ZAMBIA – A Wildlife Lovers Paradise

Zambia is often overlooked as a safari destination which, for the cognoscenti, adds to it’s appeal…

Zambia holds unique appeal for the discerning safari afficionato. It excels in delivering classic safari experiences, with a focus on wildlife and exceptional guides. While a handful of modern and luxurious lodges do exist, the preferred accommodations are the small seasonal bushcamps, renowned for their prime locations. Despite it’s low profile in the safari PR world, our team, with extensive experience in Zambia, can attest to its sensational safari offerings.

Understated, traditionally luxurious, quiet safaris (quiet as there are no helicopters, hot air balloons or many people compared to Zambia’s famous safari cousins) – and trust us, it has been designed this way!

Why Zambia?

Natural Boundaries

This may sound frivolous, but for seasoned safari-goers, the magic lies in days of uninterrupted, human-free wilderness. A truly unspoiled wilderness.

Wildlife

Without trying to state the obvious, wildlife of the area is crucial to consider when choosing where to going on safari (!), Zambia’s valleys are renowned for buffalo herds and a healthy plains population which sustain a robust carnivore presence. Endemic species like the Thornicroft giraffe inhabit the South Luangwa (aptly nicknamed “The valley of the leopard” for its high leopard density) and the Luangwa river has the highest density of hippo per km². Bird life is sensational and those who arrive without an interest in anything with feathers, leave staggered by the colour and variety from the tiniest little bee-eaters to imposing Martial Eagles.

Bushcamps

Remote and exclusive, most Zambian lodges and camps have remained privately owned with long standing local teams. Seasonal bushcamps, featuring just  4- 6 rooms are well sought after, putting a focus on the surrounding landscape and wildlife. You won’t find frills such as private air-conditioned wine cellars or art that would make a London gallery swoon. Nature is your canvas, wildlife your subject and mountainous escarpments and meandering rivers your frame. Our itinerary recommendations depend on your interests and preferences.

Adventurous Activities

Whilst day and night 4×4 safaris deliver in the bucket load, Zambia is ideal for those seeking a little more adventure. Generations of safari families have developed activities to get their clients out of vehicles, offering a more immersive experience. They say in a vehicle you see Africa, but on foot you feel, hear and smell Africa. Placing your hand in a deep hippo spoor, finding the quill of a recently passed porcupine, discovering claw marks on the trunk of a tree from a leopard or spending time “fishing” for lion ants, builds a fuller picture of Zambia’s biosphere.

Some of the safari activities we love and can arrange for you are:

• Walking Safaris – we can arrange some lovely morning walking safaris or full day walking experiences between camps
• Spending time in hides: see our blog on HIDES. An opportunity to enjoy watching the resident wildlife up close
• Boating on the Zambezi River (but not the Luangwa! It is far too shallow and filled with hippos and crocodiles)
• Sleeping out on a treehouse under the stars
• Canoeingon the Zambezi
• Fishing on the Zambezi

NOTE: Zambia is better suited to older families for although there are a handful of wonderful family safari homes for all ages, a number of the activities on offer require children to be at least 12 years old for safety purposes.

Guiding

The standard of guiding within Zambia is generally very high, partly thanks to the additional qualifications required to lead other activities such as walking safaris. Their wealth of knowledge brings Zambia’s complete biosphere to light, from the humble dung beetle to the beautiful leopard orchids high in the trees (part of the “Green Five”) or, even higher, a soaring Bateleur Eagle and everything in between. The guides in Zambia have a special talent of immersing you with your surroundings, coupled with many wonderful stories from their childhoods. In the South Luangwa, there is a high chance that you will pass through their village from the airport and, if lucky, meet some of their family!

NATIONAL PARKS

Zambia has two main National Parks, The South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi, and a further handful for those wanting a more specialist safari experiences. Below we have outlined a few of their characteristics and why people return to Zambia time and time again once they have discovered it’s riches…

South Luangwa National Park

Best known for being one of the world’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries with a balance of walking and 4×4 safaris.

• The steep sided meandering Luangwa River forms the lifeblood of the Luangwa National Park, home to the largest concentration of hippo in the world
• Giant Baobabs and Sausage Trees, the most impressive trees of the African bush
• Open plains filled with zebra, giraffe, impala and puku, closely watched by leopard, hyena and lion
• A plethora of bird species from little bee-eaters to skimmers, African eagle owls to bataleurs
• Very healthy population of elephant which are often found in camp clearing the paths of fallen pods or enjoying the water that may have overspilled from the bore hole
• Cats – home to the world’s highest naturally occurring population of leopards, the South Luangwa has even been nicknamed the valley of the leopards

Activities

• Day and night 4×4 safaris. 4×4 safaris allow you to cover more land, venturing further into the bush, around lagoons and along the rivers edge
• Expertly guided walking safaris

Camps: Chindeni | Tena Tena | Kapamba

Lower Zambezi National Park

The Zambezi River is completely different to the Luangwa River. Forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it reaches 1.3kms at it’s widest and is fast running. Lush, grassy islands are dotted along the river, a beautiful welcome when flying in – you may even be able to spot an elephant on one of the islands before you land! Flatter than the South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi has beautiful Winterthorn forests – an elephants favourite pod – so it is no surprise that elephants are abundant in the Lower Zambezi whilst the cat population is also exceptionally healthy.

Activities

• Boating safari or a boating lunch on the Zambezi
• Catch and release tiger fishing (both fly and spinning)
• Guided canoeing on the tributaries – silently passing wildlife and enjoying the smaller things like dragonflies and hearing the soaring Fish Eagles above.
• Expertly guided walking safari
• 4×4 day and night safaris

Camp: Old Mondoro | Chiawa | Chongwe River House

There are other areas of Zambia that offer unique safari experiences including:

1. The Kafue National Park – Zambia’s biggest and oldest National Parks, yet with only a dozen camps and home to a larger variety of species than any other park including cheetah (not found anywhere else in Zambia), Red Lechwe, Sable and Roan.
2. The largest bat migration in the world is found in Kasanka National Park during the months of November and December. A 7 hour drive north of Lusaka, there are only basic camping accommodation options for those especially interested in seeing this incredible spectacle, as well as the chance of spotting a sitatunga and the diverse flora and fauna.
3. The Bangweulu Swamps in Northern Zambia is home to the increasingly rare Shoebill. This prehistoric looking bird enjoys the shallow waters of the swamp for nesting and there are also other beautiful birding opportunities.

If Zambia sounds of interest for your next safari adventure, please feel free to contact the team on info@exceptional-travel.com or call us on: 44 (0) 1608 638777