Our game drives bring you close to some of the world's most magnificent wildlife so that you can experience a truly African adventure. More than that, we aim to build your knowledge of wildlife and habitat during your stay, as our guides give you wildlife knowledge during your drives.

We have comfortable safari vehicles, equipped with cushioned seats and affording you excellent views. Each drive is an adventure. Our Safari Guides are highly experienced. We firmly believe that a good safari guide enhances your whole safari experience.

Thornicroft is situated just about five minutes’ drive to the main gate of South Luangwa National Park. There's no time lost on lengthy transfers! We can take you on Morning and Afternoon/Night Drives as well as 12-hour Full Day Drives to enjoy your Safari Holiday to the fullest.

Game Drives

Morning Drive

Morning game drives start at 6.00am giving you the best chance to see animals moving around as the sun comes up before the heat of the day drives them to shade. It is an excellent opportunity to see elephants going for an early morning drink and catch a hippo returning back to its pool.

All game drives are undertaken in open game viewing vehicles, to optimize your pleasure and experience. Drinks and snacks are taken along for your enjoyment whilst in the park. Depending on game sightings, we return to the lodge by 10.00 am for a scrumptious "brunch".

Afternoon/Night Drive

Afternoon / night game drives leaves at 3:30 pm. South Luangwa is one of the only National Parks in Africa to allow night drives. The last hours of the day are perfect for balmy game-viewing. At dusk we find a spot to watch the sun go down and have a 'sun-downer' while we wait for the nocturnal animals to wake.

Night safaris give you the best opportunity to see nocturnal birds and mammals, including owls, leopard and hyena. This is also the time when Lions are the most active. With a powerful searchlight our guides scan the bush looking for the reflection of eyes. A sight that needs to be experienced. The Safari finishes by 7:30 pm back in time for dinner.

Full Day Drive

A Full Day Game Drive offers the unique opportunity to venture out further into the National Park, exploring different and remote areas which offer a variety of stunning landscapes and wildlife species. Discover the Park at your own pace and enjoy a delicious picnic lunch in the shade of a tree while discussing today’s sightings with your guide.

Full Day Safaris leave at 6.00 AM and return at 6.00 PM.

A minimum of 3 Pax is required.

Special Interest Safaris

Please let us know if you have any special interests you would like to pursue, so that we can inform and show you as much as we can, from flowers to birds to big cats.

We can adapt to suit your needs, from morning drives, afternoon drives, night drives, walking safaris, to drives that include a bush breakfast in the park and drives into the more remote areas of the park.

Thornicroft Lodge also services birding groups. We can arrange for a specialist birding guide. Our head guide Godfrey Shawa has previous experience of leading birding safaris in Zambia and Malawi.