Preparing your journey...

Rivers & Plains Safari safari itinerary

Itinerary

Rivers & Plains Safari

14 days / 13 nights Zambia Wilderness Self-Drive

Starting at the iconic Victoria Falls, this transboundary journey crosses four countries - Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia - with a clear focus on Zambia’s vast and largely untouched wilderness. The route follows the elephant-rich river systems of Chobe and the Caprivi before pushing deep into western Zambia and the remote floodplains of Liuwa Plains. It continues through both the northern and southern reaches of Kafue National Park, one of Africa’s largest and least explored protected areas. Designed for experienced self-drive travellers, this camping-only itinerary offers exceptional diversity, minimal infrastructure, and a strong sense of exploration across some of Southern Africa’s wildest landscapes.

Starting from

Suzuki Jimny (5-door) (2 pax per Jimny) / Toyota Land Cruiser (4 pax per Land Cruiser) 2,700 USD per Person
Toyota Land Cruiser • 2 pax per vehicle 3,800 USD per Person

Indicative per-person rates, dependent on season, party size and vehicle. Park fees, accommodation and vehicle are included as specified in your written offer; international flights are not.

All itineraries

Day by day

5 stages across 14 days / 13 nights. This is the flow we would book as it stands — and the version we most often adjust, because adding two nights in one place or dropping a leg entirely is usually what makes a route yours.

  1. DAYS 1-2: VICTORIA FALLS – ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

    Stage 1 of 5

    DAYS 1-2: VICTORIA FALLS – ARRIVAL AND ORIENTATION

    The journey begins in Victoria Falls, where the spray and sound of the Zambezi set the tone for the adventure ahead. Final preparations are made, vehicles checked, and supplies organised before leaving the bustle behind. Two nights at a beautiful homestay allows time to settle in and anticipate the wilderness to come.

  2. DAYS 3–5: CHOBE RIVERFRONT & CAPRIVI – RIVERS AND MOVEMENT

    Stage 2 of 5

    DAYS 3–5: CHOBE RIVERFRONT & CAPRIVI – RIVERS AND MOVEMENT

    Following the Zambezi westward, the route enters the wildlife-rich Chobe Riverfront before crossing into the Caprivi Strip. Camps are set close to water, where elephants, buffalo, and hippos dominate daily life. Game viewing often begins directly from camp, with riverine forests and floodplains shaping both scenery and wildlife encounters. Nights are filled with the sounds of water and moving animals.

  3. DAYS 6–8: LIUWA PLAINS NATIONAL PARK – VASTNESS AND ISOLATION

    Stage 3 of 5

    DAYS 6–8: LIUWA PLAINS NATIONAL PARK – VASTNESS AND ISOLATION

    The landscape opens dramatically into the endless grasslands of Liuwa Plains. This remote park offers a profound sense of space, defined by big skies, seasonal floodwaters, and near-total solitude. Campsites are unfenced and minimalist, enhancing the feeling of true wilderness. Wildebeest, plains game, and predators move across the horizon, while sunsets and stars dominate the evenings.

  4. DAYS 9–11: NORTHERN KAFUE NATIONAL PARK – REMOTE RIVERS AND WOODLANDS

    Stage 4 of 5

    DAYS 9–11: NORTHERN KAFUE NATIONAL PARK – REMOTE RIVERS AND WOODLANDS

    Entering Kafue from the north, the environment shifts to a quieter, lesser-visited region of the park. Rivers, miombo woodlands, and open dambos create a varied ecosystem with low visitor density. Camps are simple and immersive, often set near water. Game viewing is exploratory rather than predictable, rewarding patience and curiosity.

  5. DAYS 12–14 – SOUTHERN KAFUE NATIONAL PARK – DIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE DENSITY

    Stage 5 of 5

    DAYS 12–14 – SOUTHERN KAFUE NATIONAL PARK – DIVERSITY AND WILDLIFE DENSITY

    The southern sector of Kafue offers a contrast in both habitat and wildlife concentration. Open plains, permanent rivers, and lagoons attract large herds and a wide range of predators. Campsites remain unfenced and close to nature, with nights alive to the sounds of lion, hyena, and nocturnal activity. This section provides some of the strongest game viewing of the journey before looping back to Victoria Falls ending the journey.

Before you book: Zambia in practice

Drives on
Left. Tar on the trunk routes, then it becomes a 4x4 country quickly.
Night drives
Permitted in Zambian national parks — rare in the region, and the reason for the leopard reputation.
Camp season
Many Luangwa bush camps close from roughly November to April and rebuild each season.
Busanga Plains
Flooded until around July. Access is realistically July to October only.
Malaria
Year-round risk throughout. Prophylaxis is not optional here.

Seasons, road conditions, fuel gaps and how many nights each park actually earns are all covered in detail on our Zambia destination guide — worth ten minutes before you commit to dates.

Itineraries people compare this one against

Usually the same route in the other travel style, or the same region over a different number of nights. Each has its own page.

Keep exploring

Make Rivers & Plains Safari yours

Every itinerary on this site is a draft. Tell us your dates, your pace and how far off the map you want to get, and we will rebuild it around you — or tell you honestly that a different month or a different country would serve you better.

Back to the main page