Zambia

Unearth the real Africa on a Zambia Safari! Described by many as the ‘real Africa’,  Zambia is a country of wide open spaces rich in wildlife with magnificent forests, wild rivers, sweeping plains and impressive waterfalls. A safari to Zambia offers exceptional game viewing opportunities throughout the numerous national parks, game reserves, famous walking safaris and night drives. To explore the wilderness and rugged beauty of this spectacular country is to escape from commercialisation, overcrowding and novelty to rediscover the pure thrill of travel. To get the most out of this spectacular country, plan your trip to incorporate the diverse landscapes and experiences on offer in Zambia. You could begin your trip with a stay at The River Club lodge near the magnificent Victoria Falls. Overlooking the Zambezi River, this luxury Edwardian style house comprises of comfortable rooms with uninterrupted vistas of the spectacular landscape, manicured lawns, a swimming pool and wellness centre. The lodge’s close proximity to the falls and Livingstone beyond makes it the perfect base to explore the surrounding area.

A visit to Victoria Falls is a highlight for anyone travelling to Zambia. Along with the spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur you can witness the transformation of the Zambezi from a wide placid river to a ferocious torrent cutting through a series of dramatic gorges. You can spend an afternoon gazing at the falls and take a walk along the knife edge bridge which offers stunning panoramic views. For the more daring, the water is sometimes low enough to walk along the lip of the falls to Livingston Island. This offers one of the most magnificent views of the area. Helicopter and micro-light rides are also available to take you over the falls, offering a spectacular view from the air and giving a real sense of scale and for the particularly fearless, take the world famous bungee-jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge. The River Club lodge offers a tour of the falls, including transfers to and from the lodge along with towels and umbrellas to shelter you from the saturating spray.

After encountering the drama and force of one of nature’s grandest phenomena many tourists choose to explore the country’s rich interior. A visit to the South Luangwa National Park, one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, provides travellers with the opportunity to appreciate the verdant and fertile landscape of Zambia, as well as observe its eclectic wildlife. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its ox bow lagoons is indeed amongst the most intense in Africa with deeper pools of the river holding large vocal pods of hippo and menacingly stealthy crocodiles. The park’s dominant antelope species are impala and puku, with other antelopes being the common waterbuck, bushbuck, kudu and grysbok. South Luangwa National Park is also home to a number of unique species including Thornicroft’s giraffe, Sharpe’s grysbok, Yellow baboon and Cookson’s wildebeest. Visitors can expect to see elephants, buffalos, warthogs, hippos and crocodiles whilst out on safari, as well as some predator action from the park’s lion, spotted hyenas and wild dog families. Zambia is as aforementioned the home of the walking safari, and this is still one of the best ways to experience the spectacular wildlife on offer. Though the scale of your journey is limited on foot, this more intimate approach to safari touring promises an increasingly close and personal perspective for game viewing. Night drives are also available and offer new opportunities to see a range of more elusive nocturnal species including the iconic Zambian leopard. A range of accommodation is available across the park and the surrounding area to suit varying tastes and budgets. The Kuluma tented camp provides guests with day and night game drives and walking safaris with experienced guides as well as stargazing, village tours and day excursions to a natural hot spring. Craig is a professional travel writer and has traveled extensively around Southern Africa. He has been lucky enough to visit Zambia on safari in the past and will treasure his experiences there for a long time to come.