Zambia
Vast lakes and wetlands, long and life-giving rivers, breathtaking African sunsets and a rich tradition of guiding and walk safaris all contribute to Zambia’s immense appeal as a safari destination.
From the spectacular Victoria Falls in the South and the banks of the mighty Zambezi to the shores of Lake Tanganyika in the North via world class national parks teeming with game, Zambia offers a plethora of things to do and see.
The most iconic landmark in Zambia is the spectacular Victoria Falls. They are so enormous that the spray can be seen from miles away. The sheer sight of the torrents of water plummeting down the falls, churning in the ‘Boiling Pot’ and then entering the Batoka Gorge is awe inspiring. Adrenaline junkies are in their element here with a vast array of extreme sports activities such as white water rafting, abseiling, gorge swinging and river surfing on offer. The ‘Flight of the Angels’ gives you stunning aerial views of the falls and can be done by helicopter, microlight or fixed wing aircraft.
Lake Kariba’s shores constitute Zambia’s undiscovered riviera. Excellent water sports are on offer here and the sunsets are some of the best in Africa. The lake is also renowned for fishing; tigerfish and bream being the most sought after. Water aside, most travellers are enticed to Zambia by its superb game reserves. South Luangwa game reserve is one of the best in the world, with over 60 species of animal and 400 kinds of bird. The changing seasons create dry and bare areas in the winter and a lush green paradise in the summer, made complete by the winding Luangwa River and lagoons. Night drives are excellent for leopard spotting and you couldn’t possibly miss the hippos; they number 50 per kilometre of river within the park.
North Luangwa reserve is a remote park particularly suited to those who want to experience ‘the Africa that was’. There are no permanent lodges, very few roads and entrance numbers are limited. The reserve was opened to the public in 1984 but only for walking safaris. Game drives are now an option but for their peacefulness and assured sense of wonder we would recommend the walking safaris.
The Lower Zambezi is Zambia’s newest park and fairly undeveloped. This beautiful wilderness is a great place to get up close to game as the animals ‘island hop’ in and out of the Zambezi channels. The canoe safaris here are unbeatable. Zambia’s oldest park, Kafue, offers an outstandingly diverse range of wildlife. Particularly impressive are the Busanga Plains, untouched by human development, forming a vast flat expanse which stretches as far as the eye can see.
Zambia beckons with an abundance of natural attractions and extreme sports, which has earned it the reputation of being the ‘adventure centre’ of the continent.
