ZAMBIA

The Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Zambia’s prime wildlife areas. It is located relatively close to Lusaka, which means that it is fairly easy to access with a number of lodges offering picks ups from the airport in Lusaka. Most visitors to the area prefer to fly in charter plans from Lusaka to Chirundu and transfer to their lodge of choice from there.

The Lower Zambezi Park sits directly opposite Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, and the two parks constitute a transfrontier national park that gives wildlife a much greater area. It also gives visitors a much greater chance of seeing varied game.

There are a number of single friendly lodges in the Lower Zambezi stretching from the mid range to luxury options.

When to visit the Lower Zambezi National Park? The best time of the year to visit the park is from May until November. The area gets very hot after Novemkber, and with temperatures in the region exceeding 40°C, most lodges actually close for the summer months. The zone is also a malaria area, and while one should take precautions year round, mosquitos tend to be more active in the summer months, which is another reason to avoid the Lower Zambezi National Park from November to May.

The South Luangwa National Park is a prime safari area in Zambia. It is often described as Zambia’s flagship national park, and it is easy to see why. This is a superb wildlife viewing area, and the only notable exception to sightings is rhino. Otherwise, one is able to very easily see the Big Five as well as other interesting creatures such as Wild Dogs.

The park is an extension from Lower Zambezi into the Rift Valley and the vegetation consists primarily of miombo woodland – made famous in David Attenborough Netliz documentary called Our Planet.

There are a number of great lodges in the area, stretching from mid range to luxury. Most of the lodges are single traveler friendly, with communal dinners and game drives all part fo the safari package.

When to visit South Luangwa National Park? Unlike other areas in Zambia, visiting Luangwa over summer can be enjoyable. The scenery is far more lush, and the foliage provides shade which helps to cool off. However, spotting animals is easier in winter – although the environment is very dry, hazy, and can be a little overwhelming.

The North Luangwa National park is located – wait for it – to the north of the South Luangwa National Park. It is a much wilder and less visited area. This is a far more off-the-beaten track destination. It also has a population of black rhino which means that visitors are able to view all five of the Big Five on a visit to the area. The are was closed off to all visitors for over 30 years, and still there are very few operators with permission to bring tourists into the park. It’s a privilege to visit this very unchartered area and is a must for solo travelers looking for a great adventure.

The area is very similar to South Luangwa in terms of vegetation and wildlife. However, the area is more pristine, has much fewer visitors, and is considered a more exclusive destination. There are only a handful of lodges within the reserve, but all are friendly and accommodating of single travelers. There are a few companies that operate walking safaris in the park, and these are v very worth while.

When to visit North Luangwa National park? Unlike the South Luangwa National Park, North Luangwa is only open during the dry season from June to October (which is the prime wildlife viewing season). The very limited number of roads are impassable during the summer rainy season and visiting the area during the summer months is not possible.

Kafue is Zambia’s oldest national park and is also its largest. It covers approximately 22,000km2 in the Western section of the country directly above Livingstone. A short two hour drive from the Victoria Falls, this is a great safari location to combine with the falls.

Kafue has an excellent variety of wildlife, and due to some increasing lives of government protection – especially against poachers, wildlife in the are is beginning to thrive. Visitors will often see lion and leopard in the park along with a healthy elephant population. There is also a growing number of lodge sin the area that cater to all tastes and budgets. A number of these lodges are single traveler friendly.

Kafue is accessible from Livingstone and from Lusaka by road. From either city it is only a 2 hour drive to Kafue.

Best time of the year to visit Kafue? Kafue is a rather remarkable area in that it is elevated to over 1000m above sea level. What this does is create a completely different microclimate that gives the area lower summer temperature, and even subzero temperatures at night in the winter months. Game viewing is easier done in the drier winter months, but summer is lush and green, and can be very enjoyable as well. The whole area is open year round with a number of activities available throughout the year.

Livingstone is the Zambian town located at the Victoria Falls. When visitors go to Victoria Falls, they often choose to stay on either the Zambian or the Zimbabwean side of the falls, and try and visit the other side for a t least a day in order to experience the other side of the falls. Which side is better? Both really.

While the Zimbabwean side allows visitors to get quite close to the falls, the Zambian side has a number of spectacular views. Activities on the Zimbabwean side tend to be more adventure orientated with White Water Rafting and Bungee Jumping, and activities on the Zambian side tend to be more exclusive. The notable exception is the visit to the Devils Pool on the Zambian side of the falls where visitors are able to swim right up to the edge of the falls themselves.

Another remarkable option of the Zambian side is the Elephant Cafe, where visitors are able to enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner while surrounded by elephants. You’re also able to feed the elephants during your meal.

When to visit Livingstone? The best time of the year to visit Livingstone is right after the heavy summer rains. Starting in February, the quantity of water that rushes over the falls increases dramatically as does the famous mist that shrouds the surrounding area.