Zambia: Lusaka to Livingstone train tour and safari for five (5) Days, 6 Nights

Zambia: Lusaka to Livingstone train tour and safari for five (5) Days, 6 Nights

YOUR HOST: Why we are Unique! - We are locals with extensive in-depth area knowledge of Zambia’s tourism products and adventure activities especially in Livingstone and Chobe National Park in Botswana.

Train tour is the best way of exploring and viewing Zambia’s beautiful natural scenery!

With us, we will treat you as an African King and Queen during the entire trip! We operate through out the year to suit your timetable! By extension, you can request us to take you on an extended exciting and budget safari to Chobe National Park in Botswana at the end of this 5 Days train tour safari in Livingstone.

Zambia is considered as one of the safest tourist destinations in the world. Rich in scenery and heritage, Livingstone, your destination has today become the tourist heart of Zambia. It is the tourism heart of southern Zambia, home to the mighty Victoria Falls, a World Heritage Site and Africa’s “Adventure Capital”.

Itinerary

Day 1: LUSAKA KENNETH KAUNDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Stop At: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka ZM ZM, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
Group photo session taken against the LUSAKA KENNETH KAUNDA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT billboard
Duration: 20 minutes

Meals included:
• Lunch: Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine that includes breakfast and dinner.

Accommodation included: Stay at Fintstones Backpackers situated in the heart of Lusaka, it is conveniently located close to train station

Day 2: Lusaka – Livingstone train travel: Distance: 375 km. TRAVEL TIME: 18h 24m

Stop At: Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Lusaka ZM ZM, Lusaka 10101, Zambia
You will board a public train services, operated by Zambia Railways pulling about 7 - 10 passenger carriages. This service runs every Tuesdays and Saturdays from Lusaka but starting off from Kitwe. You will have your own sleeper compartment with bunk beds dressed in squeaking clean bedding sharing compartment with your fellow group members of the same sex. It will include toiletries, slippers and the loan of white, fluffy gowns. During every excursion, bedding attendants will service your sleeper compartment. Each carriage has a flushing toilet at each end and a fixed water basin in the opposite cabin.
Sleeper compartments are not air-conditioned but windows open to allow for cool air circulation. Smoking is not permitted in any of the carriages but only on the outside balcony outside the doorway.
However, you will be free to stroll up and about throughout the entire train carriages and freely mix with other local train travelers in the company of our tour guide and photographer. Not only will you nicely bond with locals travelling on the same train, you’ll have a lot of fun and laughter exchanging pleasantries — the joy that comes from making new discoveries in a foreign country in the company of friends who will also share in the excitement. The entire trip will be captured on video and photos which will be given to every participant at the end of the trip in soft copy. The main role of the Tour Director will be to ensure that the entire trip is done according to plan and attend to any unforeseen eventualities timely.
Pick Up Time: Lusaka CBD
05:30 am: Pick up from Lusaka Flintstone Backpackers to Lusaka Train Station located in the Central Business District (CBD) of Lusaka.
05:40 am: Your team of travelers arrives at the Lusaka Train Station and proceed to sit in the departure Lounge. A safety briefing will be given by the tour and naturalists guide whilst waiting for the arrival of the train. Each participant will also be given locally printed T- shirt for males and the traditional local Chitenge fabric wrappers for ladies which are sewn in national colours as depicted on the Zambian flag – perfect for souvenirs. – (Group photo session taken against the welcome to LUSAKA RAILWAY STATION billboard on the train passenger boarding pavement)
06:56 am: (Train arrives at Lusaka Rail Station from Kabwe). On arrival the train will be stationed at the siding boarding platform with the locomotive ‘engine running’ thus giving a photographic opportunity to anyone wishing to capture a photo. The convenient boarding platform makes it easy and safe to board the train at Lusaka Rail station.
You will board the train through the Lounge Car where welcoming mineral water and snacks will be offered. Orientation will be done by the train Butler.
07:36 am (Train departs from Lusaka for Livingstone). The train will depart from Lusaka rail station, travel southward on the “Cape to Cairo” main Zambia rail line, seeing the icon FINDECO house on the western side, the tallest building in Zambia. You will experience the true Zambian culture of this beautiful country as the train winds its way through Lusaka’s densely populated residential areas, passing some green farming blocks, villages and schools along the way. This will then take you to Kafue town for a brief stop-over, thereafter head to one of Zambians unique landmark; the Kafue River and state-of-art Kafue Bridge.
09: 50 am: The train will stop on the Kafue Bridge for approximately 10 minutes. You will have a chance to have a closer view of the Kafue River through the window. It is one of the main rivers of Zambia, the main source and water supplier to Lusaka city. The tour guide will be close by to provide more information.
Meals
Notes: Meals shall be served in one seating in the train dining carriage. Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine, fresh fruit and sumptuous desserts. You will be at liberty to buy and consume alcohol and non- alcoholic beverages at your own account.
10:00 am – 10:30 am: You shall be served you with English breakfast, on first and second day, lunch on first and second day, dinner on first day. In-between, we shall serve you with snacks, and drinks. A menu will be circulated for you to choose what you will eat at lunch time.
11: 00 am: Spectacular view of Kafue Flats and sugar plantation; loosely referred to as “The prairies of Zambia” as it is similar to the prairies of Canada. The train will enter the jaw dropping Kafue Flats which are the vast, open floodplain of the Kafue River, covering some 6,500km2 within the wider basin of the Zambezi River. You will see vast expanse of sugar plantations far and wide appearing to join the sky far yonder on both sides of the railway line.
Socio-economic importance: The Kafue River and Flats are important for fishing, cattle grazing, sugarcane farming, and production of hydroelectric power upstream in Itezhi Tezhi. The tour guide will be close by to provide more information.
11:35am – Arrive in Mazabuka, dubbed “The Sweetest Town” in Zambia because sugar is manufactured here. First-off-the-train Excursion: You will disembark from the train onto the station pavement and mingle with small-scale trade hawkers and buy any number of sugar canes for yourself to peel off and enjoy the juicy fresh cans – (Group photo session taken against the welcome to MAZABUKA billboard). The tour guide will be close by to provide more information. Thereafter, you will board the train again.
12:00 pm – Depart for Monze whilst passing a number of small village siding settlements along the way.
12:10 pm - 13:50. First sitting for Lunch – It shall be a sumptuous full course meal. Dress code: smart casual and no shorts.
13:57 pm – Arrive in Monze town, an agriculture town, with an estimated population of 163,578 people.
Second-off-the-train Excursion: You will disembark from the train onto the platform and meet a ground historian guide based in Monze. He will give a brief history of the southern part of Zambia being the tourism hub of Zambia. (Group photo session taken against the welcome to MONZE billboard). Meanwhile, the bed attendant will attend to your sleeper rooms removing out any trash. Thereafter, you will once again board the train.
14:17 pm – The train will depart for Choma passing through small village siding along the way, namely Rusangu, Chisekesi, Pemba, Muzoka, Batoka in that order before reaching Choma (Distance is 285km from Lusaka and 188km from Livingstone). The tour guide will be close by to provide more information on Choma.
18:04 pm: Arrive in Choma, the provincial headquarters of southern province of Zambia.
Third-off-the-train Excursion – You will go for 20 minutes walk to the Choma central business centre. Though most shops will be closed at that time, participants will be free to purchase alcoholic beverages and other special soft drinks at their own account in Choma town, at any open liquor bottle store. These drinks may be consumed during the evening relaxing time in the train restaurant after dinner. (Group photo session taken against the welcome to CHOMA RAILWAY STATION billboard)
Bed attendants will in the meantime be attending to your sleeper compartment in your absence putting everything in order.
18:34 pm: The train will depart from Choma passing small village rail siding along the way, namely Tara, Mukwela in that order before reaching Kalomo (Distance is 66 km from Choma). The tour guide will be close by to provide more information.
20:30 pm. Arrive in Kalomo town, the first colonial capital city of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia. The tour guide will be close by to provide more information.
20:55 pm. Depart from Kalomo town en route to final destination of Livingstone, the tourist capital of Zambia. (Distance between Kalomo and Livingstone is 128 km).
19:30 pm – 21:00 pm; First sitting for Dinner in the train Restaurant Cab. It will be an elegant affair with all group members expected to be in attendance at the same time to enjoy sumptuous dinner meal. Dress Code: Smart casual.
21:00 pm – 23:00 pm: You will continue enjoying post-dinner drinks on your own account, chatting, laughing with friends in the train restaurant cab before retiring to bed. Bed attendants will already have prepared your sleeper compartment in your absence for you to enjoy a comfortable sleep.

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine that includes lunch and dinner.

Accommodation included: You will share a train sleeper compartment with bunk beds dressed in squeaking clean bedding

Day 3: Still on board train tour

Stop At: Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Livingstone 10101 Zambia
08:10 am: Wake up call; thereafter take a warm face washing.
08:20 am– 08: 30am - A short briefing on planned activities of the day by the Tour Director and Guide.
08:30 – 10:00 - Enjoy a second sitting morning breakfast on a first-come-first-serve basis.
12:30 pm - 13:30 pm: Second sitting Lunch
14.00 pm - Train arrives at Livingstone rail station, much to your excitement and toast! You will disembark and gather at the Livingstone Railway Arrival Lounge – (Group photo session taken against the welcome to LIVINGSTONE billboard)
You will be ushered in the comfortable air-conditioned mini-bus, transferred to Jollyboys Backpackers & Camp in Livingstone city centre next to Choma museum.
14: 30pm - Check-in at Jollyboys Backpackers & Camp (subject to availability of space as demand for accommodation at this facility is quite high throughout the year. Alternative accommodation will be at Nyembe Kaoma Backpackers if Jollyboys will be fully booked at the time of you making final confirmation with us).
Description of Jollyboys Backpackers & Camp: Quality, budget accommodation in the centre of Livingstone with a wide variety of accommodation choices including, camping, dorms of various sizes and private en suite rooms with air conditioning and Free WIFI!
Livingstone Safaris and Activities!
Notes: Livingstone the Tourist capital City of Zambia, and Adventure capital of Africa was named after the famous Victorian missionary explorer, Dr David Livingstone, who explored this area extensively. Livingstone Town was established in 1905. Most people visit Livingstone because they want to visit and see the mighty Victoria Falls.

15:30pm - 17: 00pm: Take a walk visit Livingstone city centre, see the colonial buildins, shops, banks, local market and buy your assortment of drinks at the famous Shoprite shop; Thereafter, return to Jollyboys Backpackers & Camp.
17:00pm - 18:30pm: Relaxation and spend quality time with colleagues; recollecting on the events of the just completed train travel journey from Lusaka to Livingstone. Sit around the open foyer whilst taking soft drinks on your own account.
09: 30 - 21:45 Group dinner

23:00: Retire to sleep

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine that includes lunch and dinner.

Accommodation included: 08:10 am: Wake up call; warm face washing.
08:20 am– 08: 30am - A short briefing on planned activities of the day

Day 4: Arrive in Livingstone and commence touring the Mighty Victoria Falls and undertake Water related Activities

Stop At: Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Livingstone 10101 Zambia
06:10 am: Wakeup call; thereafter take a warm shower.
06:30 am: Group briefing and motivational session by the Tour Director
07:00 am – 07: 30: am – Enjoy morning breakfast
07:30 am - 08:00 am: Travel and take a tour to “The Smoke That Thunders” locally called Mosi-oa-Tunya for the incredible beauty and mesmerizing strength, heart-pounding sensation and power of the mighty Victoria Falls for unforgettable experience, It is located 12km from Livingstone city centre travelling southwards towards the Zimbabwe’s Vic Falls border.
08:00am – 09:30am: Commence touring the Victoria Falls for 1r.30min; (Group photo session taken against the background of falling sheet of water of the Victoria Falls).
09:30am – 10:00am: Tea-break
10:10am: Thereafter, leave for Avani Victoria Falls resort hotel, particularly to visit the mock traditional village behind the resort.
10:30am - 12:30pm: Tour the mock traditional villages and appreciate the mimicked African traditional villages. Possibly some female members can have their hair plaited in the African style on their own account.
12:30pm – 13;30pm: Take Lunch at an up market restaurant in Livingstone city. Thereafter walk across to Jollyboys (or Nyembe Kaoma) Backpackers & Camp for 1hr of rest.
14:30pm: Afternoon Water Recreation at the Devils Pool on the mighty Zambezi River which forms park of Victoria Falls.
Relax as you are transferred by minibus to the Royal Livingstone Hotel for a detailed safety briefing before a 5 minute boat ride to Livingstone Island. Your guide will navigate through the Zambezi River current heading towards the column of spray rising from the Victoria Falls.
Once you get to rocky Livingstone Island, the staff will welcome you with a traditional African energy drink. Your guide will take you first to the eastern side of the island to view Rainbow Falls and the Horseshoe. Discover the island’s western side to see the Main Falls, where you’ll enjoy the magnificent torrent of water cascading over the basalt edge of the falls; expect to see stunning rainbows.
You will then have the chance to swim in the Devil's Pool, for a once in a lifetime water experience. Your guide will lead as you swim upstream in a slow current. Sit at the edge of the fall’s and Devils Pool, gazing at Victoria Falls, as immense water torrents flow just feet away. Photos will be taken for everyone whilst in water. When you return to Livingstone Island, fill up on a traditional afternoon snacks, before your journey back to Jollyboys (or Nyembe Kaoma) Backpackers & Camp).

17:00pm - 18:30pm: Relaxation and spend quality quite time in the open foyer with colleagues recollecting on events of the day at in the Devils Pool whilst taking assortment of drinks on your own account.
19:30 pm – 20:00 pm: Group dinner
20: 30 pm - 22:45 pm: Experience the Livingstone Night Life. Escorted as a Group walking to any of the decent night club nearby. You will take an assortment of drinks on your own account and dance away the night to the Zambian popular club music!
22:45pm - Return as a Group walking to .Jollyboys (or Nyembe Kaoma) Backpackers & Camp.
23:00pm: Retire to sleep

Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine that includes lunch and dinner.

Accommodation included: Explore the mighty Victoria Falls, — one of the natural seven wonders and largest falling sheet of water of the world.

Day 5: Livingstone Activities

Stop At: Victoria Falls, Zambezi River, Livingstone 10101 Zambia
07:30 am: Group briefing by the Tour Director, and undertake a morning Group walk safari up to Livingstone General hospital, covering 1 km going and another 1 km returning.
08:00 am – 08: 30: am – Enjoy morning breakfast
08:30 am - : Walk across to Livingstone museum for 5 minutes.
09:00 am. 10;30am. Visit the Livingstone museum for 1hr.30 minutes. Well presented and hugely informative centre worthy a visit.
09:30am – 10:00am: Return to Backpacker for Tea-break
10:30am – Travel to Railway museum.
10:40am – 12:00pm. Visit the Railway museum for 1.1/2 hrs: A collection of vintage locomotives and rolling stock harking back to the days of steam trains in Zambia.
12:30pm – 13;30pm Lunch at an up market restaurant in Livingstone city. Thereafter walk across to Jollyboys (or Nyembe Kaoma) Backpackers & Camp of 1hr rest.
14:30pm – (Option 1: cost included in this package)Travel to Mukuni Village within Livingstone zonal area (A distance of 30 kms one way).
Activities:
1. Village tour
2. Visiting the traditional healers or African doctor
3. Visiting the village craft market
(Option 2: cost is NOT included in this package) Alternatively you may consider taking the other excursion options of a game drive trip to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park and the Victoria Falls area which host white rhinos, elephant, buffalo and giraffe as well as a range of craft markets. Game drive viewing shall be done in a custom built 4×4 Safari Land Cruiser safari vehicles driven by a professional guide. Should you consider and pursue option 2, the cost of this package will be revised upwards to capture the fair cost of providing option 2 activities to the group.
17:00pm - 18:30pm: Relaxation and spend quality quite time with colleagues recollecting on the events of the day in the open foyer whilst taking assortment of drinks on your own account.
Option 3: (cost is NOT included in this package): Adrenaline fuelled activities of white water rafting or bungee jumping (but not both).
White water is one of the most intense water activity experience that can ever be imagined and done on Zambezi River!. It’s a wild rollercoaster journey rafting from the surfing base of Victoria Falls through Batoka Gorge.
Bungi Jumping: Take a leap of faith from the highest bridge of the Victoria Falls jump into the world below! The Victoria Falls is 111 metres high and spans the Batoka Gorge, the mighty Zambezi River right below.
Should you consider and pursue option 3, the cost of this package will be revised upwards to capture the fair cost of providing water activities in option 3 activities.
NOTE: Kindly communicate your choice of either pursuing Option (1) or (2) or (3) in good time before concluding and sealing/concluding this package. ONLY one option of activities can be pursued at any given point in time.

20:30 pm – 22:45 pm. Group Farewell dinner at an exclusive place expressing full of excitement for successfully ending this once in a lifetime trip. Votes of thank you shall be offered!. You will take an assortment of drinks on your own account which you should buy earlier during the day.

22:45 - Return as a Group to .Jollyboys (or Nyembe Kaoma) Backpackers & Camp.
23:00: Retire to sleep

“END OF A GREAT 5 DAYS TOUR EXPEDITION TO LIVINGSTONE SOUTHERN PROVINCE OF ZAMBIA” The following Day we shall take everyone to Livingstone International airport for your International flights out to your next destination


Duration: 12 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast: Each meal shall boast of international and traditional Zambian cuisine that includes lunch and dinner.

Accommodation included: Nyembe Kaoma backpacker is a great budget accommodation for those wanting an affordable, value-for-money option.