-Practicalities and plus points<\/strong><\/p>\n The international gateways are Lusaka and Livingstone, however an extensive Proflight<\/em> network offers connections throughout the country.<\/p>\n Direct flights to Lusaka with BA ended over a decade ago.\u00a0 There are reliable routes with Emirates (via Dubai), Qatar (via Doha), Ethiopian Airlines (via Addis) and BA\/Airlink (via Johannesburg). Depending on the carrier, journeys take around 15-18 hours from London.<\/p>\n Very little time change (GMT+2) so no jet lag.<\/p>\n Many small owner-run camps\/lodges provides for really genuine hospitality.<\/p>\n Excellent guiding.<\/p>\n Wide range of activities \u2013 4\u00d74 safari, walking, boating, wildlife hides, fly-camping, night drives, fishing, birding.<\/p>\n Good combinations available \u2013 combine several safari areas, or a safari with a visit to Victoria Falls (from Livingstone) \u2013 relax at a river lodge for a few days or enjoy a lake stay by combining a Zambia safari with Lake Malawi.<\/p>\n Feels exclusive.<\/p>\n Nitty Gritty<\/strong><\/p>\n -Best areas for wildlife<\/strong><\/p>\n The\u00a0Luangwa Valley\u00a0(North & South Luangwa National Parks) and the\u00a0Lower Zambezi\u00a0are the premier wildlife destinations in Zambia. The optimum time to be on safari in these areas is\u00a0June to October. Many camps are seasonal, closing during the long rains December \u2013 March, although some permanent lodges stay open year-round.<\/p>\n South Luangwa, also known as the Valley of the Leopard, is (unsurprisingly) fantastic for leopard sightings, as well as lion, hosting Zambia\u2019s largest populations. You\u2019ll find a wide range of plains game (e.g impala, kudu, waterbuck, zebra, sable, roan, Cookson\u2019s wildebeest), buffalo, elephant and Thornicroft\u2019s giraffes,\u00a0 while the mighty river system offers exceptional birding (450 species), hippo and crocodile sightings.<\/p>\n The Lower Zambezi also offers excellent predator activity, with plentiful plains game and superb elephant encounters. There are no giraffe in the Lower Zambezi. Boating on the Zambezi offers a closer view of the river life including birds, hippos and crocs.<\/p>\n Wild dog packs have strengthened in both areas but you\u2019re unlikely to glimpse cheetah unless you travel to Kafue National Park, which has a higher density. You won\u2019t see wild rhino either \u2013 these have been decimated by poaching. It is hoped they will return to the landscape one day with a reintroduction programme in North Luangwa. It is possible to visit a rhino conservation project near Livingstone (Victoria Falls) however.<\/p>\n For shoebills, head to the Bangweulu Swamps. For carmine bee-eater nesting, the season is September.<\/p>\n -Wilderness Areas<\/strong><\/p>\n Take your pick \u2013 the wilderness is never far away in Zambia and this is one of the major attractions of this wonderful country, relatively untouched by mass tourism.<\/p>\n All of Zambia\u2019s parks offer a wilderness experience so really it comes down to what you what to see and do. The breadth of experience is superb with 4\u00d74 safari, walking, boating, fly camping, night drives, fishing, birding, wildlife hides, star beds, community and project visits,\u00a0 and even cycling available, and that\u2019s not including the many activities on offer in and around Livingstone (Victoria Falls) such as rafting, bungee jumping and jet boating.<\/p>\n In addition to the Luangwa Valley and Lower Zambezi, you also have other wild areas to consider. \u00a0Kafue\u00a0is actually Zambia\u2019s oldest and largest park but receives few visitors. A handful of excellent camps are located in the Busanga Plains area.\u00a0Liuwa\u00a0is managed by African Parks, and is going through something of a transformation with monitoring programmes and wildlife reintroductions.\u00a0\u00a0Kasanka\u00a0and\u00a0 Even the most frequented destination by tourists \u2013 the South Luangwa \u2013 offers exclusivity with tiny seasonal bush camps scattered throughout the park.\u00a0 The gateway of Mfuwe is the busiest section and home to several larger permanent lodges which open year-round (and offer excellent game viewing) with north and south of this area feeling increasingly remote and pristine. Head to North Luangwa and the tracks all but disappear leaving the perfect environment for walking safaris along the Mwaleshi River.<\/p>\n -Luxury & Romance<\/strong><\/p>\n Zambia excels at wilderness experiences with top guiding and hospitality and all the comforts you could ever need at carefully crafted bush camps and lodges with bags of character. We\u2019re talking bush-style sophistication,\u00a0 perfect for lovers of the great outdoors,\u00a0 as opposed to a more \u2018traditional\u2019\u00a0 hotel-style level of luxury (which tends to be more sanitised and removed from its environment). That’s why it’s always a good idea to talk to us about your expectations so we can match the right client with the right camp. The most luxurious properties in Zambia would probably be Puku Ridge and Sungani (both South Luangwa).<\/p>\n Away from the bush camps and lodges of the safari areas you\u2019ll find stunning\u00a0river lodges\u00a0near to Livingstone (for Victoria Falls) and along the Upper Zambezi, perfect for pre or post safari R&R \u2013 Tongabezi and Thorntree among them \u00a0\u2013\u00a0 you can very happily while away the days watching the world go by here.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/explorersagainstextinction.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Walking-Safaris-300x167.jpg\")
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