Chongwe River House
Five Day Itinerary
Day One
Morning: Early Morning Game Drive exploring the many different ecosystems of the Lower Zambezi National Park and focusing on the Chongwe Valley which is a microcosm of the Lower Zambezi Valley, hosting a rich diversity of flora and fauna.
Afternoon: After a safety talk from your host/guide, guests will set off towards the Nkalange channel. After drifting down 4km of the mighty Zambezi River, opposite the Mana Pools World Heritage Site, we enter the enchanted Nkalange Channel. With its open flood plains and mature Mahogany forests, teeming with bird life, guests often encounter large herds of elephant and buffalo crossing in front of their canoe.
Day Two
Morning: Departing from the House after sunrise we will do an early morning walking safari, exploring the Chongwe Plains and Riverine Forest areas. Guests will have the opportunity to become a part of nature in its most raw form by focusing on the lesser known aspects of the African Bush, such as tracks, insects and medicinal uses of plants.
Afternoon: After tea guests will depart on a motor boat to explore the Might Zambezi, the fourth largest river in Africa. Cruising upstream, guests will enjoy the wallowing hippos and basking crocodiles. Large breeding herds of elephant and buffalo can be seen drinking at the rivers edge. The ultimate time to have a sundowner as the sun disappears behind the Zambezi Escarpment to produce an array of colours across the African sky.
Day Three
Morning & Afternoon: Guests, having a slightly later start will enjoy a full day in the Lower Zambezi National Park. Leaving the House in a boat the guests will cruise downstream on the Main Zambezi River, taking in the many channels and islands along the way. Guests will be met by a picnic at lush, cool and low lying area of the park, known as Sunset. Before setting off again, guests can either snooze under the shade of an Acacia Tree or during the hot months, enjoy a cooling wallow on one of the many river sandbars. As the afternoon begins to cool we will set off for an afternoon game drive, discovering the Riparian Woodland that is found in this area.
Day Four
Morning: Even for the inexperienced fisherman, great fun can be had while pursuing the world famous tiger fish. Fishing from one of our motor boats, following our catch and release policy, guests will be expertly guided on how to land these piscatorial monsters. Different techniques can be used, depending on the guests’ inclination. Whether you are an experience or novice fisherman bait, spinning or fly fishing is a must on the Zambezi.
Afternoon: After tea guests depart on Game Drive, concentrating on the Nkalange Plain and Waterbuck Loop. These areas of open grassland and Riverine Forest provide the guests with a great cross section of all that the Lower Zambezi has to offer. The guests will then have sundowners in the foothills of the escarpment, overlooking the vast expanse of the Lower Zambezi Valley. Guests will then continue on a Night Drive in search for the Leopard, Civet, White-tailed Mongoose, Porcupine and other nocturnal species.
Day Five
Morning: Shortly after sunrise we will drive to the base of the Chongwe Falls to then embark on a four hour walking safari into the Lower Zambezi National Park. Walking into the mountains guests have the opportunity to view animals not found on the valley floor. Rare sightings of the agile Klipspringer, the shy Tree Hyrax and the elusive Simango/Blue Monkey as well as a host of new bird species can be found in the Miombo Woodland, which dominates the mountain region of the Park. Guests have an opportunity to take a step back in time to explore the old village sites of the people and cultures of people who used to populate the area.
Afternoon: Chongwe Canoe & Night Drive. A gentle drift down the Chongwe River, with no hippos and very little current, guests are able relax and have the wildlife come to them. Elephants are often seen crossing the Chongwe a short distance from the canoes – a truly magical experience. A vehicle will meet the guests after sundowners to go and look for the rare Pels Fishing Owl which have made the Chongwe River their home.