Been on Safari and thinking of where to for your next Safari?
It’s a no-brainer: Zambia! After my recent trip, I’m absolutely in love with this place, and I’m betting you will be too. Here are a few reasons why I’ve fallen head over heels:
1. The Wildlife.
Grab your front-row seat - Zambian wildlife is next level. So many stories I can share.
- The rare wild dog moments in South Luangwa, chilling after a meal and not budging to the epic impala chase in Lower Zambezi National Park. While the pack did get the impala and devoured it in minutes, I am glad in some way I did not see the kill itself as I am sure it was brutal.
- The beautiful leopard sightings with the best morning light. I skipped my walk for this moment with my Safari guide Sandy from Sungani Lodge. Well worth the gaze.
- Every game drive highlighted elephants with wee ones and lots of them. Just being in the quiet with them, I got to see so many cool interactions. Elephants all day, any day.
- Lions galore. Every drive, we had lion sightings. From a sibling pair playing with sticks and the older sibling not being in the mood for play, to a cheeky lion cub trying to sneak a bite of his dad’s kill. He patiently tried hard for minutes and Dad was NOT feeling generous – cue some serious family drama with the mama lion running to check in on the young one.
- Lots of giraffes on Safari - got to see them necking and mating. Pretty neat.
- From the river banks in Luangwa and Zambezi, I got to see the beginning of the carmine bee-eaters migration - they were making their way to nest. I had heard of this so was excited to get a glimpse of them arriving.
- My Safari guide and I were transferring through Mosi-O-Tunya and at a distance, we see something large. I say “hippo“ and he say’s “elephants“, and when we got closer, we both got goosebumps as there were two white rhinos. We could not stop talking about them until we got to Matetsi River Lodge in Zimbabwe.
Moments like this, with a lion pride, a pack of wild dogs, elephants, and more, make Zambia one of the best countries for wildlife viewing.
2. The People.
Welcoming and warm! You’ll get all the feels from the moment you step onto Zambian soil. The Safari guides shared with me more than wildlife stories. I heard how school works in villages to getting through college and how some guides move to towns like Livingstone and Lusaka for better education for their kids. They shared how they decided to become guides and the process. I heard of the challenges of health care in Zambia especially if you are in remote areas. So much to learn.
The kind and caring lodge crew made sure I ate well and had my morning tea or decaf coffee for me. I always try to chat with them and I can’t wait for some of them to become Safari guides.
To the local artisans in Mfuwe in South Luangwa to the craft market near Victoria Falls, you’ll have a blast bargaining if you are into that but just remember, every extra dollar you spend makes a big difference to the local families!
My tip, I bargain to get the thrill, and then end up paying the original price quoted.
3. The Places.
Amazing hospitality. After hours of bouncing around in a 4x4 Safari vehicle, you’ll want somewhere comfortable to put your feet up. One family run lodge that won the couch test was Sungani Lodge. The couches are so comfortable here – just one example of the Safari essentials you never knew you needed.
Each place [more details here] offered gorgeous views, great food, and all sorts of wildlife rolling in for a visit – I was spoilt on every couch.
4. Victoria Falls.
Nature’s biggest showstopper. Victoria Falls is an absolute must-see when you’re in Zambia, or Zimbabwe. Known locally as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” – The Smoke That Thunders – the sheer power and beauty of the Falls will leave you with your mouth hanging open for minutes at a time. Even in September when the falls is not thundering, I was in awe of this geological wonder. Andddd, I got to experience the Devil’s Pool. Mind blowing experience.
If thunderous stream is what you are after, the Zambian side during the drier months does slow down hence going to the Zimbabwe side may be the answer. You have to be patient because you have to cross the border and would recommend getting the KAZA visa on arrival. But the beauty doesn’t fade with the water levels – this natural wonder is awesome all year round!
5. Fewer Vehicles at this time.
What a treat this is for those of us who are used to areas with lots of vehicles. To have a leopard, lion or wild dog sighting limited to one to two vehicles - wow. When we were trying to capture the wild dogs hunting in Lower Zambezi, my guide Taps was all flustered because there were about ten or so vehicles all trying to get a closer look. I hope they always keep the numbers low, which means we need to make sure we support the right lodges who are protecting the areas.
Would love to chat more with you about the beauty that is Zambia.
