Beautiful Zambia
Pick a criteria on any African itinerary and Zambia ought to be of serious consideration. Zambia has the game viewing to rival anywhere in Africa, scenery as jaw-dropping as that of the Serengeti in Tanzania or the 'Mountains of the Moon' in Uganda and a reputation for friendliness to boot. From Livingstone, the adventure capital of southern Africa, and the great Victoria Falls to the swamps of Bangwelu and its prehistoric shoe-billed storks, there is no shortage of choice. From the lions of the Busanga Plains to the leopards of the Luangwa, there is enough to see and do to warrant multiple trips to a country we call home. Whether it be the great rivers of the Kafue, Luangwa or the Zambezi, the wildlife, the people, the profound sense of adventure or intellectual awakening that comes naturally to visiting such an extraordinary place, Zambia will leave an indelible impression on everyone who visits.
Seasonality :
October - November
April - May
Shoulder Season
Highlights :
A few of our favourite places in Zambia...
Victoria Falls
The Smoke that Thunders
“Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight”, wrote Dr. Livingstone as he described the mighty Victoria Falls. Referred to by locals as the Mosi-Oa-Tunya, the Smoke that Thunders, or as Chongwe, The Place of the Rainbow, the Victoria Falls earn their place alongside six other natural wonders of the world. Occupying the space between Zambia and Zimbabwe, they are considered to be some of the world’s largest waterfalls pumping by some estimates in excess of 3000m3 of water per second in the wet season. Gigantic sheets of water plummet into a 1078m wide chasm. The same gorge is spanned by a bridge that serves as a convenient platform for bungee jumping enthusiasts. On the Zimbabwean side, a visit to the Victoria Falls Hotel, a beautiful vintage piece of architecture tucked into the Zambezi’s lush riverside vegetation, is highly recommended.
The Luangwa Valley
The land of the leopard
The Luangwa National park has been a stalwart of Africa’s conservation effort since 1904. It has a rich history and an applaudable reputation even in the present day. To some, the idea that humans and wildlife have to co-exist in order to persist, is still a novel idea. To the likes of Norman Carr, and others, this way of thinking began half a century ago. Community involvement is the only way of sustainably managing wildlife in Africa and the Luangwa National Park is evidence of its success. Today the park is host to an incredibly diversity of habitats and arguably the most dense populations of some of Africa’s sought after species such as lion, wild dogs, elephants and leopard. Visitors to the South Luangwa often remark that a leopard ‘falls out of every tree’. It is an obvious exaggeration but one deserved of attention. It is an enticing environment evoking such deep appreciation for how amazing this planet really is. When traversing the famous oxbows of one of the most intact and exciting rivers of Africa, you will find a plethora of life exceeding your wildest expectations.
Zambezi Valley
The greatest river in Africa
There is an undeniable, tangible feeling of connectedness and presence when sitting on the banks of the Zambezi river. One can almost feel Africa’s heartbeat as if the river was the aorta and its pulse reverberated along its course and into the soles of your feet. There is not enough poetry in the world to adequately describe this place; the river, the ancient forest and the wildlife. Gazetted in 1983, this 4092 square kilometer park is renowned for some of Africa’s finest walking, canoeing and vehicle bound safaris. The Zambezi river, the life blood of the area, supports biblical numbers of elephant, Cape buffalo and general game. The healthy numbers of prey support an impressive population of predators, so much so that the leopards, lions, hyenas and wild dogs are as synonymous with the park as the river itself.
Kafue National Park
Zambia's hidden gem
At 24 000 square kilometres, the Kafue National Park is one of the largest in Africa. From the river itself to lake Itezhi-Tezhi in the centre, to the baobabs and the Sable antelope everything in the Kafue is on a grand scale. It was first gazetted in the 1950’s by the Zambian naturalist Norman Carr; a pioneering conservationist renowned for his work in the South Luangwa National Park.
Those who venture off the beaten path are completely enraptured by the Kafue experience. From world class lodges to the endemic black-cheeked lovebirds of the Nanzhila Plains, the animal life that pulses along the rivers serpentine passage through untouched wilderness or the lions and cheetah of the Busanga plains, the Kafue National Park is a destinations worthy of Zambia’s wildlife crown. Highly trained and professional guides offer some of the top canoeing, walking and vehicle bound safaris on the continent.
Liuwa Plains
The custodians of wilderness
The conservation history of Liuwa Plain is one that is little known but one that is strikes a chord with todays challenges surrounding the preservation of wildlife. In the late 19th century the King of the Barotseland people stamped his place in history by declaring his subjects the official custodians of the area and its wildlife. Alongside some truly exemplary conservation efforts by African Parks, the Liuwa Plains legacy will live on through generations of migratory species, apex predators and prolific birdlife. The second largest wildebeest migration in Africa occurs annually across this dreamy landscape. It’s easy to feel totally humbled, awed and overwhelmed by the vast vibrant expanse of the Liuwa Plains.
Kasanka bat migration
Roughly 10 million straw coloured fruit bats
The enormous bat migration in Kasanka National Park is another testament to the unique experiences found in one of Africa’s most biodiverse and wildlife-rich countries. The Kasanka bat migration occurs between October and December each year. Drawn by an abundance of fruit approximately 10 million straw coloured fruit bats migrate southwards from equatorial Africa into a thin patch of evergreen swamp forest. The number of bats can be so high that they have been known to blot out the sun. The lush setting and dramatic skies serve as a backdrop to some phenomenal interactions between these winged mammals and their predators.
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