Zambia
Zambia, the ‘home of the walking safari’ has some magnificent parks in the areas of Luangwa, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi. Particularly good in the dry season, from June to October, South Luangwa offers great game viewing of many herbivores including buffalo, elephant, giraffe, puku, impala and greater kudu, as well as lion and wild dog.
Luangwa also has developed a reputation for great leopard sightings, particularly after dark viewed with a spotlight. For many, walking safaris are a big draw here, with trained walking guides accompanying armed park scouts on walks to look for the smaller game, including insects, trees and plants, as well as the excitement of approaching large game on foot.
Many areas are dominated by the great rivers: the Zambezi and the Luangwa, and some of the camps on the banks of the rivers have to be some of the most beautiful on the continent. Boats and canoe trips are possible in some areas and these rivers have great concentrations of hippos and crocodiles, as well as terrific and varied bird watching opportunities.
Most safaris in Zambia finish with time at one of the great natural wonders of the world, the incomparable Victoria Falls. Easily accessed by plane from any of Zambia’s parks, the Falls are over a mile wide, with the opportunity to view them from either side, from islands in the middle of the Falls and from above via helicopter. There are now a whole range of small and very luxurious lodges on the Zambezi River above the Falls, and Livingstone has become the adventure capital of Southern Africa, with white water rafting, bungee jumping, gorge swings, helicopter and microlight flights, and various animal interactions all on offer.
Click below for a sample Zambian itinerary:
Itinerary
South Luangwa, Mfuwe Lodge, 2 nights. Fly from Lusaka Airport into Mfuwe, on the edge of Luangwa National Park. Game drives in Luangwa looking for elephant, lion, zebra, giraffe and the many other species of game. Positioned inside the park the lodge has large individual, chalet rooms with ensuite facilities.
Luangwa Bushcamps, 6 nights. Game drive all the way through the South Luangwa National Park, to the remote Kapamba Bushcamp with two full days to walk and game drive, looking for giraffe, cats and even wild dog which are returning in increasing numbers to the Luangwa Valley. From Kapamba to Chindeni Bushcamp, another beautifully sited and very personal bushcamp. At both camps, game drives, including night drives for that Luangwa speciality, the leopard, and walking safaris with licensed guides are on offer. Both camps cater for a maximum of eight guests with accommodation in tents or chalets with ensuite bathroom facilities and excellent food. Overnights Bushcamps, 6 nights in total.
Victoria Falls, 2 nights. Game drive back to Mfuwe for the scheduled flight to Livingstone via Lusaka. Transfer to Islands of Siankaba Lodge, set on two islands in the Zambezi River. A visit to the spectacular Victoria Falls, a sundowner cruise, boat trips, a village visit and other excursions are possible from this luxurious, personal lodge.
Livingstone. Transfer to Livingstone Airport for your flight to Johannesburg
Land Cost: From U.S. $4,370 per person, in twin or double accommodation. Single supplement $1,040.
Kafue National Park
Kafue is Zambia’s largest park and with probably its greatest range of wildlife. It’s recovering from a poaching epidemic in the 1980 and 90’s and if you are looking for a slice of Africa with a true feeling of remoteness and very few people, Kafue could be for you. Kafue is the best place in Zambia for seeing cheetah on the famous Busanga Plains, and it is the range of habitats from the riverine forests along the major rivers such as the Kafue and its tributaries, the Lufupa, to the woodlands and plains that give the Park its great diversity of both birds and mammals.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Located along the mighty Zambezi River, the lower Zambezi National Park is beautifully situated, and with a great range of wildlife. From lion to leopard and wild dog, and all the wildlife that is drawn to the river, this area also offers fantastic birding as well as good fishing opportunities and the chance to take small boat and canoe safaris on the Zambezi.
Luangwa National Park
Luangwa is Zambia’s premier wildlife area, where, particularly in South Luangwa, the wildlife has become accustomed to safari vehicles and offers excellent wildlife-viewing opportunities. Visitors can see many species of herbivores, from impala to kudu, elephant to buffalo, and along with lion and wild dog, Luangwa is renowned as one of the best places for watching leopard, particularly on night game drives. The Luangwa River is also a major draw, with many camps beautifully situated along its banks and the river attracting many species to drink during the dry season and with a massive population of both hippo and crocodile. Zambia is known as the origin of the walking safari and this is offered from many camps, giving visitors the chance to be more ‘at one’ with their surroundings and offering the thrill of being on foot in ‘big game’ country.
Victoria Falls
The Falls are one of the Natural Wonders of the World! Straddling the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, they are over a mile wide where the Zambezi River plummets over 300 feet down into the Batoka Gorge. Impressive at any time of the year, we also recommend a visit to Livingstone Island, right in the middle of the Falls. There are many world-class hotels and lodges on the Zambian side, many set right on the banks of the river and the Livingstone area of Zambia has become southern Africa’s adventure playground, where visitors can take helicopter, plane and micro-light flights over the Falls, bungee jump or gorge swing off the famous Victoria Falls Bridge, or take a rafting trip down the rapids below the Falls.
