BATS & BEASTS

WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT

Bats & Beasts #3 : 09 November 2024 – 26 November 2024 (Fully Booked)

Bats & Beasts #4 – 08 November 2025 – 25 November 2025 (9 Spots)

Prepare for an exhilarating journey that will surpass your greatest expectations with our signature 17-day Self-Drive Overland Camping tour. This extraordinary escapade will carry you deep into the raw and uncharted territories of Eastern Zambia, including the secluded splendours of North Luangwa National Park.

Join the select few who have ventured through Southern Africa’s most rugged landscapes, including the renowned South Luangwa and Kasanka National Parks—true paradises for overland adventurers. This expedition is destined to etch unforgettable tales into the fabric of your life, a commitment we proudly make to you.

Where the Adventure Starts!

The Bat Spectacle

Behold the world’s largest mammal migration at Kasanka National Park, a three-day spectacle where countless fruit bats create a breath-taking aerial display. Each day in this enchanting sanctuary promises wonder and surprises, ensuring a truly magical experience.

Imagine 10 million straw-coloured fruit bats, each with an impressive wingspan, taking flight in a natural phenomenon that surpasses all of Africa’s famed migrations in magnitude. Witnessing this secret marvel of nature in November is a sight that will astonish even the most seasoned traveller.

The Grand Return

Our journey circles back to Livingstone after immersing ourselves in wild beauty. Here, you may choose to accompany us further south or extend your stay to discover the majestic Victoria Falls at your leisure, complete with exquisite dining, relaxing spa services, and exciting tiger fishing.

The Beasts of the Wild

Dubbed “Bats and Beasts,” this tour promises encounters with the untamed soul of Southern Africa. Venture into regions alive with natural predators, unmarred by the crowds found in other parks. The Luangwa Valley awaits with its majestic wildlife and expansive herds adorning its floodplains and savannas.

Zebra, tsessebe, lechwe, along with apex predators like wild dogs, hyenas, cheetahs, and lions, will be your companions. Witness a landscape transformed by the rains, blooming with wildflowers against the dramatic canvas of stormy skies. The rivers brim with life, and the sight of elephants by the water’s edge is a testament to nature’s resilience.

Life's Rich Pageant

Nearly 500 bird species thrive here, offering a birdwatching paradise ranging from the African Finfoot to the Pel’s Fishing Owl, and from the elegant Wattled Crane to the rare Black-cheeked Lovebirds.

Our campsites, unfenced and open, guarantee an authentic brush with the wild, where an elephant’s trumpet or a hyena’s laugh may greet you by your tent. The thrill of witnessing a wild dog hunt, the cheeky antics of monkeys, and the presence of wandering baboons add to the adventure that awaits. For some, the proximity to wildlife might be daunting, but for the adventurer, it’s the heartbeat of an authentic African experience.

The Promise of Adventure

Embrace the thrill, the unexpected, and the pure joy of exploration. This isn’t just a trip; it’s an adventure in its truest sense—an extraordinary journey filled with daring experiences. We don’t just promise you a tour; we promise an adventure that lives up to the very definition of the word. Prepare to be awed, inspired, and transformed.

Join us and let the wild call of Africa beckon you to a journey like no other.

WHERE ARE WE GOING?

PRELIMINARY ITINERARY (Expect a few small changes)

Day 1
Chobe Safari Lodge
Day 2
Mayfair Guest Lodge Campsite
Day 3,4 & 5
Mvuu Lodge Campsite - Lower Zambezi
Day 6
Bridge Camp
Day 7,8 & 9
Wildlife Camp - South Luangwa

Day 10 & 11
Mayense Camp - Mutinondo Wilderness
Day 12 & 13
Nsobe Campsite - Bangweulu Game Reserve
Day 14 & 15
Kabwe Campsite - Kasanka National Park
Day 16
Fringilla
Day 17
Livingstone at The Victoria Falls Waterfront Lodge

The tour is self-catering, but we will propose a menu closer to the time. You will also receive a detailed tour plan and itinerary with maps closer to the time.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

(More about this closer to the time)

A fully serviced reliable 4x4 vehicle with a low range in a very good condition (You can take an offroad trailer)
Fuel range for at least 750km (mainly sandy travel, some mud and water crossings)
Suitable recovery gear and quality tire repair kit
All your drinking water, meals, drinks, and snacks for at least 9 days
All Camping gear
Fire Wood (We buy in Zambia)
First Aid Kit as per your requirements
Valid Driver’s License
A passport that is valid for at least 6 months with a minimum of 2 blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps. Children below the age of 18 will also need valid passports, certified unabridged birth certificates, and a letter of consent from the other parent should the minor be traveling with only one parent.

A certified copy of vehicle registration/vehicle license papers is acceptable at the border posts if the vehicle is your own. This must be accompanied by a bank letter authorizing you to take the vehicle across the border and must indicate the dates. Both the bank letter and copies of license papers should be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
If the vehicle is rented or not registered in your name, you will need an affidavit from the South African police giving you permission from the rental company or owner to take the vehicle across a Botswana border post. Both this letter and the registration documents need to be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
Your vehicle must have a ZA sticker, which designates that they are foreign vehicles which were registered in South Africa. AA Accredited Sales Agent stores and outdoor retailers like Safari Centre and Outdoor Warehouse has stock.

Third Party Insurance valid for 90 Days
All Fees relative to the border crossing: Insurance, etc.
Toll Fees to pass through about 12 Toll gates (10 Kwacha each)
About 1200 USD in Cash in case ATMs are not working
You MUST have a police clearance for your vehicle and trailer to enter Zambia. Please go to your local police station and enquire about this. VERY Important!
You must comply with Covid19 Regulations to travel to Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia.
Also, please visit your doctor and discuss Malaria and recommendations regarding prophylaxis; we are visiting a Malaria area.

WHAT DO WE SUPPLY?

A CATHSSETA-qualified guide with many years of experience
Qualified Wilderness First Responder First Aider and advanced 1st Aid Kit
Pre-paid Camping, Park, and all Entrance Fees. (When accommodated inside the park)
Radios for inter-vehicle communication
Advanced Recovery gear
Printed Map, Photos, and short trip video
STARLINK satellite high-speed internet for most of the time (close to our vehicle).

Also, please bring a great sense of adventure; this is going to be epic!

PRICE 2024

Tour price is R 18 850 per person sharing.
Half-price for children under 12
Children under 6 are free (at the time of the tour).
Single supplement is R 23 600.
Pricing for non-SADC members is available on request.

HOW TO JOIN?

This tour is VERY popular and will be fully booked VERY soon! Book your spot as soon as possible.

Book Bats & Beasts 3

Book Now for 2024!

We will contact you to get your name and surname, email address and then send you the relevant tour details to confirm your spot. If you do not respond to our messages, we will unfortunately have to remove you from the group to make space for others in the queue.

Facebook Event

Tour WhatsApp Group

PRICE 2025