Posted by Zambia is an awesome African country with attractions for travel as well as safari. As an adventure lover, you would be crazy to experience the charm of Zambia travel on your own, or with your family.
Zambia, a landlocked nation in southern Africa, is home to a wide variety of animals and has several parks and safari locations. Famous Victoria Falls, locally known as Mosi-oa-Tunya, or “Smoke That Thunders,” are located on Zimbabwe’s border and plunge 108 meters into the confined Batoka Gorge in a mist. A stunning vantage point is the Victoria Falls Bridge, which spans the Zambezi River immediately below the falls.
Zambia is home to several wildlife reserves and national parks. Here is an overview of some of the most well-known and convenient safari destinations in the nation. This article will give an overview of Zambia travel.
Why does Zambia travel?
Zambia has several good quality lodges, and thanks to 19 different national parks that are just off the beaten track. The diversity of experiences in this great string of protected areas is amazing and many of you are likely to see it yourself in Zambia travel.
Out of 141 tourist sites in Zambia, South Luangwa National Park, Lusaka, and Livingstone are considered the finest by visitors. Zambia’s Copperbelt, Ndola’s Luanshya, and Livingstone’s Kazungula are also well-known.
When will I go to Zambia?
Some of Zambia’s most inaccessible lodges are closed in wet months from November to April – mainly because seasonal floods make those areas accessible.
Many areas that are truly accessible during the rainy season provide attractive ‘green season’ rates and this is a great time for bird watchers and budget-conscious travelers to experience the wonders of Zambia’s holidays.
In addition to the more popular destinations listed below, Zambia offers multiple exceptional experiences for discerning travelers to experience truly unique faces and experiences.
1. Kasanka Bat Migration
Travel to Zambia and witness the world’s largest mammal migration – the transformation of 10 million strawberry bats into the Kasanka National Park annually in November.
Eight million straw-colored fruit bats travel from the Congo every year from October to December to dine on the wild Masuku fruits in Zambia’s Kasanka National Park. It is the biggest animal migration in the world. Around the end of October, the bats begin to arrive in Zambia’s Kasanka National Park. Over the coming weeks, their numbers keep rising. The park is most well-known for its massive yearly bat migration, though.
These first big rains travel from the Congo to Kasanka when the first rains reach Kasanka, to taste fruits like musku, muffins, and mango.
2. Liuwa Plains National Park
Amid Zambia’s Western Province, in the upper plains of the Zambezi river, is where you’ll find Liuwa Plains National Park. It was declared a protected territory by the monarch of the Lozi kingdom sometime in 1880, making it one of the nation’s first conservation reserves. It is also among the least frequented parks in Zambia due to its location in one of the country’s most isolated regions. However, given its outstanding populations of lion, cheetah, and the yearly wildebeest migration, it ought to be on every safari enthusiast’s list.
The far-flung Liua plane designates Africa’s second-largest arbitrary migration destination in November each year, as thousands of bright park gathers with the onset of the monsoon. The Western Province of Zambia is home to the 3,369 square kilometers (1,301 square miles) of Liuwa Plain National Park.
Liuwa is a native Liuwa word that means “plain.” The history of conservation in Liuwa Plain National Park in Zambia dates back to the 19th century, when the King of Barotseland, This distant park in the extreme west is a pure wilderness, which is its main draw for fervent bush lovers, and the benefits are definitely considerable.
This rainfall makes the carpet bloom noticeable by countless floral species, and millions of water birds arrive, blending it to create an exceptional safari experience.
Since all but one lion, Lady Liuwa, was exterminated by poaching and illegal trophy hunting in the 1990s, the lioness known as Sepo was the first breeding female to be released to Liuwa Plain in 2011.
3. Shiwa Ngandu
The Ngando people, also known as the Bongando or Ngandu, are Bantu farmers who inhabit the eastern region of Équateur and the western region of the province of Orientale in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
A Zambian National Assembly constituency is called Shiwa Ng’andu. It includes the Shiwa Ngandu estate as well as the settlements of Bulaya, Chibesakunda, Chibwa, Chitembo, Chitumbwe, Matumbo, and Mutita in the Shiwang’andu District of Muchinga Province.
It is a historic and grand English country house of the Zambia travel and estate built for many years by someone determined to rule Africa. The fascinating story behind this property of the Zambia travel is captured in a book by Hollywood stuff and Africa House. The estate is extremely remote but there is an airstrip.
4. Victoria Falls
A settlement called Victoria Falls is located in western Zimbabwe, close to Botswana and across the border from Livingstone, Zambia. Victoria Falls, though shared by Zimbabwe and Zambia, is a unique location. Victoria Falls offers a variety of lodging options, from campgrounds to five-star hotels on either side of the Falls, to accommodate all types of tourists. The Victoria Falls National Park must be seen when in Victoria Falls.
What Time of Year Is the Best to Visit Victoria Falls? The best time to visit Victoria Falls is between the months of February and May, just following the summer rains, when you may witness the biggest sheet of falling water in the world flowing at its most intense rate.
5. Kasanka National Park
One of Zambia’s tiniest national parks is Kasanka National Park. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Kasanka Trust collaborate to manage Kasanka, which is located in the Central Province in the country of Zambia’s north.
Safari tourists visiting Kasanka should anticipate a more secluded, “wilderness-style” safari with fewer tourists and distinctive fauna.
The majority of tourists visit Kasanka to see the yearly bat migration, which takes place between November and December. To eat the native Zambian fruit of the masuku tree, an estimated 9 million fruit bats travel from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the park. According to estimates, the Kasanka bat migration is the second-largest animal migration on the whole planet.
In Kasanka, there are many activities besides safaris. Consider paying a visit to the David Livingstone Memorial, which honors the spot where the 19th-century explorer perished while looking for the Nile’s source. The Nsalu caverns, which include prehistoric rock drawings, are another interesting location.
6. Lower Zambezi National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park, located in southern Zambia, was recognized as the first carbon-neutral national park in 2016 as a result of a partnership with lodge owners through the Lower Zambezi REDD+ Project.
The park, which bears the same name as the river that flows through it, offers a haven for more than 60 animal species and 378 different bird species. In the park, you could see elephants, leopards, buffalo, waterbucks (a species of antelope), and wild dogs.
On the Zambezi river, Lower Zambezi is well renowned for its canoe safaris. 3-5 day canoe excursions that include overnight stay at bush camps along the riverbed are available for booking by visitors.
There are standard day and night wildlife drives available, along with walking safaris. Catch-and-release fishing for tigers, boat tours, and camping are other activities.
7. Livingstone
A few miles from the Zambezi River and Zambia’s border with Zimbabwe, in the southwest of the country, is the town of Livingstone. Visitors to Victoria Falls use it as a center. The Zambian side of the falls is surrounded by the nearby Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. The town of Livingstone was named for the Scottish adventurer David Livingstone, and the Livingstone Museum explores the regional history, archaeology, and Livingstone’s biography.
From 1907 until 1935, Livingstone served as the nation’s capital. In 1927, it established itself as the nation’s first municipality. It serves as a distribution hub for forestry and agricultural goods and is located on southern Africa’s primary railway network.
Zambia’s Livingstone is a city. It served as Zambia’s capital until 1935. (then Northern Rhodesia). Victoria Falls, which is located on the boundary of contemporary Zambia and Zimbabwe, was named for Queen Victoria by David Livingstone, the first European to witness them, in 1855. He crossed the breadth of Africa for the first time as a European on that same journey.
8. South Luangwa National Park
One of the national parks in Zambia with the greatest diversity of species is South Luangwa National Park, located in the Eastern Province. More than 60 distinct animal species, including antelopes, lions, elephants, and more, live in the park along with more than 400 different bird species. The Cookson’s wildebeest and the Thornicroft variety of giraffes can only be found in South Luangwa.
The South Luangwa National Park offers a variety of safari experiences. The park is known for its walking safaris, which were established by famed naturalist Sir Norman Carr in the 1950s and 1960s.
They remain one of the most well-liked methods for seeing animals in the park. Visitors may observe lions, leopards, and elephants, and learn about the park’s vegetation while on a walking safari. But a walking safari also gives you the chance to learn about Zambia’s ecology and get up close to a termite mound.
9. Lusaka
For many travelers to Zambia, Lusaka just serves as their last airport, and some never go outside of it. Despite being mostly ignored, visiting Lusaka for at least a few days is a fantastic opportunity to learn about Zambian culture and daily life.
It is the largest city in Zambia and serves as its capital. One of the cities in southern Africa that is growing the quickest is Lusaka. It is a city that serves as both the commercial and governmental center of the nation, and it is also the starting point for the four main routes that travel to the country’s borders. Oct 1, 2018
Private minibuses and shared taxis offer local transportation services in Lusaka and neighboring places. They may get quite crowded and are pretty basic. Taxi fares should be pre-negotiated because they are not metered. It is wise to haggle over a fare.
10. Kafue National Park
Zambia’s largest national park, Kafue, spans three provinces—North Western, Southern, and Central—and has a total size of 22,400 square kilometers. Founded in 1924 by naturalist Norman Carr, it is also the nation’s oldest national park. The Kafue River, which runs through the park for more than 250 kilometers, gave it its name.
The only location in Zambia where you may go on a hot air balloon safari is Busanga Plains, which is located in the northwest part of Kafue National Park. From August to the end of October, the season is in effect.
During the busiest months, morning and evening game drives are provided throughout the park (July to October). Through hotels and camps, walking safaris are another option available in the park. You may also take a boat ride.
With approximately 500 kinds of birds, including the fish eagle and saddle-billed stork, Kafue National Park is a sanctuary for bird enthusiasts.
11. Time + Tide Mchenja Camp
In the center of South Luangwa National Park, the camp is hidden inside a shaded ebony grove next to the Luangwa River. Mchenja is the local term for ebony. Wheelchair users can access it. For certain questions, we advise giving a call to confirm in advance. Mchenja boasts a welcoming, laid-back environment with expansive river views.
It is tucked away behind enormous ebony trees on the banks of a wide portion of the Luangwa River. The opulent and sophisticated camp known as Mchenja, which means “ebony,” is located in a gorgeous ebony forest with views of a wide Luangwa River bend.
Mchenja, arguably the most opulent and romantic bush lodge in Zambia’s abundantly wildlife-filled South Luangwa, was designed specifically for honeymooners. Mchenja Camp is a reasonably posh location located on the western side of the main river in the South Luangwa North region of eastern Zambia. Time + Tide Mchenja Camp, situated in South Luangwa National Park, is a top-notch location and is widely regarded as Norman Carr’s flagship bush camp.
Accommodation in Zambia
Most of the Zambian safari lodges are owned and operated seasonally – some are made literally every year during the rains, then lowered by floodwater and reconstructed from local ingredients if re-access is possible. It is this handmade and renewable feel that makes a safari in Zambia so unique and personal.
That said, you will inevitably start your Zambian safari in the popular African and iconic Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or in Livingstone, next to Zambia. From there you have options for Zambia travel choices.
Arrows intersect and lower jams Ejite elephants are communicating with. And, Zambia offers a truly unique experience and an eclectic range for those who follow the beat-track destinations.
These include the annual relocation of several million large bats to Casanca, the bizarre showboat of Bangauloo, the annual uplift across the remote plains of the Liua Plain, and the historical and historical Shiva Nagandu manor house and estate.
How do I pick a safari company in Africa, including Zambia?
If going on an African safari is on your bucket list of ideal vacations, you are aware of how difficult it may be to select the ideal African safari company. Making the proper or wrong operator choice might have a significant influence on your entire trip.
You must first choose your budget. Usually, this costs at least two thousand dollars (per person). Furthermore, we do not advocate going on a “discount safari.” You can end yourself in trouble and feel like you squandered your vacation time if you do this.
Instead, determine what you’ll need for your African safari to be worthwhile, and then pick the safari camp or resort that best suits your requirements. Respond to these crucial inquiries to assist you in making your choice:
- Which opulent facilities do I require? Is WiFi a necessity? Do I require beds, daily washing, premium booze, flushing bathrooms, etc.?
- What kind of safari vehicle am I looking for? Since you’ll be spending most of your time in the safari vehicle, check to see whether the operator provides one with the amenities you’re looking for, such as technology charging ports, beverage refrigerators, open-air seating, etc.
- How knowledgeable is the staff? You’ll have frequent interactions with your safari crew; make sure the guide and camp manager get favorable ratings.
- How crucial is food? Not every safari company employs a chef or serves delicious meals.
Final thought
The nation, which includes 34 wildlife management areas and 20 national parks, is tranquil, stable, and wonderfully friendly to tourists. In conclusion, Zambia is deserving of a seat at the head of the African safari table.
Safari tourists in Zambia have the opportunity to observe, among many other things, one of the world’s greatest bat migrations, the second-largest wildebeest migration in history, a rare type of giraffe, and the Big Five (elephant, lion, buffalo, rhino and leopard).
All of this is in addition to Zambia’s safari parks being far less crowded than other more well-known safari locations in Africa, which is a major benefit of being less well-known.
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