Wild Zambia

Arrive in Zambia’s capital of Lusaka. Gather for a welcome dinner this evening with your Expedition Leader and fellow adventurers.

From Lusaka, fly to Mfuwe, then transfer by road into South Luangwa National Park, where we settle into an exclusive remote bush camp in the heart of the Luangwa Valley. Known as the “Valley of the Leopard,” this wild region is defined by riverine woodlands, seasonal floodplains, lagoons and open plains that support prolific wildlife. Elephants, buffalo, antelope and predators roam these varied habitats, offering our first taste of the wildlife encounters to come.

In South Luangwa, one of Africa’s last tracts of primal wilderness, we are immersed in an evocative landscape of undulating hills, seasonal floodplains, ebony forests and rushing rivers. The Edenic vistas are a backdrop for tremendous concentrations of game, from massive elephants and Cape buffalo to agile antelope and the lions and leopards that prey upon them. Without even leaving camp, we’re likely to see elephants wandering past and scores of buffalo gathered at the river to drink, not to mention regular camp denizens such as giraffe, monkeys and a wide assortment of birds.

The Luangwa Valley is the birthplace of the traditional walking safari, and to explore it on foot with an expert local guide, in the reassuring company of an armed guard, raises the sensory experience of the African wild to a level unmatched by any other mode. Optional walking safaris are a highlight at Zungulila, offering a rare encounter with raw nature at eye level. Learn to track a leopard by identifying its spoor, scout for tracks of antelope eluding predators, and observe crocodile footprints etched in the damp sand. Camp guides teach you to identify tell-tale animal alarm calls and show how to soothe insect bites with the juice of a sausage tree. Game drives take us farther afield in the comfort of a vehicle to look for hyenas on the hunt, prowling packs of African wild dogs and more. And night drives are a special experience, as we go in search of nocturnal predators including leopards.

We continue exploring South Luangwa’s varied wilderness, where riverine woodland, open plains and waterways support a rich diversity of wildlife. Lions and leopards stalk the bush, while elephants, giraffes and zebra gather around waterholes. Across the plains, we may encounter impala, puku, warthogs and baboons, while spotted hyenas and packs of wild dogs roam in search of prey. The Luangwa Valley is also home to some 400 bird species, including saddle-billed storks, marabou storks, great white egrets, black-headed herons and goliath herons.

Choose to explore on foot with guides who are deeply familiar with this terrain, and count on plenty of game drives to maximize your wildlife viewing. In the evening, sundowners await before we settle in to watch “Bush TV,” scanning the orange horizon as animals emerge from shaded resting places as temperatures drop. On night drives, listen to the entrancing sounds of the African bush as we search for nocturnal predators. Once darkness descends, camp takes on a romantic ambience, when the flicker of paraffin lanterns illumines our retreat beneath a canopy of glittering stars.

From Kapamba airstrip, we fly by chartered aircraft to Lower Zambezi National Park and transfer to Amanzi Camp, elevated on a steep bank above the Zambezi’s Ngwenya Channel with panoramic views. We have exclusive occupancy of the intimate luxury camp, which has four tents on raised wooden decks overlooking the channel and a large island. The camp is perfectly positioned as a launch point for exploration, offering outstanding access to some of Zambia’s—and Africa’s—best wildlife viewing. The habitat around camp is a mix of miombo, mopane and acacia woodland interspersed with open plains and thick riverine forest—a diverse mosaic supporting a wide range of species.

Covering 1,580 square miles, Lower Zambezi National Park is supreme wilderness, its silence broken only by the cry of the fish eagle and the bleats, calls, yips and roars of abundant wildlife. The park’s lifeblood is the Zambezi River, coursing for 90 miles along its eastern edge, drawing spectacular numbers of animals. We go in search of it on varied land- and water-based activities—game drives and walking safaris, and boat cruises on the river and placid channels.

On the opposite bank of the mighty Zambezi is Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe, protecting an uninterrupted stretch of habitat for enormous herds of elephant and buffalo. Along the river, hippos are everywhere, snorting in noisy pods, while crocodiles bask in the shallows awaiting their next meal as animals wander down to quench their thirst. Kudu, eland, waterbuck, bushbuck, impala and zebra browse grasses on islands that lie between the two shores, creating an access corridor to both banks. Lion and leopard—the main predators— lie in wait, and our odds of seeing leopards, which thrive in this region, are especially high. Wild dog also roam the area, while spotted hyena and side-striped jackals are never far from the action. Night drives may reveal nocturnal species such as honey badger, porcupine, genet, civet and aardvark. The birdlife is magnificent, with both waterfowl and woodland species in abundance. During the late dry season (late August onward), both white-fronted and carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the rivers, their iridescent plumage creating a colorful spectacle.

After breakfast, fly this morning by chartered aircraft back to Lusaka, where we meet homeward flights.