Zambia

Zambia is a country of remote wilderness areas that present visitors with an unparalleled opportunity to experience the vast open spaces of Africa. A Zambian safari is a taste of the real Africa and imparts a feeling of genuine exploration and adventure.

Several of the national parks are rich in wildlife numbers but are hardly ever visited by tourists. A Zambia vacation offers many different activities; walking and canoe safaris are probably the best known, and guests move at the gentle pace of the surrounding wildlife.

Highlights of a Zambia safari include the Busanga Plains in the northern section of Kafue National Park, and the Luangwa Valley, home of the original walking safari and one of the best wildlife regions in Africa. Visitors have the opportunity to canoe amongst crocodile and hippo in the Lower Zambezi National Park and may try their hand at numerous adventures available in the Victoria Falls area.

Zambia Safaris - Travel Tips

Many of the safari camps in the Kafue National Park and the Luangwa Valley are only open during the dry season from June until early November.
The highlights of Zambia are walking safaris and night drives; leopards are often sighted.
A Zambian safari combines well with a stay at Lake Malawi or visit to Botswana.
Zambia is an excellent destination for a family safari.

Zambia Safaris - A Personal View

Sarah Smith I’d heard a lot about Zambia, particularly of its growing reputation as an up and coming safari destination, so was very keen to experience for myself all that it has to offer.

Well, I was thoroughly impressed. From its landscapes and game parks to its welcoming and friendly people, Zambia is enchanting. It is difficult to pick out a highlight when you are in a country that has the spectacular Victoria Falls and the mighty Zambezi River, not to mention the remote and game rich national parks, but I was particularly taken with the stunning Lower Zambezi National Park. The wide channels of the Zambezi River and the escarpment which wraps around the north boundary of the park sets a beautiful scene which is home to a whole host of wildlife. Sundowners on the river, watching incredible sunsets, and a herd of elephants that decided to join us in camp for afternoon tea are just some of the memories that will always stay with me.

It is easy to see why Zambia is steadily growing safari destination and having only recently returned I have to say I am already itching to go back.

Sarah Smith - One of Aardvark Safaris' Zambia safari specialists

Zambia Safaris - Ideas You Might Not Have Thought About

		Special Green Season Offers November to mid-May is called the “Green Season” in the Luangwa Valley and is considered by many to be the most spectacular time of the year to visit the area. The surrounding bush is lush and green with new growth, the dramatic Luangwa River is at its highest, moody African skies are often full of spectacular cloud formations; and because there is less dust in the air the light is excellent for photography. This is also the time of year when migrant birds in breeding plumage abound; and it’s the breeding season for much of the wildlife. Nursery herds of young impala, elephant, warthog and zebra are plentiful.

		Carmine and Hippo Hides Visited by the world’s best wildlife photographers and film makers, the photographic hides on the Mwamba and Luangwa rivers provide a unique location where you can get close enough to the wildlife to take amazing photographs in complete safety. The hippo hide is built into a riverbank where hundreds of hippos congregate, providing a fantastic opportunity to view breeding pods fighting and yawning. Carmine bee eaters nest in huge numbers in the river bank and can be viewed from a hide on a boat anchored in the middle of the river.

		Zambezi Wildlife Viewing Experience the sights and sounds of the Zambezi River on an overnight or two day canoe safari accompanied by an experienced guide. Glide almost unnoticed along the mighty Zambezi in the company of elephant, hippo, and a multitude of birds in this game-rich area.

		Private Exclusive Safari Houses Why not reserve a beautiful, private safari house and design your own itinerary to make a unique safari experience for your family or group of friends. Each property is fully staffed with a house manager, private chef, and a team of waiters. You might choose to track leopard at dawn with your own wildlife guide or to go out in the private safari vehicle for a game drive. There are walks available with a guide and game scout, or you could simply relax beside your private pool.

		Mobile Walking Safaris Robin Pope Safaris operate in the northern part of the South Luangwa National Park; this is an area with few roads and no permanent camps. Visitors have nicknamed these tours “The Wilderness Experience” of this area. By slowing down to the pace of the natural world all around, you will learn the many different facets of the African bush, from watching tiny ants to huge buffalo, to finding a bird's nest to lion tracking. At the end of an exhilarating day tracking and game watching, take a hot shower under a tree before enjoying a delicious meal.