The Best of Zambia Safaris
Posted on Thursday, February 17th, 2011
Zambia isn’t one of the most popular choices for safaris, but especially for advanced safari goers, it is a destination worth checking out. This landlocked African country has a great deal to offer. It’s right in the middle of Africa and has some incredible scenery, including the Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River – one of the seven natural wonders of the world!
The Victoria Falls are known indigenously as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’, meaning ‘Smoke that Thunders’, an absolutely perfect name for this roaring cascade of water. Depending on when you go, the Victoria Falls will look very different. Rainy season means that the spray from the falls can rise up to over 400 metres – just the spray – and you’ll even be able to see a ‘moonbow’ in the mist. It also means that most of the falls are actually obscured by the mist and you’ll not really be able to get very close. In dry season, the falls are vastly different, and you can even cross some stretches of the river, though I would not advise this just in case. It’s worth seeing in either season, but it may be worth questioning which you’d really like to view. At low season, rather famously, the ‘Devil’s Pool’ becomes relatively safe to swim in. This is at the top of the Falls and is the closest location you can swim in; a natural rock wall lies just below the water and is presumed to stop the progress of the falls. Be warned, however; despite the apparent ‘safety’ of this pool, someone dies swimming in it every year. So be careful.
A safari in Zambia is naturally going to focus on the wildlife, which is easily Zambia’s strongest point. It has nearly half of the total water resources in Southern Africa, so its plant life and animals are incredibly rich and diverse. The most popular safari locations are the Luangwa National Parks and the Lower Zambezi. The Luangwa Valley in north eastern Zambia is the tail end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley. It also happens to be one of the very few remaining unspoilt wilderness areas in Africa. Secondly, the Lower Zambezi is actually where Zambia derives its name (it was formerly known as Northern Rhodesia as a British protectorate), and is another excellent safari location. It’s perfect for boating safaris, bush walks, and animal tracking. Between them you’ll find one of the best spots in the world for viewing leopards.
The largest national park in Zambia is the Kafue National Park, which is best known for having plenty of birdlife. It’s an incredible place to view the African wilderness. It’s perfect for game viewing, birdwatching, and fishing, so if these pursuits are your goals, Zambia may be the way to go.
For those first-timers to Africa, the dry season from June to October is generally the best time to head to Zambia. This offers the best opportunities for game viewing in general, especially for the bigger game. December to May is the wetter season, which is good for birds and especially for wild dogs. In these months, the weather is extremely variable – going from sunny to cloudy and then right back to bright and sunny.
Zambia safaris are great opportunities to view wildlife at its best, and catching sight of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders is surely worth a stop on your next luxury trip. If you’ve been the Zambia, let me know in the comments – I’d love to hear more from you.
