“I’ve been on many safaris, but my experience in Zambia was where I felt closest to nature. After my trip, I can now say that it’s my absolute favourite place to go to in Africa!”
Our Africa Travel Specialist, Nikki Lynas, recently returned from a bush-camp safari trip to Zambia, where she visited the Kafue, Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa regions.
Read on to learn more about her adventures below.
About my safari
“My recent safari trip to Zambia was special. Reflecting back on it, I can now confidently say that it’s my favourite place to visit in Africa! The wildlife guiding is some of the best you’ll find on the continent, allowing you to encounter everything from endangered wild dogs to big cats, such as leopards, lions and cheetahs. Plus, with it being more ‘back-to-basics’ compared to the more popular safari destinations you’ll be aware of, I truly felt closer to nature than ever before.
“In addition to staying at some higher-end properties, a lot of the safari was bush-camp style. This is more rustic than your average wildlife experience, with it taking me from the lesser-visited floodplain and forest of Kafue to Lower Zambezi’s elephant-populated river lands and finishing in South Luangwa, where you’ll encounter one of the highest concentrations of game in Africa.
“Everything feels very authentic, personalised and in touch with the surroundings. Although the accommodation is relatively simple, it’s also intimate and placed within the heart of wildlife territory. For example, Chula Island Camp provides a view out towards the bush from your bedroom with only a mesh net separating you from nature. So, it’s entirely possible that you’ll see the resident leopards and lions coming and going through the camp during your stay!”
You can tailor your own safari to Zambia, incorporating any of the locations or properties mentioned by Nikki from her trip. Discover our list of Zambia holiday ideas to get started, and give us a call when you’re ready to put it all together.
What I loved
“Many things stood out to me about Zambia. For one, the wildlife is fearless! As you can see here, there were lions which came right up to my safari vehicle in Kafue. The curious big cats were pawing at some tortoise shells. But unbeknownst to them, they were empty!
“They know you’re there, and are happy to do their own thing even in the presence of humans. Many of the properties see them come and go, too. For instance, at Kaingo Camp in South Luangwa, some elephants came through to show off their newborn as I was tucking into lunch!
“Another property that stood out to me was Chiawa Camp. To my knowledge, they and their sister camp, Old Mondoro, are the only camps in Lower Zambezi to use red lights as standard on all their night drives. Many animals can’t see the colour red, so using a red light instead of a white light is, in theory, good practice, because it’ll have minimal impact on the wildlife you’re seeking.
“In addition to this, the thought and care Chiawa puts into their service is second to none. I’m a vegetarian, and normally you’d get one option on the menu. However, at Chiawa, I was given my own personalised menu with my name at the top and two options for every course. It was a lovely touch, and there’s serious attention to detail when it comes to any special diet.
“Overall, I was completely blown away by the warm and welcoming attitude of every single guide, chef or member of staff at each camp. It truly felt like you had a friend at every location. The guides were all incredibly friendly and knowledgeable about the area and its wildlife, and the chefs prepared hearty and delicious meals.”
Chiawa Camp features on our Zambezi Safari Adventure. Spend your time in this exhilarating wilderness with two activities per day, making the most of your proximity to the Zambezi River and encounters with the prowling predators.
My favourite experiences
“I had many standout experiences throughout my trip, including two I’d like to highlight here.
“In Kafue, I stopped for a bush bathroom break, and my guide went to clear the area – however, the area was not cleared since there were wild dogs hiding behind a bush! It’s a perfect example of how you could easily go by something and just not know it’s there. Had we driven on by, they would’ve been happily hiding in the shade without a care in the world.
“Over at Mfuwe Village in South Lunagwa, I made a stop at Mulberry Mongoose. This is a fantastic conservation and creative initiative where local women take poachers’ snares removed from the bush and transform them into jewellery. Transforming something so horrible into something so beautiful is not only inspiring but also empowering and financially beneficial to the women involved in making it. I even bought the pair of earrings you can see below!”
You can make your own memories on our South Luangwa Safari, which includes plenty of time for you to visit Mulberry Mongoose. It’s also fully tailorable, meaning you could add a stay in Kafue or Lower Zambezi, depending on your interests.
Who I would recommend it for
“I would thoroughly recommend a Zambia safari to anyone looking for a wild experience and those wanting an active safari, as the walking adds a different dimension to your stay. I would thoroughly recommend a Zambia safari to anyone looking for a wild experience and who wants variety in their safari, as the walking and boating add a different dimension to your stay.
“For me, this recent visit to Zambia was one I will never forget.”
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