Hunt Lion, Plains Game & Croc OR Hippo in Lunga Luswishi GMA

Few hunting experiences in Africa compare to spending three weeks immersed in a vast wilderness concession pursuing multiple dangerous game species. Set within the renowned Lunga Luswishi region of Northern Zambia, this 21-day safari combines the excitement of Lion Hunts with the opportunity to pursue either a mature hippo or Nile crocodile, together with a variety of exceptional plains game species.

Covering more than one million acres of free-range hunting country, the concession offers the scale, wildlife diversity, and wilderness character that many hunters associate with Africa's golden era of safari hunting. Days may be spent tracking lions through expansive woodland, studying river systems for crocodiles, searching for hippo along remote waterways, or pursuing plains game across floodplains and open savanna.

Unlike many modern safaris that focus on a single species, this hunt offers remarkable variety. Hunters have the opportunity to experience several different styles of hunting while exploring one of the most remote and wildlife-rich regions available for Hunting in Zambia.

For hunters seeking a genuine dangerous game safari that combines wilderness, adventure, and the opportunity to pursue multiple iconic African species, few hunts can rival the scale and diversity of the Lunga Luswishi ecosystem.

Safari Package

21-Day Lion, Hippo or Crocodile & Plains Game Safari

Package Price: US$92,000 per hunter
Excluding trophy fees

Set within the vast Lunga Luswishi ecosystem of Northern Zambia, this safari offers hunters the opportunity to pursue one of Africa's most iconic dangerous game species, the lion, together with either a mature hippo or Nile crocodile. Combined with a variety of outstanding plains game opportunities, this is a true wilderness safari designed for hunters seeking the full African experience.

Safari Details

Duration: 21 Hunting Days

Professional Hunter: 1 Hunter × 1 Professional Hunter

Observers: US$350 per day

Rifle Rental: US$50 per day plus US$10 per round

Hunting Opportunities

1 × Lion

1 × Hippo or Nile Crocodile

Additional Plains Game Opportunities

Why A 21-Day Dangerous Game Safari Is Different

Most hunting trips last a few days. This safari lasts three weeks.

That may not sound significant on paper, but experienced hunters know there is a world of difference between a seven-day hunt and spending twenty-one days immersed in remote African wilderness. Pursuing a lion together with either Hippo Hunts or Crocodile Hunts, while also taking advantage of outstanding plains game opportunities, requires time, patience, and a willingness to embrace the unpredictable nature of dangerous game hunting.

The challenge is not only physical. Many hunters arrive having spent months planning around business commitments, family responsibilities, and the realities of being away from home for an extended period. Once in camp, daily routines are replaced by early starts, long days in the field, changing conditions, and the emotional highs and lows that often accompany serious dangerous game hunting.

There may be days when everything comes together perfectly, followed by days where lions seem to vanish, crocodiles refuse to present an opportunity, or conditions simply do not cooperate. Success on a safari of this length often comes down to persistence, adaptability, and maintaining focus throughout the entire hunt.

Yet it is precisely these challenges that make long dangerous game safaris so rewarding. Hunters become immersed in camp life, build strong relationships with their professional hunter and tracking team, and experience Africa in a way that simply isn't possible on shorter hunts.

A 21-day safari becomes more than a hunt. It becomes an experience hunters remember for the rest of their lives.

Lion Hunting Requires Patience

Many hunters arrive in Africa expecting lion hunting to be a fast-paced pursuit. In reality, it is often one of the most patient and methodical forms of hunting on the continent.

Long before a hunter arrives in camp, professional hunters and their teams spend countless hours monitoring lion activity, identifying suitable males, and understanding how individual lions are moving through the concession. Even then, success is never guaranteed.

A mature lion may cover significant distances in a single night, disappear for days, or simply refuse to cooperate with expectations. Plans can change quickly, and hunters often find themselves adapting to new information as fresh tracks, vocalisations, or sightings emerge.

This uncertainty becomes one of the most rewarding aspects of the safari. Every track in the dust, every distant roar after dark, and every fresh sign discovered by the tracking team reminds hunters that they are pursuing one of Africa's most intelligent and iconic predators.

It is this combination of anticipation, patience, and unpredictability that has helped establish Lion Hunting in Zambia among the most respected dangerous game experiences in Africa. For many hunters, the challenge lies not only in taking the trophy, but in earning the opportunity.

Additional Hunting Opportunities

While lion, hippo, and Nile crocodile are the headline attractions, the Lunga Luswishi ecosystem offers far more than dangerous game alone. The diversity of habitats found throughout the concession creates opportunities to pursue some of Africa's most desirable plains game species during the course of the safari.

Perhaps the most unique of these is the elusive sitatunga. Unlike most plains game species, sitatunga spend much of their lives in swamps, reed beds, and wetland systems where visibility is limited and movement can be challenging. Successful Sitatunga Hunts often require patience, careful observation, and a completely different approach to traditional plains game hunting. Spotting the spiral horns of a mature bull moving through thick reeds is an experience many African hunters never forget.

"The concession is also well known for producing quality Roan Hunts and outstanding Sable Hunts. Both species are regarded among Africa's most impressive antelope, combining striking appearance with the challenge of hunting mature bulls in large free-range environments."

Additional opportunities may include greater kudu, bushbuck, waterbuck, hartebeest, zebra, and a variety of other plains game species, depending on annual quota allocations and available quota.

One of the great advantages of a 21-day safari is the flexibility it provides. While dangerous game remains the primary focus, hunters often have opportunities to pursue additional species as the safari unfolds, creating a well-rounded African hunting experience across multiple habitats and hunting styles.

Hippo Or Crocodile: Which Would You Choose?

One of the unique aspects of this safari is the opportunity to pursue either a hippo or a Nile crocodile alongside your lion hunt. While both species are associated with Africa's great river systems, the hunting experience could hardly be more different.

Successful Crocodile Hunts are often built around patience and precision. Hunters may spend hours studying riverbanks, evaluating mature crocodiles, and waiting for the perfect shot opportunity. Because crocodiles can disappear into deep water within seconds, accurate shot placement and timing become critically important.

For many hunters, however, the hippo presents an entirely different appeal. Few experiences compare to Hippo Hunting in Zambia, where vast river systems and remote wilderness areas provide ideal habitat for mature bulls. Much of the hunt revolves around locating a suitable trophy, judging tusk development, and patiently waiting for the animal to surface in a position that allows for an ethical shot.

While hippos spend much of their lives in the water, they remain one of Africa's most dangerous animals and deserve considerable respect. Their size, strength, and ability to move surprisingly quickly can catch inexperienced hunters off guard. Because of the hippo's unique anatomy, precise shot placement is essential, and hunters unfamiliar with the species are encouraged to review our guide to Hippo Shot Placement before arriving in camp.

Both species are highly respected dangerous game animals, and both offer experiences that differ considerably from pursuing lion. Deciding between a hippo and crocodile may become one of the most difficult parts of planning the safari.

The Adventure Begins In Lusaka

This safari is led by Professional Hunter Russell, whose hunting career began in Zimbabwe before guiding hunters across Zambia, Uganda, Botswana, and other premier African hunting destinations. A passionate tracker and experienced dangerous game hunter, Russell has built a reputation for delivering authentic safaris focused on traditional hunting methods, wilderness hunting, and personalised hunter experiences.

Together with his experienced team of professional hunters, trackers, skinners, and camp staff, hunters are supported throughout every stage of the safari, from arrival logistics and trophy preparation to daily hunting operations in the field.

International hunters arrive via Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka before continuing into the remote Lunga Luswishi ecosystem.

Travel Options

Road Transfer to Camp
Approximately 6–7 hours
US$1,500 return

Charter Flight to Camp
Approximately 90 minutes
US$5,500 return

Whether arriving by road or air, the journey into camp quickly leaves civilisation behind. Vast river systems, expansive woodlands, and more than one million acres of free-range wilderness await hunters entering one of Zambia's most celebrated dangerous game hunting regions.

Three Weeks In Wild Africa

Few hunters ever have the opportunity to spend twenty-one days immersed in a remote African wilderness pursuing multiple dangerous game species. This safari combines lion, hippo or crocodile, and exceptional plains game within one of Zambia's most expansive and wildlife-rich hunting areas.

Over the course of three weeks, hunters experience far more than a traditional hunt. Days may be spent tracking lions through vast woodlands, studying riverbanks for crocodiles, searching waterways for hippo, or pursuing plains game across floodplains and open savanna. No two days are ever quite the same.

The scale of the concession, the diversity of species, and the length of the safari combine to create an experience that few hunting destinations can offer. It is the type of hunt many sportsmen spend years planning and a lifetime remembering.

If this sounds like your kind of African hunt, contact the Game Hunting Safaris team to discuss availability, trophy fees, travel arrangements, or additional hunting opportunities. We are always happy to help hunters determine whether this safari is the right fit for their hunting goals and expectations.