the mascot for South Africa’s 2010 World Cup. From ‘football season’ to ‘green season’ and the opportunity to see wig-free, non-footballing Leopards in the wild, Wildlife Worldwide offers a programme of 7-night Rivers & Rainbows of Luangwa safaris. Tours are based at Kapani Lodge and the new Kakuli Camp in South Luangwa NP, site of Africa’s highest naturally occurring Leopard population. Safaris depart London from 19th January to 31st March 2009.

The 'green season' between mid-January and early April, is a spectacular time of the year to visit the Luangwa Valley. Colourful flowering plants bloom, spectacular sunsets and dramatic electrical storms light up the night sky, migrant birds arrive to breed, big cats are easily viewed and the clearer air allows for great photography. In the 1950s, the late Norman Carr pioneered the concept of walking safaris in the Zambian bush and built the exclusive Kapani Lodge (meaning ‘place of mopane trees’) in the Luangwa Valley. Spend 3-nights at Kapani, exploring the central Mfuwe section of the South Luangwa NP during walking safaris, morning and afternoon game drives and night-time safaris with spotlights. Other than Leopards, 60 other resident mammal species recorded include Lion, Elephant, Giraffe, Hippo, Cookson’s Wildebeest and Nile Crocodile, together with an array of over 420 birds, including some of southern Africa’s most colourful species. Later, travel up the Luangwa River to remote Kakuli Camp at its confluence with the Luwi River. Here, incredible boating experiences from the river into the lagoon systems allow for further game viewing activities. Return to Kapani Lodge for a final night before homeward flights.

Safaris cost from £2,795 p/p including scheduled international flights via Johannesburg (South African Airways), transfers, 4-nights at Kapani Lodge and 3-nights Kakuli Camp, with all meals and expertly guided game viewing activities.

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