A Royal Day

Safaris are planned very carefully to coincide with the times when you are most likely to see wildlife. This means early, late afternoon, or even night game drives are essential for better chances of seeing animals at their most active. Here’s how a typical Royal day may unfold:

Early Morning

An early start means an equally early wake-up call. We serve a continental breakfast from about 6 am and at sunrise, you head off on your selected early morning activity. These early starts are generally the best times to spot the wildlife as the temperature is fresh and the animals are still very active, especially the big cats who will be returning from their night’s hunting.

Late Morning

Around late morning, you will return to the lodge maybe for brunch or relax before lunch. If you opt to stay out all day, we will furnish you with a bush lunch to make the most of your time outdoors.

Lunch & Afternoon

Particularly in the hot season, it is usually much hotter in the middle of the day, and so most of our guests opt to have lunch in the lodge then either relax in their suites, have a dip in the pool or a treatment in the bush spa. Tea and cake are available from 3.30pm before you then head out for an afternoon activity.

Evening

As with early morning, the evening game drive is often the best time to see the wildlife. The predatory animals begin to stir from their heat-of-the-day slumber, and similarly, their prey becomes ever more active and alert as darkness falls. Vehicles and boats usually return just before dark giving time for a shower, pre-dinner drinks and then dinner. The evenings are often rounded off with a few drinks around the bar or campfire swapping safari stories.

Night

At times, you will have the opportunity of going on a night game drive. Vehicles are equipped with powerful spotlights, and our expert trackers will generally spot any wildlife well before you will. The night is often the best time to spot the elusive leopard, which more often than not will be high up in a tree. A game drive at night gives you a completely different perspective of the bush and is an unforgettable experience.

National Park Entry Fees – Lower Zambezi National Park

*The Lower Zambezi National Park entry fees are excluded from our rates – see further details below*

Royal Zambezi Lodge is situated in the Chiawa Game Management Area (GMA), just outside the Lower Zambezi National Park (LZNP). Our ideal location offers flexibility for guests wishing to experience activities on the GMA, which does not incur a NP entry fee, or in the LZ National Park, which does incur a NP entry fee. Although we exclude the LZNP entry fee from our rates/quotations, we offer a convenient, prepaid rate option that guests can add upon booking. This rate is $85 per person per day and covers all aspects of the required LZNP entry fee that goes to the Department of National Parks & Wildlife (DNPW).

We recommend adding this option to your booking before travel, so you do not need to worry about settling it upon check-out.

Once you have completed your booking with us, our reservation team will contact you, given the contact details provided on the booking form, to see if you would like to add this service to your booking. In addition, they will ask how many nights you would like to include if you would like to. If you need further clarification, please don’t hesitate to contact our team.

Game Drives | Bush Walks & Hiking | Canoeing | Angling | Birding

River Cruise | Community Engagement | Conservation Special | DNA – A Royal Special