Just Back: Zambia

by Darren Humphreys

Unspoiled. Vast. Wild. Zambia is on track to be the pinnacle of safari.
 
I took my mum, Miriam, on my most recent visit, and what we witnessed and experienced will stay with us forever. As South Africans, when we travel the African continent, we feel connected to the land and the people. Zambians are known for their friendliness, and their humility and pride were palpable as their smiles radiated genuine warmth.
 
Tourism’s footprint has yet to make its mark here and it did not go unnoticed. Throughout the country, I soaked up the epic views of endless grasslands and at times it felt as if I could see the curvature of the earth.
 
Nowhere else have I witnessed the symbiotic relationship between wildlife and people co-existing so seamlessly. Roughly 10,000 Zambians reside in Liuwa Plain—the same expanse that welcomes the second-largest wildebeest migration. Also present in the park is a resident male lion, aptly named “Bon Jovi” for his rock star hair. The biodiversity found here attracts a remarkable concentration of birdlife—more than 350 species, which includes the endangered Taita Falcon and Black Eagle.
 
Zambia is where the “walking safari” originated. I always jump at the opportunity to partake in this style of wildlife viewing, as it provides a true immersion into the African bush and a rare ground-level glimpse into the animal kingdom. The expert guides always bring each safari to life with their in-depth knowledge.

The best way to explore the lower Zambezi River is on the water. I traveled by both canoe and flat-bottom boat and enjoyed the surprises that presented themselves around each bend … from pods of hippos lazing in pockets of deep water to gourmet lunches on a sandbank, with water lapping at my feet.
 
Zambia is a place that made a deep impression on me and offers so much more than Victoria Falls. Let us introduce you to a different side of safari in this African treasure.