Zambia "in a nutshell"
Traveling to Zambia, the wild heart of Africa, is considered an adventure even among Africa enthusiasts. The roads are poor, the distances vast, the potholes big, and the infrastructure is limited. Therefore, the key here is to plan, fly, and remain flexible.
In the center of the diverse national parks lies the capital city, Lusaka, a not-so-pleasant million-city African metropolis - comparable to Nairobi in Kenya. While Lusaka isn't a must-see, its airport is conveniently located for all national and international connections.
Our tip for connoisseurs: If you have the time and leisure, arrive in Livingstone instead of Lusaka. This small town near Victoria Falls has an international airport and is easily accessible via Johannesburg. While the view of the falls may not be as spectacular as from Zimbabwe, Livingstone offers a more laid-back atmosphere, and the lodges along the Zambezi River are stunning.
To the east of Lusaka lies the lesser-known Lower Zambezi National Park. The area used to have a reputation for being infested with tsetse flies and lacking infrastructure, but that's no longer the case. Tsetse flies have been vigorously controlled and nearly eradicated, especially in this region. There are both basic and well-equipped camps along the different arms of the Zambezi River, and the tranquility and silence of this landscape will touch you from the very first moment. Thin mist swirls through the mopane forests in the early morning, and the evening light is so enchanting that you might secretly look out for elves and unicorns.
Our tip for connoisseurs: Definitely plan a stay of 3-4 days in a good camp in the Lower Zambezi. Let yourself be captivated by this beautiful landscape and enjoy it. Persuade your guide to deviate from the standard program, perhaps by going fishing with them or taking a day trip with an extensive picnic by the river. You'll be amazed by what you capture with your camera.
In the northeastern part of Zambia lies the most wildlife-rich region of the country, home to South Luangwa and North Luangwa National Parks. What the Serengeti is to Tanzania or Kruger National Park is to South Africa, this area is to Zambia. No matter which corridor you explore, elephants, lions, hyenas, puku, zebras, crocodiles, and hippos are almost omnipresent. True walking safaris can also be done here, not just a few minutes around the camp, but multi-day hikes from camp to camp. Although these walking safaris are always accompanied by an armed guide, you should only embark on them if you are physically and mentally resilient. Incorrect and self-centered behavior can quickly become a danger to the entire group.
Our tip for connoisseurs: Absolutely fly to one of the few camps in North Luangwa and stay there for at least 3-4 nights. The camps are very basic but have everything you need. You can only do walking safaris there, but that's the reason you're there. You'll quickly feel like a part of nature, lying in bed at night and listening to the various animal visitors in the camp, getting up with the first light of day, toasting your bread by the open fire, and then setting off promptly at sunrise... into the bush and on to new adventures.
In the western part of the country, you'll find the relatively newly opened Kafue and Liuwa Plains National Parks. Since we haven't visited them yet, we can't provide any information on them, but surely we will soon.
"When the missionaries came to Africa, they had the Bible and we had the land. They said, 'Let us pray.' We closed our eyes. When we opened them, we had the Bible and they had the land."
(Desmond Tutu, Nobel Peace Prize laureate)
