ZAMBIA

Stepping carefully through the

grass, you freeze instantly as
your guide raises his hand.
The sun creeps over the
horizon to warm you with the
first rays of the day. The guide
crouches, pointing to elephant
bathing in the river. Behind
Young eagle owl
you the game scout scans the In addition to 4WD games drives, Zambia offers Africa's best walking safaris

horizon, his hand gently holding the stock of a polished

KAFUE
rifle. Your gaze is aware of the slightest movement. Your
Pages 68-69 Zambia’s largest national
ears alert to every sound. This is Zambia – the wild heart park is higher, cooler and less developed
than either the Lower Zambezi or the
of Africa. Luangwa. Top spot for big game; the
Busanga Plains are a particularly amazing
area.

WHY ZAMBIA?
Nchila Reser ve ●
Zambia remains the preserve of very few
visitors, though this is slowly changing. It is
still wild, full of big game and boasts some ●
of the best guides in Africa. MWINILUNGA
SOLWEZI ● ChimfunshI
Walking safaris were pioneered in the ●
country’s Luangwa Valley, and the guides
here rank amongst the best on the WEST LUNGA
continent. You’ve got to be good to lead NATIONAL
guests on a walk, and for many years now
PARK
the safari guides in the Luangwa and Lower
Zambezi have passed through a stringent
system of guiding exams before taking
charge of visitors. Such high standards of
Thornicroft's giraffe are endemic to the
‘bushcraft’ will add enormously to your Busanga
Luangwa Valley LIUWA PLAIN Plains
experience, be it in a vehicle or on foot.
NATIONAL PARK
Zambia’s other big advantage is that night River
drives are allowed within its national parks.
Kafue
This adds a new dimension to game-
viewing, with the opportunity to see a
different range of animal species, from the KAFUE
elusive leopard to the amusing porcupine MONGU ● NATIONAL
PARK
“We left this trip very much in your GETTING AROUND ZAMBIA
hands, and you found a great rhythm to
the whole trip. The way that we were The distances between Zambia’s parks are LOCHINVAR
introduced to each country, the variety of huge and its roads are not always smooth, ● SENANGA NATIONAL
Za
experiences, the fitting of the camps to
so virtually all of our trips involve flying SIOMA m Nanzhila Plains PARK
our style of travel – it felt like you knew be
among the national parks in light aircraft. NGWEZI zi
us intimately, and understood us
NATIONAL Ri
completely… As a 25-day trip to Africa, Most of these flights run to fixed schedules, ve
we couldn't have done it better although if you travel away from the main PARK r
ourselves, even had we taken a year to parks to more remote areas, like Bangweulu
plan it.”
and North Luangwa, then we’ll often charter
Mr. H & Ms. B from California
small planes. Chete Island
●
●
For the latest detailed travellers’ reviews, Once there, you’ll stay in intimate camps KATIMA
visit www.expertafrica.com that will tailor their activities around your MULILO ● LIVINGSTONE
interests. Most organise two activities per
day; one in the morning, the other in the
late afternoon/early evening. Each lasts NAMIBIA ● VICTORIA FALLS
about three or four hours and you’ll usually
Satellite maps of Zambia choose what you want to do the night BOTSWANA
before. Your days will be fairly full but
Our website now incorporates
there’s always a few hours after lunch for a
satellite maps of Africa,
light siesta!
LIVINGSTONE & THE
including Zambia. Just click VICTORIA FALLS
Maps on the menu of LOCHINVAR
www.expertafrica.com – you Page 77 Along with one of the wonders
can zoom into the country in Page 81 Vast flat floodplains, beside the of the world, you’ll find good-value hotels
amazing detail. The camps and Kafue River, act as a magnet for birds, close by, a handful of lovely riverside
lodges are clearly marked with
bird-watchers and large numbers of lodges, terrific curios and a host of
links to relevant trip ideas and
information. endemic Kafue lechwe. adrenaline activities.

66 | ZAMBIA
 ZAMBIA
LAKE TANGANYIKA 4WD OR WALKING SAFARI?
Camps offer activities which vary from
Page 117 This is the deepest lake in
walking to 4WD safaris, both day and night.
Africa and the size of a sea, but difficult
Those near navigable rivers, including the
to access. Best visited whilst with the
Kafue and Lower Zambezi, will often also
chimps of Tanzania’s Mahale Mountains.
BANGWEULU REGION offer boat safaris, canoeing and sometimes
fishing. On all these trips, you’ll be guided
Pages 78-79 A varied, offbeat region by a knowledgeable, professional guide.
that’s often visited on a second or third The vast majority of camps offer the choice
trip to Zambia. Superb bird-watching and of walks or drives on a daily basis; typically
interesting animals amidst rural Zambian you’ll make a choice over dinner for the
life. following day.
By contrast, a couple of the Luangwa’s
Lake Lake bushcamps only offer walking. These are
Mwer u Tanganyika generally tiny camps in remote areas where
Wantipa
there are no roads – like Mwaleshi and
Kutandala in North Luangwa, and Chikoko
Lake
Mwer u and Crocodile in South Luangwa. They are
specialist camps and well worth seeking out
MBALA ● if you love walking.
NCHELENGE
●
SUMBU
NATIONAL PARK
SHIWA NG’ANDU
Page 79 Explore an extraordinary stately
home steeped in history, along with its
KASAMA ● surrounding country estate. Walk, ride
and take boat trips whilst marvelling at
Lake ISANGANO Shiwa’s present as well as its past.
Bangweulu NATIONAL PARK

●
MANSA ● Shiwa N’gandu

Ban gweulu NORTH LUANGWA

Wetlands ● MPIKA Page 75 This more remote sibling of
NORTH LUANGWA
MALAWI

Mutinondo Wilderness ● South Luangwa has just a couple of tiny

NATIONAL PARK bushcamps which focus exclusively on
LAVUSHI
MANDA walking safaris; a great destination for
safari addicts.
SOUTH
● KITWE
KASANKA LUANGWA
NDOLA ● N.P. NATIONAL
PARK
● ● MFUWE SOUTH LUANGWA
SERENJE
Pages 72-76 Zambia’s premier park
CHIPATA ●
r
ve

offers superb big game and some of

Ri

Africa’s best walking safaris. To get the

● KAPIRI MPOSHI
a
gw

best out of the Luangwa, spend at least a

an

week here, including some time in its

Lu

smaller bushcamps.

LUSAKA MOZAMBIQUE
● WHAT’S THE WALKING LIKE?
● Lechwe Lodge If you have only seen animals from a vehicle
and longed to get out, then walking with big
LOWE R game is an amazing experience; it’s
Z AM B E ZI exhilarating to the point of addiction.
● Camps differ, but usually you’ll set off with a
CHIR UNDU N ATION AL
PAR K LUSAKA guide, an armed game scout, and often a
Lake Kariba tea-bearer carrying refreshments. Walks
Page 81 Although Lusaka, Zambia’s have a maximum of seven guests, but two
capital, has few major attractions, you to five is more usual.
may need to overnight here before You don’t need to be especially fit to walk in
catching British Airways’ early morning Zambia; walking safaris aren’t route
flight back to London. marches or endurance tests. Instead they’re Bradt Guide to Zambia
about taking time to spot the signs of the
Chris McIntyre, who runs Expert
ZIMBABWE wildlife and learn how the ecosystems
work.
Africa, is author of Zambia:
The Bradt Travel Guide. This
The distance covered depends on the is widely regarded as the most
LOWER ZAMBEZI wildlife that you find and the interests of the comprehensive guidebook
walkers, but two to five miles would be available on Zambia, and its
Page 70-71 Adjacent to the languid flow typical. You’ll stop frequently for your guide fourth edition will be published
of the great Zambezi River, this area has at the start of 2008. You’ll find it
to educate, enlighten and often entertain on sale at most good
excellent big game and a beautiful you with tales of the bush around you.
mountain backdrop. Also come for boat bookshops, price £17.99;
The ground underfoot is always uneven, alternatively copies (signed or
trips, canoeing and great fishing.
though rarely steeply inclined, so sensible unsigned) are available direct
from us for the special price of
shoes or light boots are ideal. You need to
£15 (including p&p) –
carry your camera and binoculars and refundable from the cost of any
ideally you should wear muted colours and Zambian trip booked with us.
a hat.

ZAMBIA | 67