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 will 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. s for a wonderful waterfalls viewing and tour experience. – Commence touring Victoria Falls; Thereafter visit the local craft market. – Travel back to Livingstone city and; – Visit and commence touring the Livingstone Museum. -- Take afternoon rest in your room. - Next activity: Mukuni Village. Experience the African Cultural Lifestyle in Real-time at Mukuni Village in Livingstone Zambia. Additional activities: On your way to Mukuni village, you will visit and tour the National Art Gallery for thirty (30) minutes. Thereafter, you will proceed to Mukuni village at the outskirts of Livingstone. You will be treated to an exciting and enjoyable African experience where you will get to learn more about the African culture and also interact with people from the village. At the end of the Mukuni Village Tour, you will be transferred back to your Lodge for dinner Depart to Lusaka 05:30 am: Morning rise up, and breakfast. 06:30am – 12:30pm: Travel to and arrive in Lusaka, capital city of Zambia. 12:40 pm – 13:30 pm: Check-in in at a good tourism accommodation facility and take lunch. 13:30pm – 15:00 pm: Take rest. 15:00 pm - 17:00 pm: Visit one or two of the prominent shopping centres in Lusaka 18:00 pmAccommodation included: You will share a train sleeper compartment with bunk beds dressed in squeaking clean bedding Arrival in Livingstone **: Wakeup; thereafter take a morning bath. - Take your sumptuous breakfast, - Travel to the Victoria Fall - Evening relaxation 19:30 pm – Dinner. 21:30 pm – Early sleep Enhanced cleanliness measures High-touch surfaces cleaned and disinfected Guides required to regularly wash hands Vehicles and venues cleaned with disinfectants Gear and equipment sanitised between use Social distancing Contactless payment for service charge and add-ons Safety measures Temperature checks given to staff Temperature checks available Masks required Masks provided