Copper Trail: Lobito to Victoria Falls

After breakfast in the dining car, enjoy a tour of Huambo, the second-largest city in Angola and one of the old kingdoms on the central plateau. Afterwards, depart for Boas Agus as lunch is served in the dining car. After dinner, relax on board as the train journeys on to Kuito.

Enjoy a stroll through the town of Kuito, built in the historical heart of the Ovimbundu kingdom. Depart for Savinguila as lunch is served in the dining cars. Enjoy afternoon tea service before dinner as the train weaves toward Luena.

Enjoy a walking tour of Luena to learn more about the recent history of Angola. Lunch follows as the train travels on toward Cameia, alongside the Cassai River. The catchment of the Cassai River encompasses a vast eco-region of 560,000 miles (900,000 square kilometers) with an incredibly rich fish fauna. There may be an opportunity to see the local fishermen at work. In the evening, a formal dinner is served en route to Luau on the Angola border.

After crossing the DRC border, lunch is served as the train moves toward Malonga. Take some time to relax and enjoy a leisurely day on board before settling in for an “African” themed dinner in the evening.

Enjoy another day in luxury as the train travels on toward Mungulunga, Mutshatsha and finally Kolwezi.

Disembark at Kolwezi for a visit to a copper mine in an area that is home to one of the world’s largest known copper and cobalt resources. After brunch at Katebi Lodge, return to the train and depart for Kazembe.

Enjoy a drive through the city of Lubumbashi, considered the mining capital of the DRC. Return to the train and depart for Mushoshi. A formal dinner is served in the evening as the train travels toward Sakania, on the DRC border.

Disembark and transfer to Ndola Airport for a chartered flight to the South Luangwa National Park. Enjoy lunch upon arrival followed by check-in. In the afternoon, embark on a game drive in the Luangwa Valley, followed by dinner and overnight at the camps.

On both of these days, enjoy an early morning game drive (approximately 3 hours) before returning for brunch. Take the afternoon at your leisure to relax and enjoy the park. Tea service and an afternoon game drive follow before dinner in the evening back at camp.

After breakfast, enjoy a final game drive in the park before transferring back to the airport for a flight to Ndola, Zambia. Rejoin the train at the station and venture onward to Kapiri Mphoshi.

Disembark at Lilayli for a morning visit to the Orphan Elephant Project. The Lilayi Elephant Nursery is one of only three of its kind in the world. Through their partnership with Game Rangers International, a non-profit conservation organization, Lilayi Lodge is giving orphaned elephants a home and family, with the goal of eventually re-introducing them to the wild. After, return to the train and travel to Kafue. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Kafue River before settling back in on the train in time for dinner.

The train departs from Kafue Station crossing the Kafue railway bridge, a 1,500-foot (477-meter) long steel girder truss bridge of 13 spans, each at 110 feet (33 meters), supported on concrete piers. Arriving in Choma, enjoy a short walk to the Choma Museum and Craft Center. Established in 1988, the museum displays the cultural heritage of the Tonga tribe of the Southern province of Zambia. In the evening, enjoy a “1920s” themed dinner.

Arrive at Livingstone for Zambian border formalities before our journey’s fantastic end at the incomparable Victoria Falls.