Cultural Expedition: Likumbi Lya Mize & Zambezi Valley

Upon arrival at Lusaka international airport, you will be welcomed by your guides and assisted in final preparations (local SIM card, forex, etc.) before your Safari starts. Short transfer across town and check-in at Sandy’s Creations, a beautiful accommodation immersed in wonderful gardens with two swimming pools, bars and restaurants. Dinner in Lusaka not included.

The Lower Zambezi Valley is renowned for its breath-taking views and for the abundance of wildlife that lives along the shores of the Zambezi River. This valley hosts both the Lower Zambezi National Park (on the Zambian shores) and Mana Pools National Park (on the Zimbabwean shores) creating a vast protected area where animals are free to roam without boundaries. This area deserves to be visited both by river and by land in order to fully understand the wild beauty of this place. Lower Zambezi National Park is the most recent park in Zambia and one of the wildest and most picturesque in the whole Africa.

Breakfast at the lodge and departure for Chirundu (120 km of paved road – approximately 2.5 hours depending on traffic leaving the capital). Along the way, a short stop to visit the Chirundu Fossil Forest archaeological site, where you can admire 160-million-year-old fossilized tree trunks and learn about the history of this region. A short continuation on a dirt road to Nsofu Lodge, where you will have lunch directly at the confluence of the Zambezi River and one of its major tributaries, the Kafue River. After lunch, depart by boat for Elephant Crossing Safari Bushcamp, a prestigious camp on the banks of the Zambezi River, where you can experience the atmosphere of the late 19th century and the era of the Great Explorations of the Zambezi River. Here, you will stay for 3 nights in a Luxury safari tent overlooking the river on an all-inclusive basis. Dinner at the lodge and an evening around the campfire.

Get ready to explore with our expert guides:

At 05.00 a.m. the bush camp staff are up to get the fires lit, boil the water, and prepare for breakfast.

At 05.15 a.m. Guests are woken with hot water to prepare their own cup of tea or coffee or to prepare themselves an incredible bush Espresso. When ready, guests make their way to the open Boma, where they can enjoy a spectacular sunrise wile having breakfast.

At 06.00 a.m Breakfast is served with fruit, yoghurts, cereals, toast and juice, followed by a 06.30 a.m. departure by boat for a sunrise Boat Safari that will bring them right at the Main Gate of the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Around 07.30 a.m. After checking in at the Main Gate, guests will start enjoying their Full Day Game Drive in the Lower Zambezi National Park until approximately 10.00 a.m. where they will stop for a spectacular mid-morning break with Muffins, Cake, Tea & Coffee and whatever our chef has prepared for them.

The Game Drive will then continue until 12.30 when the guide will choose a spectacular location for a pic-nic lunch on the shores of the Zambezi River.

After Lunch and a bit of relax enjoying the quietness of the natural environment, the Game Drive will continue until 16.00 when you will meet your boat again, ready for a return Sunset Cruise with a sundowner on the water.

You will reach camp around 17.30 and have time to enjoy a hot shower and some relaxing time before dinner will be served at 19.30. All guests will eat together under the start at the open boma where everyone discusses the sightings of the day and gets to know each other over a few glasses of fine wine.

The evening will then continue by our Campfire. Around 21.30 most of the guests retire to bed and the team continue the evening clear up and get ready for the following day.

Sunrise breakfast and return transfer to Lusaka.

Upon arrival you will check in at Wild dogs Lodge (or similar), in the northern part of Lusaka and have a free leisure afternoon. Dinner in Lusaka not included.

Sunrise breakfast at your lodge and early transfer to Lusaka airport, where you will catch a 6.30 a.m. domestic flight to Solwezi (1 hour).

Solwezi used to be a small, quiet village counting a thousand people until just a few years ago, when it experienced a sudden growth thanks to the discovery of precious metals and the opening of some of the most important mines in the Copperbelt region.

Upon landing at 07.30 a.m. you will be welcomed by our drivers and start a long transfer (500km – tarmac road) by minibus on tarmac road to a small village called Zambezi, where the Likumbi Lya Mize will take place. Packed lunch along the way and arrival expected in the early afternoon.

ATTENTION: ZAMBEZI IS A VERY RURAL AREA WITH ONLY ONE GOOD LEVEL LODGE, USUALLY RESERVED FOR POLITICIANS AND HEAD OF STATES WHO VISIT DURING THE LIKUMBI LYA MIZE CEREMONY. DUE TO OUR LONG-ESTABLISHED RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LUVALE ROYAL CHIEFTAINSHIP WE WILL HAVE A PREFERENTIAL LANE TO BOOK THIS LUXURY HOTEL. HOWEVER, PAYMENT FOR THESE ROOMS MUST BE DONE WELL IN ADVANCE AND IF THE PRESIDENT OR HIS DIGNITARIES WILL DECIDE TO OCCUPY THE WHOLE LODGE, THEY WILL HAVE THE PRIORITY OVER ANY OTHER EXISTING BOOKING.

IF IT WILL NOT BE POSSIBLE TO FIND ACCOMMODATION IN THIS LODGE, WE WILL HAVE TO RESORT TO LOCAL GUESTHOUSES WHERE STANDARDS MIGHT BE MUCH INFERIOR TO THOSE OF WESTERN ACCOMMODATIONS. THEREFORE, SPIRIT OF ADAPTATION IS ESSENTIAL!

After arrival you will check in for the next 6 nights on a Full Board basis, and have the opportunity to wander around the small village of Zambezi, that will be a hive of activities for the Likumbi Lya Mize or rest at your accommodation. Night lodging.

Makishi (the spirit of the ancestors of the Luvale people) emerge from their graves and possess the bodies of the dancers. These spirits, confused and disorientated are led by the Luvale women along the streets of Zambezi, screaming, shouting, dancing, and performing esoteric rituals along the way. At sunset, they will gather along the shores of the Zambezi River and cross by boat on the other side, symbolising the crossing of the passage from the world of the dead to the world of the living. Your expert guide will lead you through the village, ensuring you will always be at the centre of the celebrations.

Full board at the Hotel. Night lodging.

After breakfast, you will have a meeting with your expert guide during which you will learn about the history of the Luvale people, their traditions and the Likumbi Lya Mize, explaining the rituals and meaning. Afterwards we will break for leisure and lunch before proceeding to attend the second day of celebration of the Likumbi Lya Mize on the white beach of the Zambezi (second day of celebration usually starts after 12.00). At Sunset, return to the hotel by canoe or boat. Full board at the Hotel. Night lodging.

After breakfast, Local tour to see and explore the most interesting landmarks of the Region. Afterwards we will break for leisure and lunch before proceeding to attend the second day of celebration on the white beach of the Zambezi (usually starts after 12.00). At Sunset, return to the hotel by canoe or boat. Full board at the Hotel. Night lodging.

After breakfast, visit of the Zambezi village and purchase of gifts to present to the Senior Chief to thank him for his hospitality. We will then try to obtain a private meeting with the chief inside the Royal Palace of Mize, during which we may ask questions about the tradition of Likumbi Lya Mize or simply pay our respects (Please note: The chief will be extremely busy during this day, so we might have to wait a long time and audience might be rejected if he will be too busy meeting with politicians and dignitaries). In the afternoon, the celebrations of Likumbi Lya Mize will take place outside the royal palace. At Sunset, return to the hotel by canoe or boat. Full board at the Hotel. Night lodging.

Immediately after breakfast, we cross the Zambezi River and reach the Royal Palace Arena, where the climax of Likumbi Lya Mize will take place. We will have VIP seats in a vantage position, being personal guests of the Royal Family.

Attention: it is possible that we will have to wait for quite some time to allow all the head of states, the politicians, and representatives of all tribes to reach the Arena. Therefore, we will have to be patient while waiting for everything to be ready.

During the day, there will be many celebrations and rituals that will be explained by your guide. Makishi will enter the arena and kneel in front of their king, while the living will be chanting the prise of the Luvale people. There will be numerous dances by the traditional dancers, animal sacrifice and finally the Tudanji children will come back to life in a climax of dances. Lunch and drinks can be bought from the numerous stands next to the arena. At Sunset, return to the hotel for our last night in Zambezi. Full board at the Hotel. Night lodging.

Early breakfast at the lodge followed by departure for a long return transfer (500 km of tarmac road) to Solwezi, the capital city of the Luba-Kaonde people, the final chapter of our cultural journey among the culture of the Luba, Lunda and Vaka Chinyama Tribes. Pic-nic lunch along the way and arrival in Solwezi expected in the early afternoon. Time available to relax by the pool or to visit the town, market, and/or the art gallery. Accommodation will be at the Royal Solwezi hotel, a comfortable accommodation in this very remote region. Dinner at the lodge is not included

Breakfast at the lodge and time to relax and prepare your luggage. Based on your flight schedule, you will be brought to Solwezi airstrip, where you will board a domestic flight to Lusaka and connect with your international return flight. End of the tour.