Zambia - A.K. Taylor International

Zambia

is a peaceful country that has some fantastic parks and reserves with plenty of wildlife. One of the most well known reserves lies in the South Luangwa Valley. This region is flooded for part of each year, then as the waters recede and the pools dry up, the game in the area begin to concentrate around the Luangwa River and the many oxbow lakes.

At this time of year thousands of Carmine Bee Eaters flock to nest along the banks of the river. As the sun sets in the evening, the air fills with the sounds of restless hippos waking for their night of grazing on shore, the lonesome sound of the rare Pel's fishing owl and the haunting, territorial call of a male lion.

While most safaris to Zambia concentrate on the Luangwa Valley, there is also the larger but rarely visited Kafue National Park which has plenty of game, as well as the interesting Bangweulu Swamps, where serious birders search for one of the world's rarest birds, the whale-headed stork, in addition to wetland mammals like the sitatungu and black lechwe.

Zambia is one of the last places to see wild dog in Africa.

SOME OF THE BEST WALKING SAFARIS IN AFRICA

Zambia is known for top quality guides that lead walking trips in South Luangwa. A trip to Zambia can include a mix of game drives and day walks from elegantly rustic tented camps and lodges as well as up to 10 days of walking while staying in lightweight fly camps in remote regions of the 9000 sq. km South Luangwa Valley.

Accommodations are a mix of tented camps and lodges, all small, intimate and decorated with all the essentials from Persian carpets to safari books and open air showers.

The game experience in South Luangwa is very exciting as the vehicles are completely open and the walks are with trained professional guides and armed rangers. South Luangwa is a good place to see leopard and wild dog and one of the best places in Africa to experience the thrill of night game drives. At night, one has the chance to see lions, leopards and hyenas on the hunt, watch enormous pink hippos grazing on land and see numerous and rare small mammals that most people never see. One of our favorites is the elephant shrew, which has a long elephantine snout and large back feet that it pounds when alarmed.

POSSIBLE SAFARI COMBINATIONS AND EXTENSIONS

A combination trip to Malawi fits in well with a safari in Zambia as the countries offer very different experiences and are quite close. The proximity of Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe would also make for great combination trips and allow one to see different habitats and the diversity that Africa has to offer.

One should not forget to visit Victoria Falls when traveling in Zambia. In fact, Zambia has one of the best lodges near the falls, in terms of both accommodations, and the view of the falls.

View of the falls from the Zambian side.

For more information or questions, please contact us.

- Return to Top -