8 Nights Horse Safari and Victoria Falls Adventure
Experience Zambia on Horseback
Saddle up for an Africa journey that’s equal parts adventure and freedom, pairing the drama of Victoria Falls with an unforgettable multi-day horseback safari in a remote corner of Zambia.
You’ll begin in Livingstone, perfectly placed for waterfall views and bucket-list experiences (from flights over the falls to river time on the Zambezi), with the flexibility to shape each day around what excites you most.
From there, the pace shifts beautifully as you head upriver towards Zambian Horseback Safaris, a true off-the-beaten-track transfer that sets the tone for what’s to come: wide horizons, big skies, and the sort of wild, open riding most people only dream about.
Over the following days, you’ll explore the vast Simalaha Wilderness on horseback, cantering across plains, weaving through mopane woodland and riding alongside the Zambezi, with chances to encounter wildlife and gain a real window into local Lozi life along the riverbanks. Evenings are for sundowners, starlight, and that wonderful, tired-happy feeling you only get after a full day in the saddle — with optional “star bed” sleep-outs for those who want to take the wilderness immersion one step further.
Experience The Highlights
Itinerary Overview
Quick Summary
| Day 1 | Arrival in Livingstone | Chundukwa River Lodge |
| Day 2 | Wake up with the Sun | Chundukwa River Lodge |
| Day 3 | Zambezi day | Chundukwa River Lodge |
| Day 4 | Journey to Zambian Horseback Safaris | Zambian Horseback Safaris |
| Days 5 – 7 | A Gathering of Stories and Friends | Zambian Horseback Safaris |
| Day 8 | Livingstone-Bound | Chundukwa River Lodge |
| Day 9 | End of Tour |
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Detailed Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival in Livingstone
Arrival in Livingstone
After clearing Immigration and collecting your luggage, you will be warmly greeted by a member of our team. From there, enjoy a scenic 25-minute drive to Chundukwa River Lodge, your tranquil riverside retreat. Welcome to Chundukwa River Lodge!
- Accommodation: Chundukwa River Lodge
- Meals: B, L, D
Day 2: Wake up with the Sun
Explore Victoria Falls today
After a good night’s rest and a hearty, fresh breakfast, guests may feel free to explore Livingstone and Victoria Falls today. No set time departures, no waiting for the late risers—you are free to spend as much time as you want to experience the world’s largest waterfall and surrounding attractions. This is your day to do it all, see it all, and experience it all! Use of our vehicle with a driver/guide is included in your stay with us.
- Accommodation: Chundukwa River Lodge
- Meals: B, L, D
Additional Options for Day 2
Additional Activities and Day Trips
There is a lot to do and see in and around Livingstone and Victoria Falls! Some experiences are seasonal and water-level dependent. Other experiences have extremely limited availability and it’s best to book these far in advance in order to secure a spot. We’ve become “experience fundis” over the years and our team is on standby to guide you and assist with all activity arrangements in advance of your stay. Whilst not all activities on offer are listed below, these are a few of our preferred experiences. Owned and operated by third-party suppliers. All experiences are subject to availability. These outsourced activities are extra and for your own account, or may be billed into your itinerary.
1. A trip to Livingstone Island for Breakfast, Lunch, High Tea and an optional swim in the
Devils/Angel Pool: Experience the freedom of standing in the middle of a World Wonder on Livingstone Island! An absolutely immersive, incredible experience that is a highlight for every guest. An absolute must! Your trip starts on the banks of the Zambezi River, where you will meet your guide and be given an introduction of what to expect and a safety talk. From there, you will take a short boat ride to Livingstone Island. The captain will navigate the rocky channels as you cruise within a close distance of the Victoria Falls. Once you reach Livingstone Island, you will be greeted by staff and taken on an adventure to the edge of the waterfall – if it is a sunny day, the rainbow views are incredible! Clients are then provided the optional experience of swimming in the Angels Pool or Devils Pool (the open rock pool will depend on water levels/safety). The Devils Pool has a natural rock ledge literally on the edge of the Falls, allowing visitors to safely swim in the pool without getting swept over the edge. After the optional swimming experience, your guide will lead you back to a pop-up restaurant where you will be treated to either Breakfast, or High Tea, depending on the time of day.
2. Flight of the Angels over Victoria Falls
(Helicopter, Microlight or Ultralight): Soar over Victoria Falls by helicopter or microlight in an unforgettable ride. A longer ride will include the magnificent Batoka Gorge and the National Park. Will you meet an Angel as you fly through the mist of the Falls?
3. Victoria Falls Day Trip
(Zambia) *inclusive for all guests staying with us on a Fully-Inclusive Basis!
4. Victoria Falls Day Trip (Zimbabwe)
5. Spa Treatments
6. A meal at The Elephant Cafe, voted Zambia’s Top Restaurant Experience
7. White Water Rafting Experience
Voted the World’s Best One Day Rafting: Famed as the best one-day rafting experience in the world, the Zambezi River flowing down the Batoka Gorge provides one of the most intense sensory thrills imaginable. Its white-water rapids and striking scenery, deep within the sheer black cliffs of the Batoka Gorge afford the adrenaline junkie a wild roller-coaster ride along a route carved over millennia by the middle Zambezi River. Opt for a Full or Half-Day Rafting experience in Low or High Water Season and hold on tight!
8. Swim under the Falls
9. Walking Safari
Tracking Livingstone’s white rhino: Embark on a guided walking safari in our local Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in search of the rare and endangered White Rhinos. A spectacular opportunity to learn about local flora and fauna, and to be able to view Zambia’s special White Rhino and other game on foot.
10. Game drive in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park
11. Day Safari in Zimbabwe with Charles Brightman
12. Dinner Experience on The Royal Livingstone Express
13.Day trip to Chobe National Park
Chobe National Park is well known for being one of the best wildlife destinations in the world. This safari experience is ideal as a combination destination with Zambia as a day-trip experience due to its close proximity. A Chobe River Safari brings you close to brilliant birdlife, pods of watering hippos, primeval crocodiles and elephants, breathtaking in their sheer number – in fact, the world’s largest elephant population. The land-based safari heads deeper into the Park to spot the elusive big cats that make Chobe their home. Chobe is also a popular birding destination – more than 450 species have been recorded. Several species, including skimmers, are on their southern-most limit, making a sighting particularly exciting for Southern Africa bird watchers. Land-based and water-based safaris are available and both are possible in a single Chobe Day Trip.
14. Livingstone Museum
15. Livingstone Curio Markets
16. Victoria Falls Bridge Activities (Bungee Jump, Bridge Slide, Bridge Swing or Bridge Tour)
17. Livingstone Crocodile Park
18. Canoe Trip – Full or Half-Day Experience
19. River Float – Full or Half-Day Experience
20. Zambezi Fishing – Full or Half-Day Experience
21. WAYAWAYA Studio and Shop:
WAYAWAYA design and produce exquisite handcut, handcrafted handbags, leather goods, travel accessories and gifting solutions – where Norway meets Zambia in a delightful explosion of quality and color. With a visitor-friendly studio in Livingstone, WAYAWAYA provide an opportunity for vulnerable women through training programs and job creation – all purchases have a direct social impact on the ladies working here. Never has a purchase felt so good!
22. Sishemo Bead Studio and Shop
Sishemo is a women-led social enterprise based in Nakatindi, a community on the outskirts of Livingstone. With extremely limited employment opportunities within Nakatindi, particularly for women, Sishemo provides economic empowerment opportunities to 7 female artisans. Sishemo take discarded glass bottles from lodges, hotels and households across Livingstone, crushes and fire the glass into handcrafted, unique beads using traditional techniques. These beads are then used to make one-of-a-kind necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other bead products.
23. Livingstone Art Gallery
24. Wayi Wayi Art Gallery
Visit an artists’ co-op run by Agness and Lawrence Yombwe, both among the foremost artists of Zambia. Learn some fascinating Zambian culture and traditions in their welcoming gallery and studio with paintings and sculptures – also a home to local artists, where there is something for everyone.
25. Pure Skills Studio and Shop
26. Catch a Moonbow
Time your visit to catch a Lunar Rainbow or ‘Moonbow’ – when the moon is full, the sky is clear, and Victoria Falls are at their peak flow, huge rainbows appear through the mist at night. The light of the moon is refracted through the spray that rises up from the base of the Victoria Falls. This unique phenomenon is visible the day before, the day of and the day after the full moon in High Water Season!
Day 3: Zambezi Day
Choose from a number of options today
Enjoy a Ride along the Zambezi River. Or enhance your Zambian adventure with a guided walk to see the country’s endangered white rhino up close—an extraordinary chance to encounter these rare giants on foot, guided by experienced rangers in a protected reserve.
Alternatively, cross into neighbouring Botswana for a Chobe Day Trip, where the Chobe River becomes a lifeline for incredible wildlife during the dry season. Botswana boasts the highest elephant population in Africa, with up to 50,000 elephants gathering along the riverbanks—offering unmatched game viewing both by boat and on land. Both experiences promise unforgettable wildlife encounters and a deeper connection with Africa’s natural wonders.
- Accommodation: Chundukwa River Lodge
- Meals: B, L, D
Day 4: Journey to Zambian Horseback Safaris
Journey to Zambian Horseback Safaris
Our journey begins with a 40-minute road transfer to the vibrant riverside hub of Mambova—a small African harbour alive with the sights and sounds of daily life. Here, local villagers and fishermen gather to trade their catch amid a colourful scene of children playing, goats wandering, and chickens clucking through the dust. You’ll know by now that you’re well off the tourist trail, heading into a truly remote and beautiful corner of Africa.
From Mambova, we continue by boat, cruising upstream along the mighty Zambezi—Africa’s fourth-largest river. Along the way, keep an eye out for hippos wallowing, crocodiles sunning themselves, and fishermen paddling traditional mokoros, with glimpses of rural life unfolding along the riverbanks. Our 8-seater Alli-Boat is shaded by a canopy and stocked with refreshments. Be sure to have your riding gear handy—you’ll be saddling up as soon as we arrive! And don’t forget a warm jacket, just in case the breeze picks up on the water. After two hours on the river, look out for the horses, saddled and waiting on the riverbank. It’s time to ride! Doug is in charge of horsing riders. This afternoon, as we ride to camp, Doug will ascertain the best horses for your experience with us. Your luggage will follow us to the camp.
- Accommodation: Zambian Horseback Safaris
- Meals: B, L, D
Days 5 – 7: A Gathering of Stories and Friends
A Gathering of Stories and Friends
Each day at Zambian Horseback Safaris begins just before dawn, with a quiet cup of tea or coffee and a light breakfast to set the tone for the adventure ahead. Mornings are spent exploring the vast and remarkable Simalaha Wilderness on horseback—180,000 square kilometres of unspoiled African landscape.
This is a place to truly immerse yourself in nature: cantering across open plains, weaving through mopane forests, passing ancient baobab trees, and riding alongside the Zambezi River. Along the way, you’ll encounter herds of wildlife and observe the everyday lives of the Lozi people, who move cattle and fish along the riverbanks.
With no predators or hidden dangers, the Simalaha offers pure riding freedom and the rare thrill of galloping into the horizon. After returning to camp for a delicious lunch, your afternoon is free for birdwatching, cooling off with a swim, or simply dozing in the shade as wildlife gathers at the nearby waterhole. Later, as the heat softens, you’ll set out again for a sundowner ride—each route thoughtfully chosen by Doug to suit the group and track wildlife activity.
- Accommodation: Zambian Horseback Safaris
- Meals: B, L, D
Additional Options for Day 5
Star Beds
For those seeking an even deeper connection with the land, there’s the unforgettable option of a Star Bed sleep-out. If the weather allows, you can drift off beneath the open sky in a beautifully prepared bedroll complete with soft linens, pillows, and a mosquito net—raw-luxe comfort in a predator-free wilderness. Please note that this experience is weather-dependent and not available during the rainy season, and an additional fee applies.
Day 8: Livingstone-Bound
Livingstone-Bound
This morning offers a final chance to canter across the plains, soaking up the sunrise and savouring the sights and sounds of the wild one last time. After breakfast, we begin our journey back to Livingstone—first by boat along the Zambezi to Mambova Harbour, then continuing by road to Chundukwa River Lodge, returning to the comfort and tranquillity of the lodge as before.
- Accommodation: Chundukwa River Lodge
- Meals: B, L, D
Day 9: End of Tour
End of Trip
Enjoy a peaceful sunrise from your Riverside Chalet, with the option to take a final morning cruise along the Zambezi River, a serene and fitting farewell to this extraordinary landscape. Later, you’ll be transferred back to Livingstone Airport for your onward journey, carrying with you the memories of your Zambian adventure.
- Accommodation: B
Do You Have Questions About This Tour?
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Accommodation on This Tour
Accommodation overview: Where you will be staying on this tour.
Chundukwa River Lodge
Livingstone, Zambia
Website: Chundukwa River Lodge
Chundukwa River Lodge offers a unique experience of luxury and tranquillity along the banks of the Zambezi River. The lodge features comfortable chalets with stunning views of the river, providing a peaceful retreat surrounded by nature.
Guests can enjoy river cruises, birdwatching, horse-riding and guided walks to explore the beauty around them. The lodge’s restaurant serves delicious meals using fresh, local ingredients, and the bar offers a selection of wines and cocktails to enjoy while watching the sunset over the river.
With its peaceful setting and personalised service, Chundukwa River Lodge is the perfect choice for those seeking a relaxing getaway in Zambia.
Riverside Chalets
As part of our commitment to sustainable tourism, our Riverside Chalets do not have air-conditioning. These units are designed to blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings of the river and forest, offering an authentic eco-lodge experience. All chalets feature an open-fronted layout, allowing you to truly immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of nature. While doors and windows are covered with protective gauze, the units are not hermetically sealed. Each room includes mosquito nets, gauze-covered openings, and private balconies with stunning views of the river and surrounding trees. Please be aware that our location is nestled deep within nature, and it’s not uncommon to encounter insects or hear hippos active at night. This is all part of the unique experience our guests love and embrace. We encourage you to come with a spirit of adventure and appreciation for the wild, tranquil beauty that makes our lodge so special. All chalets have en-suite bathrooms, and we can accommodate twin or king beds in each chalet.
Zambian Horseback Safaris
Livingstone, Zambia
Website: Zambian Horseback Safaris
Zambian Horseback Safaris offers a unique experience in the heart of South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Enjoy the thrill of exploring the African wilderness on horseback with experienced guides. The accommodations are comfortable and blend harmoniously with the natural surroundings. Guests can expect to see a wide variety of wildlife up close, including elephants, giraffes, and zebras. The camp also offers game drives, walking safaris, and cultural visits to local villages. After a day of adventure, relax by the campfire under the starlit sky, soaking in the sounds of the African night. Immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of the African bush at Zambian Horseback Safaris.
Tent
Vast open spaces, starlit skies, and the sing-song of nature at dawn. Our camp exudes a peaceful synchronicity of design, community, and nature, all fused with breathtaking views over the Simalaha Plains. We accommodate a maximum of 8 riders in four tents. We have taken special care to provide good quality mattresses, linen, and towels to ease those achy bodies after long hours in the saddle!
Price Includes
Zambian Horseback Safaris:
5-7 hours of riding per day, depending on your preference. We make a provision of two horses per rider.
Accommodation in our luxury ensuite tents with hot showers, lounge facilities, and a shared eco-pool.
VAT, Tourism Levy, and Service Charges
Chundukwa River Lodge (pre and post):
Arrival and departure transfers to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (Livingstone)
One in-house activity per day from a selected list
All meals at Chundukwa River Lodge.
House wine, beer, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and water
Complimentary WIFI
Laundry services
VAT and Tourism levy
*In-house Activity selection. Guests may choose one of the following experiences with our compliments, per day:
1 x Victoria Falls Day Trip per stay. A wonderful opportunity for our guests to enjoy a private vehicle for
a full day at leisure – visit Victoria Falls and explore!
A horse ride (Duration 1 hour and 30 minutes)
A sunrise or sunset cruise (Duration 1 hour and 30 minutes to 2 hours)
Zambezi lunchtime floating picnic (Duration 2 hours)
Accompanied Bushwalks in the woodlands on our horse ranch (Duration 1 hour)
A mountain bike tour of our horse ranch, nearby villages, and farmlands (Duration 1 hour and 30 minutes)
Price Excludes
Park Fees of USD 50.00 per person per night. Transfers to and from Zambian Horseback Safaris are dependent on your own itinerary/travel plans.
Premium drinks.Personal medical and travel insurance with medevac cover (compulsory).
Victoria Falls Rainforest Entrance fee of US$ 20.00 per person.
We suggest you bring your own hard hat and chaps, should you wish to wear them.
Flights, visas, insurance, gratuities, any items of a personal nature, and any items not specifically mentioned as included.
All rates are based on current taxes, fees, and costs. We reserve the right to change our rates without prior notice if base fees, taxes, and expenses change.
Why African Signature
Curated Destinations
The Right Place We don’t do "everywhere." We focus on the corners of Africa where the fences are down and the wildlife is still truly wild. From the floodplains of the Zambezi to the dry pans of the Kalahari, we only send you to regions where the land is vast enough to get lost in and the sightings are worth the journey.
Tailored Experiences
The Ground Level Safari isn't just about sitting in a vehicle. It’s about the crunch of grass under your boots on a walking safari, the silent glide of a boat through a reed bed, or the patience of sitting at a waterhole for three hours. We design your days around the rhythm of the animals, not the schedule of a hotel.
Sustainable Stewardship
The Real Impact Travel here has to mean something. We partner with people who are actually on the front lines—the ones running anti-poaching units, protecting habitat, and ensuring local communities see the value in keeping these lions and elephants alive. Your trip is what keeps those boots on the ground.
Do You Have Questions About This Tour?
We Are Here To Help
Connect with an Africa Specialist to discuss this Signature Experience.
Travel Insurance
Protect your investment and don’t forget Travel Insurance! This is mandatory for all our bookings.
In addition to trip cancellation and interruption, most travel insurance plans include coverage for trip delay, missed connection, lost or delayed baggage, medical expenses, and emergency evacuation with repatriation of remains. 24-hour assistance services are included to help the traveller with things such as emergency medical assistance, lost baggage tracking, emergency cash transfer, emergency or last-minute travel arrangements, assistance with replacing lost travel documents and much more.
Why Buy a Travel Insurance Plan? Because Travel Mishaps Occur Every Day! No matter how hard you try, there are some things you just can’t plan for:
If a family member gets sick. If your baggage is lost. If your trip is delayed. Your passport is lost or stolen. If the weather prevents your travel. You need to see a doctor for a sudden injury – your health insurance may not be valid overseas, and medical evacuations can be really expensive. If you miss a flight connection (- e.g. only 80% of US flights arrive on time) You don’t want to lose all your money if you have to cancel your trip. Sometimes, even expert travellers need a little help.
Whilst we will provide you with a Temporary Membership to the Flying Doctor’s Emergency Evacuation scheme in Tanzania, this has to have a corresponding international insurance to cover hospital and emergency cover when you land at the nearest available medical facility.
Please be sure that the travel insurance that you have is right for you!
Explore Our African Signature Experiences
Our Concierge Is Here To Help
If you have any questions, please feel free to ask our concierge in the bottom right corner. They will assist you or put you in contact with one of our African Specialists.
