ZAMBIA SAFARI HOLIDAYS & WALKING SAFARIS

Zambia is perhaps less frequented than other traditional safari destinations such as Tanzania and Botswana. However, anyone who has visited will tell you that Zambia offers the authentic African safari and that the wildlife viewing is phenomenal and diversity immense, both in species as well as in habitats across the different national parks. There also happens to be a good variety of camps and lodges for all budgets and established 'safari circuits'. Safaris in Zambia are often thought of for the connoisseur, not for the first time safari-goer, but we would have to disagree with this as the country has so much to offer including a wide cultural heritage. Now is the time to visit!

Slotted in between Tanzania to the north and Namibia, Zimbabwe and Botswana to the south, Zambia can be easily overlooked by all except those with African safari knowledge. The most famous region is that around Livingstone and the ever impressive Victoria Falls. Here there is the small Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park that lies beside the Zambezi River and is devoid of large predators but is stocked with white rhino. Camps beside the Zambezi River here make an excellent stepping off point for a safari or a place to rest or enjoy activities at the end of a tour.

The main Zambia safari destinations include the Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and Kafue National Parks. The Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa, when combined with Victoria Falls, make a popular safari circuit although you will not expect to see huge numbers of tourists in any of the national parks. A feature of Lower Zambezi safaris is boat safaris, spotting wildlife along the river banks and in the river although there is also a lot of game in the riverine woodland. Elephants are prolific here and there are good leopard sightings too!

South Luangwa is Zambia's premier wildlife reserve and is known as the place in Africa where walking safaris were initiated and became popular. Norman Carr started Zambian walking safaris and today Norman Carr Safaris operate a number of camps in the Park. There are also a number of other operators such as Robin Pope Safaris and The Bushcamp Company who operate walking safaris throughout South Luangwa. The park primarily borders the Luangwa River and is renowned as the Valley of the Leopard but besides leopards, there are good populations of lion and importantly, wild dog as well as huge herds of buffalo and endemic species such as Cookson's hartebeest.

The Luangwa River that flows along Africa's Rift Valley borders two other smaller parks to the north, Luambe National Park and North Luangwa National Park. Both are wilderness areas and far less frequently visited than the main park of South Luangwa. In these wild, untouched lands you will find Luambe Camp and Mwaleshi, both simple tented camps, from which you can walk out on foot with experienced guides in search of wildlife or enjoy more traditional game drives.

To the southwest is Kafue National Park, the size of Wales or Costa Rica, this immense reserve is a mix of vast grasslands and woodland and holds a wonderful array of wildlife. Today there are a small number of camps spread throughout the park with perhaps the highlights in the north being Musekese, Busanga Bush Camp and Shumba, the latter two on the incredible Busanga Plains; and in the south, Konkamoya on Lake Itezhi-Tezhi. Both areas are accessible from the capital, Lusaka.

Other national parks of note are Luiwa Plains where there is now the luxurious King Lewanika Lodge, these remote grassland plains out beyond Kafue are best reached by air and the season here overlaps a little with other parks. A couple of other reserves of note are Bangweulu, a wetland area that is particularly good habitat for rare shoebill storks and Kasanka which is also known for its seasonal influx of fruit bats.