Tusk & Mane Activites
Visitors to the Lower Zambezi National Park can usually choose from an exceptional range of activities because of its location on the wide Zambezi River. Game drives in open-topped 4WD Land Cruisers are a fantastic way to see the park, a walking safari with a quality, qualified guide and armed Wildlife Police Officer is a MUST DO here. On the water, there are boat trips to explore the Zambezi, getting up close to relaxing hippos and crocodiles sunning on the banks and an impressive array of birds. It’s also perfect for photographing Elephants up-close feeding on the edge, swimming or crossing the Zambezi.
The more intrepid might prefer to take to the waters in a canoe and float silently down gorgeous channels, passed Elephants eating under the Winterthorns and birdlife galore including Pels Fishing Owl if lady luck is with you. Anglers won’t want to miss the opportunity to seek out the aggressive Tigerfish or the powerful Vundu. All fishing here is on a catch-and-release basis to keep our waters and fish populations in prime condition.
As our safaris are small and exclusive we are able to respond to the guests activity preferences on a daily basis.
Walking SaFaris
Walking safaris with guide and armed Wildlife Police Officer.
The walking safaris are best in the early morning at 6.00 AM and early afternoon from 2.30 PM.Our walking safaris are relaxed, the pace is comfortable and Kyle will adjust the walk to suit the slowest member.
Walks usually only cover a couple of miles with frequent stops for scenery, birds and animals. Each walk can be designed for the clients wants.Guests are given a thorough safety briefing and orientation before each walk. In the interests of safety, mediocre fitness and mobility are required in order to participate in walks.
Your professional guide will be carrying a first aid kit, radio and additional water. The client will have a water bottle in a custom-made sling for easy carrying.The Wildlife Police Officer from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife accompanies walking safaris and is well trained. He walks with a .375 caliber rifle, in front with your professional guide and protects the group in the very unlikely event of an aggressive animal encounter.
Day & Night Drives
The drives take place in prime game viewing areas and may involve a short walk to reach the vehicle depending on the remoteness of the area.
Game drives normally last approximately three and a half hours and are offered morning and afternoon.
Game-viewing from one of our custom built, open 4WD vehicle is a real pleasure. Comfortable, high seats allow superb all-round vision and easy photography. The vehicles have been modified to assist photographers with camera rests, shelves and bean bags.
A morning game drive leaves camp around sunrise. Game-viewing starts from camp as we are in the park and our guides are quick to react to the alarm calls of Baboons or impalas etc. They position the vehicle in just the right spot to catch the morning sun on the source of activity – perhaps a leopard or a pride of lions.
The evening game drive departs after afternoon tea. Usually your guide will stop for a sundowner around sunset time, and the drive will continue into the night to observe the nocturnal animals.
Canoeing
Kyle Branch leads all canoes safaris and the back-up paddlers, that pilot each canoe with clients in, are experienced Tusk and Mane staff. Kyle and the canoe team will quietly paddle you through any of the 3 incredibly beautiful channels that break away from the main river. Depending on what the clients want to experience on the day and the time length they want on the canoe safari, we would suggest the Inkalange, Chifungulu or Discovery channel as well as parts of the main river. Each channel is of a different length and the habitats surrounding them differ too.
Boating
The Zambezi River is a wide, flowing river, dotted with tributaries which snake into the National Park, fringed by trees and a mecca for the wildlife. A boat trip up the river is a real treat; the boat is able to drift up almost silently to feeding elephant, buffalo and even the predators as they come down to drink. The Zambezi is, unlike other rivers in Zambia, dotted with papyrus islands, which are often visited by the enormous elephant bulls seeking the papyrus hearts, a delicacy of theirs. On your boat trip, the guide is able to get very close to the feeding elephants without startling them, meaning some out-of-this-world game-viewing and excellent photographic opportunities.
There cannot be many experiences which rival drifting down the centre of the river as the sun sets, watching the skimmers swoop down to take a last drink of water before retiring for the night, with a cold drink in your hand. Sunsets over the Zambezi are reflected; the light is incredible and clear.
Birding is excellent on the river.
Photography- the clients have an exciting and new angle for photography from the water in relation to the animals on the rivers’ banks.
Fishing
Available throughout the whole season- May to November.
Strictly Catch & Release as well as strict procedures when handling the fish to ensure the best chance of survival, helping the fish populations in the Lower Zambezi to increase.
Our Pontoon boat offers a stable platform for 2 fly fisherman or 6 Fishermen spinning.
The Aliboat is also large enough for 4 fishermen to comfortably fish off.
All equipment provided: Quality Tigerfish, Vundu, Bream rods and reels, along with all the tackle and spinners/lures needed.
FAmily ActiviTies
At Tusk & Mane we love to host families. We embrace enthusiasm, energy and curiosity that children bring with them and know the wonder of seeing the magic of discovery through a child’s eyes. We carefully adjust every safari activity to suit the family.
Adventures come thick and fast. Game drives, bush breakfasts, boat trips, lunches under the shade of African trees, bug hunts on foot and foodlit expeditions at night: there’s no end to the activities on offer. Our Zambian Staff brim with hidden skills and will teach your children how to coax insects from sticks, make beautiful beaded jewelry, craft bows and shoot arrows. Please get in touch personally to discuss more.
The Zambian Wildlife Authority does not allow children younger than fourteen to go on walking safaris or Canoeing, but there are plenty of other great fun activities for kids to do. If some of the children are younger than fourteen we will keep the safari family exclusive just in case other guests’ come and don’t like children! Families need to be five or more to ensure this exclusivity. Children younger than eight are not allowed. We tailor the experience for children and review this in camp as to the selection of activities in accordance with the parks rules and regulations.