Carnivore conservation insight: Zambia

14 November 2024 - 8 days for £4,605

Join this incredible tour offering a behind-the-scenes look at carnivore conservation in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. This unique African conservation experience allows you to learn and gain firsthand insight from Zambia’s longest running conservation project, the Zambian Carnivore Programme.

The Zambian Carnivore Programme has been operating in Zambia since 1998, carrying out conservation and research activities to help conserve Zambia's populations of highly endangered species including African wild dogs, lions and other carnivores. As part of this tour, join the programme's team members as they teach you about their work, accompany you viewing some spectacular carnivores and explain all the workings of large carnivore conservation efforts by the programme and its partners. 

You will be based throughout at Nkwali Camp, a traditional African-style safari accommodation located on private land adjacent to and overlooking the South Luangwa National Park. 

This tour is for those with an interest in the natural world, conservation and natural sciences, and it will be a truly unique experience.

In partnership with The Ultimate Travel Company.

DAY 1: MFUWE ARRIVAL AND INTRODUCTION TO ZAMBIAN CARNIVORE PROGRAMME

On arrival at Mfuwe airport, you will be met by your tour leader and driven to Nkwali Camp, your home for the next seven nights. The drive to the camp is around one hour through local villages and farmland, as well as African bush landscapes.

In the evening, you will be joined by one of the full-time project staff from the Zambian Carnivore Programme, who will give an introductory talk. This will include a general overview of the programme, its aims and current projects. You will also get a demonstration of the tracking equipment, which will be used to find carnivores when the team members join you out in the field.

You will hear about how effective conservation relies on accurate and current data to guide and inform decision-making. Research and monitoring play a fundamental role in identifying, describing and evaluating the dynamics of ecosystems, as well as documenting limiting factors and threats to species. The Zambian Carnivore Programme studies sites with a wide range of biological, environmental and human features, differing in terms of carnivore abundance, diversity and distribution, as well as prey abundance and diversity, habitat types, climate and human impacts.

Afterwards, enjoy a welcome dinner at the lodge, before getting an early night ready for an exciting day ahead.

DAY 2: NKWALI PARK EXPLORATION

Today, you will enjoy breakfast at dawn, served around the campfire. The morning drive will leave soon after, entering the park by boat from the camp or by the nearby pontoon. The game in the area is diverse - and includes many family herds of elephants and the endemic species of giraffe, Thornicroft's giraffe. You will be joined by members of the Zambian Carnivore Programme for the game drive.

Gain exclusive insights into their research as you track for carnivores through the national park and see their tracking equipment and techniques in action. They will also explain about lion identification and prey counts, which are used in their annual predator and prey surveys. You will get to use these new skills in species identification and scientific technique as you drive around one of the most beautiful areas in Africa.

A mid-morning break of tea, coffee and cake will be taken by a scenic point on a lagoon or by the Luangwa river.

Next, you will return to camp for lunch. Afterwards, there will be time at lesiure to enjoy the facilities at the camp, such as the swimming pool. Or you can simply relax and take an afternoon siesta.

Afternoon tea will be served before you head off on another game drive that continues into the early night, giving you the chance to see the nocturnal world. You should return to camp by about 8pm, and dinner will be served when you arrive, over which you can discuss today's amazing animal sightings.

DAY 3: NKWALI GAME DRIVES

On the third day, you will have more time to enjoy game viewing at Nkwali on walking safari's or game drives.

Lunch will be served in the bush, either under a tree or next to a lagoon. Once again, there will be an opportunity to take a siesta or simply spend a lazy couple of hours watching the fascinating animals and landscape around you.

In the evening, you will be joined by a member of the Zambian Carnivore Programme team for another talk. This evening’s lecture will focus on competition between lions, hyenas and African wild dogs, and highlights why the Zambian Carnivore Programme researches these inter-predator interactions and what it means for the survival of the African wild dog. They will also tell you all about exciting hot-off-the-press findings for African wild dogs in Zambia and other associated wildlife in the area from their research.

DAY 4: CHIPEMBLE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION CENTRE

On day four, you will travel to the Chipembele Education Centre, where you will be given an overview of its wildlife conservation efforts, as well as learning about the education projects that the Zambian Carnivore Programme has in place with the local communities. Education, and in turn the reduction of human-animal conflict, is key to the survival of endangered species.

You will also learn about other education programmes in the area run by Chipembele for different species.

After your return to the camp in the afternoon, you can choose to go out on an evening game drive or just relax in camp watching the sunset over the river.

DAY 5-7: DAYS WITH ZAMBIAN CONSERVATION PROJECT

These next few days will be flexible. Members from the Zambian Carnivore Programme will join you on either a morning or evening game drive to track the carnivores. The rest of your day will be free to do activities with your local guide.

A walking safari, game drive or boat cruise on the river, whichever activities you choose, are sure to be spectacular. Depending on the weather, you will also have the chance to visit Kawaza village to experience some local culture.

DAY 8: MFUWE DEPARTURE

After breakfast on the final day, you will be transferred to the Mfuwe airport and onto Lusaka for your onward connection.