Zambia is commonly regarded as one of the most beautiful and unspoiled countries on the African continent, famous for the walking safari that originated here. Sparsely populated, it is a vast country with remarkable quantities and diversity of wildlife found in some of the wildest and most remote game areas on the continent. The iconic Big Five are here in abundance—lions, leopards, elephants, rhinos and buffalos.
The country is predominantly a high plateau ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 feet. The majestic Victoria Falls lies just across the Zimbabwe border and serves as the most iconic landmark in the Zambezi region. Zambia’s National Parks offer great opportunities for observing Africa’s plains game and their attendant predators. About 30 % of Zambia’s land is reserved for wildlife. There are 20 national parks in all as well as 34 game management areas. South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi National Parks rank among the finest game parks in the world.
The legendary Norman Carr established Kafue National Park in the 1950’s. Kafue is one of the largest national parks in the whole of Africa. Despite its size and prominent location, just two hours drive from Livingstone, it remains little-known and largely unexplored, with vast tracts of its virgin bush still untouched. Thanks to its size and variety of habitat, the Kafue holds a fantastic diversity of wildlife. In recent years the Park has seen well-managed growth in high quality Safari Camps and Lodges that operate in and around the Park. The Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is situated along the upper Zambezi River. It includes Victoria Falls and stretches 8 miles up the Zambezi River above the Falls.
North Luangwa National Park is a remote tract of land, covering 1780 square miles, and offers one of the finest wilderness experiences in Africa. It is not open to the public and there are no permanent lodges allowed in the park. We can arrange access through one of the few safari operators granted permission to conduct walking safaris. There are few roads and you are unlikely to see anyone else for the duration of your trip. Like the South Park, it lies on the western bank of the Luangwa River bordered by the dramatic Muchinga Escarpment, which rises 3,280 feet from the valley floor. Visiting this Park is one of the truly remarkable opportunities you may have to experience Africa “as it was”. It is wild and untouched and you are simply an unobtrusive witness to its natural beauty and drama.
South Luangwa National Park has been dubbed “one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world”, and not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this Park. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The now-famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park and is still one of the finest ways to experience Africa’s pristine wilderness first-hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from; dry, bare bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park. Zambia retains the essence of Africa: superb wildlife and cultural encounters in one of the continent’s least traveled and most rewarding wilderness destinations.
