Oh, to be on foot in the bush! Brian Jackman describes the joy of a walking safari Lions were roaring when the first grey light of dawn seeped over the Chindeni Hills. But when the sun appeared, casting long shadows through the trees, the cats fell silent as the day came alive, their distant voices drowned out by the endless mantras of Cape turtledoves. In Zambia’s Luangwa Valley it’s boots-on time. Later it will be too hot to walk,...
An insider’s overview from the experts at Steppes Travel Why visit? With a feeling of untamed nature, Zambia is a country that draws people back, time and time again. To many, a Zambian safari represents the ‘real Africa’ – a still undiscovered wilderness where exploration on foot reaps the greatest rewards. From the plains of Liuwa and the savannah of Luangwa to the thundering majesty of Victoria Falls, Zambia encapsulates the idea of an African adventure. Highlights North...
Few national parks offer better opportunities for wildlife photographers than Zambia's South Luangwa, either from a walking safari, an open vehicle or a photographic hide. The range of wildlife, the dense populations of many iconic species, and photogenic scenery combine to offer an abundance of good material. We bring you this selection of stunning images from Peter Geraerdts, who has been fortunate enough to combine his passions for Africa and photography in order to offer photographic safaris in the...
In 2017 the South Luangwa in Zambia was declared the world’s first ‘Sustainable National Park’ by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). But what does this mean, exactly? We asked Adrian Coley, a lodge operator in the Luangwa Valley, to give us the inside track on the impact of tourism in this important wildlife region. More and more of us are thinking more sensitively about how we travel. Tourism marketing people have been doing all they can to...
Of all the many places across Africa that tug strongly on our affections here at Travel Africa, the South Luangwa is a particular favourite. There is something about this place that we connect strongly with. Perhaps it is that its abundant wildlife is not too easily found, thus anticipation and promise hang in the air, and never disappoints. We’re also fascinated with how photographers are now using their craft to accentuate the stories they find on safari, creating artistic...
Your guide to everything you need to know about planning your Zambian adventure — from where to go, to how long to spend in each place, and how to tie it all together — whatever your budget and interest. Compiled by Phil Clisby. Picture credit Phil Jeffery, Jeffery & McKeith Safaris Deep in the Luangwa Valley, we lie in wait, engine switched off. To our right, two buffalo are on the lookout while the rest of the herd seeks...
How do bush chefs produce such delectable food even in the remotest of camps? On a visit to Lower Zambezi National Park, Laura Griffith-Jones was determined to learn how the food is sourced and cooked — as well as enjoying the myriad culinary experiences on offer in this superb safari destination Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park lay to one side of us and Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools to the other as we gently puttered along the Zambezi, enjoying a serene...
Following on from our feature on ‘How to plan the perfect safari’, in Issue 82, we asked five leading tour operators to share some more specially prepared itineraries to help you organise your adventure in this glorious southern African country 1 On the road: the best of Zambia Day 1: Arrive Lusaka, transfer to Mama Tembo Cheza, a private guesthouse on a five-acre wooded plot in a quiet, rural area of the capital. Day 2: Take a half-day or...
People travel from across the world to enjoy Africa’s finest wildlife reserves. These wild areas are as diverse as they are numerous, supporting an extraordinary wealth of life from mega-mammals to colourful birds and incredible insects. But perhaps nothing inspires more excitement than the joy of tracking down and viewing a leopard, Africa’s most beautiful predator. Encounters with leopards usually begin with a feeling; a seasoned guide will quickly notice the subtle behaviour of other animals which will give...
Showing animals in their environment is more challenging — but much more rewarding — than taking portraits. With a few pointers and knowing when to wait for a situation to develop, you can create some stunning shots. So we asked Edward Selfe to share his top tips for photographing widllife in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park. Generating images of animals in their environment can be done in two ways: by using a wide-angle lens from very close to your...
Travel Africa editor Laura Griffith-Jones travelled to Zambia to find out what makes this picturesque reserve unique. Photographs by Will Birtles. Drifting along on the Zambezi, Zimbabwe to your right and Zambia to your left, is magical. Birds flit among the reeds; hippopotami wallow in the shallows, emitting cautionary snorts if the boat passes too close; Nile crocodiles carve the surface with only their gleaming, amber eyes visible. If you’re lucky, a family of elephant may splosh into the...
The rainy season: a time of downpour and deluge, impassable roads, impenetrable bush, wildlife heading for the hills or vanishing behind a wall of greenery. Certainly no time for a safari. Or is it? Anna Devereux Baker donned her waterproofs and headed to South Luangwa National Park to find out for herself. The deepening grey of the approaching storm threw the bright, sun-drenched trees into sharp relief as we drifted downstream. I closed my eyes, listening to the low...
From bat swarms and birding bonanzas to leopard encounters and little-known migrations, William Gray presents a guide to Zambia’s definitive, spine-tingling experiences. Image copyright Kate Siedel. Thirty years have past since my first visit to Zambia. Bouncing around the country in the back of a bright yellow overland truck, it fuelled my love of African wildlife. Three decades later, I still have sketchy memories of a fat python stretched out on the floodplains of Lochinvar, freshly gorged on a...
As the industry has matured, standards in bush lodgings have improved and the range of options is enticing; we're spoilt for choice! But what is the difference between a lodge and a bush camp, a tented camp or a mobile safari? And how do you know which is best suited to you? Looking to Zambia’s impressive operators for examples, Emma Gregg gives an overview of safari accommodation now available What’s the best way to find your ideal place to...
Like several other safari destinations, Zambia offers visitors diverse attractions and a great choice of facilities, many with specialist skills or locations. Here you'll find our Zambia Safari Planner Highlights and a handy factfile which we hope you'll find useful. Zambia Safari Planner Highlights What is your number one Zambian destination? Every visitor has a favourite. Some return time and again to the big-hitters such as Luangwa, Kafue or Lower Zambezi. Others seek out more off-the-beaten-track destinations. Not that...
This extraordinary national park’s raw and diverse landscapes make it geographically enthralling. Morgan Trimble examines its natural history, ecology and wildlife, as well as revealing plenty of useful tips from the experts to help you plan your next trip Just outside the camp, we’re tracking a leopard through sandy soil in Kafue. The previous night, the cat’s sawing roar pierced the stillness along the river, briefly quieting the hippos’ grunts and fiery-necked nightjars’ trill. We had woken before sunrise...
Walking safaris are what Zambia does best. They offer what is, to many, the ultimate safari experience: meeting a lion on foot. But what happens if that lion doesn’t show up? Mike Unwin recalls one of his all-time favourite safaris, where he learnt there is more to meet in the bush than just big game. Lion! A big male, too, explains my guide, Levy Farao*. We squat down for a closer look at that unmistakable signature: four round toes...
Zambia has a bewildering variety of attractions. Sometimes it can be hard to decide exactly where and when to go, especially as every season offers something different. Some are well known, others more offbeat. January - April · The rainy season: hot and wet. Rivers swell, lagoons fill and plains flood. Vegetation runs riot, making animals elusive , but many have their young at this time. · Birding probably at its best, with many summer migrants around - including...
Since first visiting the Luangwa Valley in 1995, Cape Town-based photographer David Rogers has returned more than 25 times to capture the region’s landscapes on camera for books, magazines and lodges. He also arranges photographic safaris here. He cut his teeth as an editor for Reader’s Digest and went on to join Getaway Magazine at the time Nelson Mandela was freed and the continent was opening up to South Africans. He has travelled widely in Africa, with his work...
This is Travel Africa’s guide to everything you need to know about planning your trip to one of Africa’s finest wildlife regions — when to go, what to do and where to stay. David Rogers reveals all When I first visited South Luangwa, in north-east Zambia, in 1995, I was captivated by the meandering river, majestic forests and patchwork of beautiful lagoons — not to mention the staggering concentrations of wildlife. Since then, I have returned twice a year...
