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ZAMBIA
Zambia offers unique
and genuinely remote destinations for those wanting an unusual
safari in areas that are lees frequented by tourists. The great Zambezi river
valley, together with its tributary the Luangwa, is rapidly establishing a reputation for magnificent
wildlife spectacles. To the north is the Bangweulu
swamp, close to where Livingstone died, and an area
with its own particular charm and endemic animal
species. No Zambian safari can only be considered
complete without a visit to that most famous of African
wonders, the Victoria falls. The best months to are
from May to November. In November the summer heats
starts to become oppressive, and many safari camps
close down at this time of year.
Capital:
Lusaka
Currency: Kwacha
(K)
Electricity: 220/240V, 50Hz
Getting
there: A variety of airlines have regular flights to Lusaka. Wild and Exotic
are licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority (license number 6445) to sell the
international flights necessary for this itinerary. Please contact us for
further details and our recommended airlines.
Recommended
time to visit: The best months to visit are May to
October.
Time: GMT/UTC plus two hours
Visas:
Visitors to Zambia will be supplied with a letter from Wild and Exotic which
exempts them from having to purchase a visa.
Weights & measures: Metric
Read what our clients have to say
about their Wild and Exotic experiences in Zambia
Safari Lodges and Camps
We represent a variety of camps and
lodges in Zambia. There are a number of luxuriously appointed permanent camps
and lodges along the magnificent Zambezi that forms the Southern boundary with
Zimbabwe. Downstream from Kariba are the fabulous
Mwambashi
River Lodge and
Chongwe River Lodge,
spacious tents overlooking the river and shaded by large acacia trees. Not only
do these lodges provide an exciting base from which to explore the valley,
famous for its resident lions, but they also serve as ideal locations from which
to fish for the
ferocious tiger fish that abound in these waters. Mwambashi is also
the location for a fascinating scientific project to study the African wild dog.
We particularly support
Vintage African Safaris, an operation that arranges walking safaris in the Lower Zambezi
valley, east of Lusaka and downstream of the Kafue
confluence, in an area devoid of any other tourism.
Guests explore the pristine wilderness of the Zambezi
escarpment on foot, accompanied by a mobile camp that
affords the luxury and elegance of a 1920s Edwardian
Safari. This is prime
habitat for elephant, buffalo and leopard, and an area abundant in African
wildlife.
Robin Pope safaris offer
the perfect bases from which to explore the beautiful
South
Luangwa National Park,
beginning at their comfortable camp over looking the
Luangwa River at Nkwali, and moving on to remoter and
more adventurous locations at
Nusefu and
Tena Tena.
Guests staying at Robin Pope's camps are encouraged to
rise early for a light breakfast, and explore the
African bush on foot or by vehicle before returning to
camp for lunch and an afternoon siesta, then heading
out again from 4pm until darkness, when nocturnal
animals such as leopards can be seen with the aid of a
powerful spotlight. These small and exclusive camps are
open from May until the beginning of October. Robin Pope
Safaris are especially renowned for their
wilderness walking safaris, where
guests explore the remote Mupamadzi River in the north of the South Luangwa
Park, spending nights in comfortable and well equipped mobile camps.
In the west, close to the
border with Botswana and upstream of Victoria Falls is
Tongabezi
Lodge, offering the highest standards of
accommodation combined with the opportunity to a visit to these awesome waterfalls, known as “the smoke
that thunders”.
The Bangweulu swamps to
the north offer a remote and unusual safari experience.
Shoebill Island Camp
takes its name from the rare shoebill stork, which lives in the papyrus
swamps and is found nowhere else in the sub region. Black lechwe antelope are
also endemic to the area. A trip here can be combined with a visit to Kasanka;
a trust owned reserve, where in November and December countless millions of
straw coloured fruit bats collect to roost in the Mushitu swamp forest, one of
nature’s most amazing spectacles. The rare sitatunga antelope is also resident
and often spotted from a hide that is situated high in a mahogany tree
overlooking the animals’ wetland habitat. |
