Zambia Highlights Safari

Your guide will meet you at Mfuwe International Airport and the 40-minute drive takes you past the vibrant villages and dense African bush surrounding the South Luangwa National Park.

On the way: The South Luangwa Park is buffered by a Game Management Area where, thanks to some progressive conservation practices, the local communities live in harmony with the wildlife. This delightful drive through rural Zambia sets the scene for your amazing African safari.

When you're there: Nkwali Camp is a small and comfortable safari lodge on the Luangwa River overlooking the South Luangwa National Park, which is Zambia's best and one of Africa's best game reserves.

Your typical safari day starts early with breakfast around the campfire and a morning safari activity – either on foot or in a custom-fitted game drive vehicle. Animals and birds abound in this beautiful game reserve, fed by the Luangwa River: elephants, lion, leopard, buffalo and a host of plains game including Luangwa endemic subspecies of Thornicroft giraffe, Crawshey's zebra and Cookson's wildebeest.

Birdlife in the South Luangwa Park is extraordinary with over 400 species on record including many specials and over 40 raptors. A walking safari is the best way to discover the many species of water and woodland bird and you get an amazing feeling in the bush where sounds, smells and minutiae take on new significance.

Accommodation: Nkwali Camp

After breakfast it's time to delve deeper into the South Luangwa National Park with a visit to the Nsefu section.

On the way: Your game drive transfer takes you across the Luangwa River and into the park. The habitat changes from dense ebony and mahogany trees along the river to open broad-leafed woodland. Look out for wildlife favouring the open plains.

When you're there: The Nsefu region of the South Luangwa is known to be an exceptional game viewing area. Nsefu Camp was the first safari lodge ever built in Zambia and dates back to the early 50s. Though it's seen a few makeovers since then, the lodge retains its original safari charm.

Situated on a large bend of the Luangwa River, your game viewing experience never stops. Regular visits by elephant and buffalo and frequent sightings of hippo and riverine birdlife make the camp just as exciting a place for game viewing as your walking safaris and game drives.

Following suit, your typical safari day at Nsefu includes morning game drives and walking safaris; afternoon siestas and afternoon/night drives punctuated by a scenic sundowner stop.

Accommodation options: Nsefu Camp or Tena Tena Camp

From Nsefu you will head off to the Lower Zambezi National Park for an altogether different, yet equally exciting, safari on the river.

On the way: Your transfer to Mfuwe Airport is a game drive through the South Luangwa and its bordering Game Management Area as the scenes of rural Zambia return. Your aerial view of the Zambezi valley reveals a hint of what you'll see on the ground: a vast river, dotted with islands and channels, littered with elephants and buffalo.

When you're there: A short game drive transfer to your lodge maintains the safari mood and you'll soon be on the Zambezi enjoying a scenic safari.

Activities focus on the river in the Lower Zambezi Park with motor boat safaris, scenic cruises, canoeing safaris, sport fishing and birding. You can also go on game drives and walking safaris into the plains and towards the scenic Zambezi escarpment.

Wildlife is prolific and large in the Lower Zam. Large herds of elephant and buffalo are common and the river attracts a great variety of plains game as well as Africa's predators: lion, leopard, hyena and you might some smaller fascinating nocturnal carnivores on your night drives.

Accommodation options: Lower Zambezi Accommodation

Leave the Lower Zambezi National Park but not the Zambezi as you fly upstream towards the seventh (in alphabetical order that is) wonder of the natural world: Victoria Falls.

On the way: With a game drive transfer to the airstrip and an aerial view of Victoria Falls on arrival, you'll enjoy the transfer (nearly) as much as the activities on offer.

When you're there: With a quick transfer to your lodge, you'll be back on the Zambezi River again – only several hundred km upstream from where you were a few hours ago.

Victoria Falls is World Heritage Site and one of the seven natural wonders of the world. A massive curtain of water, up to a mile wide at its peak, thunders down a sheer cliff with terrifying force. The gorge, with its dense spray-fuelled rain forest is a picturesque and fascinating experience.

You can explore the falls from both sides (Zimbabwe and Zambia); from the front and on behind - more like on top, as you walk to the precipice on an island in the middle of the river; from below and from above in a helicopter.

And when you've done all that you might like to relax on a river cruise or at at your safari lodge. Then again you might enlist yourself on the many exciting activities on offer including: elephant safaris, walking with lions, scenic flights, lunch on Livingstone Island, craft markets, canoeing safaris, white water rafting and many other adventure activities.

Your final day often allows time for a short activity before you transfer to the international airport and the end of a magical Zambian experience.

Accommodation options: Victoria Falls Accommodation