Luxury Zambia Safari
There’s nothing quite like a walking safari. Senses are heightened when you’re immersed in the bush – you see, hear and even smell details you likely wouldn’t have noticed from inside a safari vehicle.
The concept of the walking safari began in Zambia with conservationist Norman Carr, who encouraged photography and bush walks as a way to build connections and increase awareness of the plight of the wild. Though not as popular as Kenya and Tanzania, Zambia is a remarkable safari destination with abundant wildlife, beautiful landscapes and vibrant communities.
It’s our top choice for active safaris. If you’re looking to climb down from the 4x4 and stretch your legs, Zambia is the place for you. Aside from walking safaris, you can enjoy canoeing or boating on the great Zambezi River – you can even leap off a bridge at the border with Zimbabwe, if you’d like. When it’s time to relax, Zambia has accommodations to suit every taste including rustic bush camps and luxury safari lodges. Journeysmiths can help you plan an unforgettable Zambian adventure with everything from the Big Five to the incomparable Victoria Falls.
- Birthplace of the walking safari.
- Diverse, wildlife-rich landscapes.
- Great for night drives.
- Excellent birdwatching.
- Boating on the Zambezi River.
- Cultural connections.
- Visit Victoria Falls.
The South Luangwa National Park is one of the finest walking safari locations in all of Africa. As it should be, perhaps, seeing as the concept was born in this very park.
Established in 1950, Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest. It’s also the largest, spanning an area that is roughly the same size as the state of Massachusetts.
Victoria Falls is nothing short of a spectacle. Spanning a mile across and standing 350 feet high, Victoria Falls is one one of the world’s largest waterfalls and can be viewed from both Zambia and Zimbabwe.
North Luangwa National Park sees far fewer visitors than its sister to the south, which is great for privacy and feeling like you’re in the wild, but animals can be shy.
Liuwa Plain National Park is a special place. Wildlife here was nearly eradicated due to poaching and hunting, but the area has been protected since 2003 and nature is bouncing back.
"From dry rivers in North Luangwa to water everywhere in Lower Zambezi we got a bit of everything and we were very happy with the way that they listened to our preferences and designed an itinerary to fit."
Zambia is a country of seemingly endless grasslands, raging waterfalls, mighty rivers, heaving herds of wildebeest, of big cats, rhinos, elephants and russet-red sunsets. We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.Zambia is a country of seemingly endless grasslands, raging waterfalls, mighty rivers, heaving herds of wildebeest, of big cats, rhinos, elephants and russet-red sunsets.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
When David Livingstone first spied the majesty of Victoria Falls, he is said to have exclaimed that “scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.” So, it is for those who take the opportunity to rise up and explore this wonder of nature by helicopter.
From the air, the full mile-long sweep of the falls, the thundering depths of the chasm, the bare basalt geology, the glorious rainbows, and the full African setting become apparent. You’ll also see the churning rapids of the Zambezi, the ambition of the Victoria Falls Bridge, and spot game from above the Zambezi National Park.
There’s a thrill to standing in the very spot where Dr David Livingstone first described the sight that he would name after his distant queen, but the real attraction of Livingstone Island is the stupendous location right at the heart of this wonder of nature. From here, you will stand amidst the accelerating waters as they plunge more than 100m into the gorge below: it’s a heart-thumping, soaking, noisy and powerful place, yet in amongst the rage there are serene rainbows.
From the island, you’ll take a soak in the Devil’s Pool, often described as the world’s best infinity pool, from which you can peer over the very edge of the falls. This is undoubtedly the most incredible way to feel the force of one of the world’s greatest landforms.
Quietly creeping, listening for sounds, smelling the air, feeling the textures, watching for hand signals from your expert guide, calmed by the presence of an armed guard: these are some of the features of a walking safari. You’ll be shown the difference between lion and leopard prints, how to sense wind direction as you follow elephant, which plants are medicinal and which are to be avoided, even small-scale wonders of animals such as termites and the predatory antlion.
The unforgettable experience of a walking safari owes its origin to the legendary Noman Carr, who may well have trained the guide who is taking you through the Valley of the Leopard in South Luangwa. Countless people owe their most treasured safari experiences to the legacy of this place.
The seemingly endless golden grasslands stretch to the horizon across the remote and historic Liuwa Plain. It was here in the 1880s that King Lewanika of the Lozi tribe proclaimed a protected area of the place that sees the second largest wildebeest and zebra migration on the continent of Africa. And along with the prey, come the predators, so the Liuwa Plain is also host to a flourishing cheetah population, the famous Lady Liuwa pride of lions, and hyenas that throng in groups of 50 or more.
In the wet season, the grasslands are transformed into a huge watery and verdant wonderland of shallow lagoons, home to abundant fish, reptiles and wading birds. It’s at that time of year, with rumbles from enormous storms in the leaden skies, that the current King and his court move regally along the river to higher grounds during the Kuomboka festival.
Rivers are the arteries of life, and there is no better way to appreciate this than to glide down the tranquil waters of the Zambezi River in a place such as the Lower Zambezi National Park. You can quietly paddle your wide Canadian canoe yourself or relax and let your guide do the work so that you can fully appreciate the water birds flitting around, the lilies, and the animals drawn to the banks to lap up the life-giving water.
From a picnic spot on an island, you can watch the water pass by on its constant journey of replenishment. As the locals will tell you, this is the realm of the river god Nyaminyami: it certainly has the feeling of the divine.
The Zambezi is a languidly powerful force of nature and a ribbon of life as it passes through the Lower Zambezi National Park. When you stay on its banks in the unfenced and intimate camp of Old Mondoro, you’ll appreciate the draw of the river, for it’s a place that you literally share with the animals.
From your deck overlooking the river, you will see an endless procession weaving through the shade to the lure of the cooling and essential water. You’ll find that some of the most frequent traffic comes in the form of elephants, keen to slake their thirst and perhaps pick the occasional fallen pod from the roof of your chalet. Some may cross over the islands, past snorting hippos towards the Zimbabwe bank.
Imagine an Africa without the richness of its incredible ecosystems, without rhino or elephants, without lions and leopards, without stately giraffes grazing the umbrella acacia, or the herds of zebra and wildebeest nibbling the plains. There could be a future like that, but not if conservationists have anything to do with it.
An immersive visit to the headquarters of Conservation Lower Zambezi will enable you to see first-hand their many-pronged approach to sustainable development which not only conserves wildlife but also improves the lives of the people who live alongside it. You’ll see wildlife protection through anti-poaching measures, environmental action in schools, community empowerment projects, along with wildlife medicine and research.
The mighty Zambezi flows for 1,600 miles through six countries but is most famous for plunging into a basalt gorge forming the world’s greatest waterfall. It’s a place of boiling, swirling clouds and rainbows from which the river emerges once again to race down some of the most challenging rapids that rafters will ever encounter.
This is an experience not only of white knuckles and a raging pulse, of the buffeting of water and endurance, but also of human connection and teamwork as you play your part in negotiating the churning water under the expert instructions of your guide. The power of the water will put you firmly in your place, but you will learn that you can rise to the challenge and become invigorated by the sheer thrill of navigating the raging torrent.
With more than 150 species of mammal, and an area of more than 22,000 sq km, Kafue is Zambia’s largest and most diverse national park, it’s also officially Zambia’s oldest. With such an immense size, it has countless habitats to maintain its awesome levels of biodiversity; the bird list alone contains 492 species, which ranks second in Africa to the more thoroughly-recorded Kruger.
It’s a place where you can engage in day or night drives, walking safaris, boating, canoeing, and even ballooning over the immensity of the landscape. We recommend reclining on a bean bag whilst sipping a long cold drink in the treehouse hide of Musekese Camp, overlooking the aptly named Eden Lagoon.
The most human of gestures is to hold hands, and it is in Tongabezi Lodge Trust’s school that we find out that this is more than just a physical experience. Known by the local Chitonga name of Tujatane – which literally means ‘Let us hold hands together’ – the school is a place where everybody, from teachers to students, to volunteers, donors and guests at the lodge, hold hands metaphorically to empower children.
For more than 25 years, the school has grown and flourished from the select 15 excited children of the first year, to an incredible 280 today. A direct spinoff of Tongabezi Lodge, this is the perfect example for you to witness how you and your fellow travellers are helping the next generation.
Whether you’re looking for a relaxing retreat, or an action-packed safari experience, Chiawa Camp has it all.
King Lewanika is far from the beaten track in an incredibly remote location, but you can appreciate Zambia’s diverse wildlife at your own pace in this unique haven, enjoying the comfort of secluded, luxurious accommodation.
Islands of Siankaba is a luxurious way to enjoy Zambia away from the crowds of Victoria Falls.
Puku Ridge inhabits a remote world of its own, watching the ancient patterns of life and survival while treating its visitors to enjoyably civilised hospitality. This small and intimate camp is built unobtrusively overlooking a vast floodplain where the Puku antelope after which the camp is named can be seen grazing throughout the day.
There are no fences at Lion Camp, so elephant, buffalo, and antelope come and go as they please. You can watch them from your private deck or the board walk, and they may well be watching you as you swim in the pool. The camp prides itself on its support for conservation and local community development initiatives, including Conservation South Luangwa and the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre.
Shumba Camp boasts breathtaking views from a tree covered island in the middle of the Busanga Plains.
Welcome to Busanga Bush Camp, the perfect place to unplug and wind down in the heart of the Busanga Plains.
Tongabezi Lodge is the perfect place to enjoy Zambia at your own serene pace, and to relax at the end of the day.
Check in to the prestigious Royal Chundu Private Island Lodge, the only Relais & Châteaux property in Zambia, which is situated on an island in the Zambezi.
Situated at the far-eastern reaches of the park, Anabezi is characterised by the elephants which are drawn to the surrounding Winterthorn trees.
Situated under a canopy of Albida thorn trees Chongwe River Camp is family owned and managed and benefits from a friendly and informal atmosphere.
Mwaleshi Camp is the perfect escape for people looking to head off the beaten track and explore some of the more remote parts of Zambia by foot. Nestled on the banks of the Mwaleshi River, guests can stay in a comfortable chalet constructed out of natural materials and complete with en suite bathrooms that are open to the stars.
Simply designed, with a relaxing ‘back-to-the-bush’ ambience, this safari camp’s focus is to provide an authentic, intimate safari that concentrates on the wildlife and bush experience without forgoing any creature comforts or service.
Sausage Tree Camp was voted #1 on the BBC's Ten Best Luxury Destinations programme and is deserving of the accolade.
Mchenja, meaning "the ebony tree", is set beneath a magnificent grove of these trees on the banks of the Luangwa River. It is the most luxurious of the Norman Carr tented camps yet it is also designed to combine excellently with other more rustic bush camps.
Picnic on the Liuwa Plain, Zambia
Red throated Bee-eaters in Zambia
Walking Safari in the North Luangwa, Zambia
The mighty Zambezi River
Wild dog, Zambia
Chongwe River House, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
Kasanka Bat Migration, Zambia
Leopard, Zambia
Floating Zambezi Brunch at Chiawa Camp, Lower Zambezi, Zambia
We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.We are a boutique travel specialist. For over 30 years we have been crafting the finest tailor-made holidays to the world’s wild places. Your time is precious and with a world to see, we understand the importance of getting it absolutely right for you every time.
An experienced team of well-travelled individuals, passionate about crafting journeys that are as exceptional as they are personal, while maximising our positive impact on the places in which we work.
While the evolution of travel and technology has seen much change at Journeysmiths over the years, our fundamental beliefs about the perfect holiday have not.
Journeysmiths mission is to inspire and expand peoples horizons through exceptional travel experiences, while preserving the natural world for future generations.
We highlight the top ten Tanzania family safari adventures.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the first person to call South Africa “the rainbow nation”. It’s a reflection on the fascinating diversity of this country, not only in the identities of its people but in the landscapes, wildlife, cultures, and activities it offers. South Africa is a country which, because of its variety, can be all things to all people, truly a rainbow of varied opportunities and experiences.
in South Africa
Without a shadow of a doubt, South Africa is one of the very best places to watch wildlife in the world. The Kruger National Park — a protected area the size of Wales — is certainly the most famous and popular safari destination, but with Journeysmiths you’ll escape the crowds to explore vast, wildlife-filled private reserves, in the company of the best guides.
Cape Town is one of the world’s great cities with a unique setting beneath Table Mountain.
To experience a little bit of everything that South Africa has to offer, you can hardly do better than to drive along the coastal road of the Garden Route between Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. It’s an extraordinary journey, and there’s wildlife on both land and shore, endless beaches, historic battlefields, and the vineyards are never far away. One day you might be whale spotting at Hermanus — renowned as one of the best whale watching locations in the world — and the next you could be learning about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift, handling antique weapons and scrambling over the British and Zulu positions.
Formerly the Zulu Kingdom, the province of KwaZulu Natal runs along South Africa’s dramatic Indian Ocean coastline. The Drakensberg Mountains create a natural border between Lesotho and the Eastern Cape, and offer some excellent hiking routes.
Three of Africa’s great rivers set the scene for your Zambia safari. The Zambezi, the Luangwa and the Kafue rivers are all of different character and have national parks named for them.
Not sure where to start? We have answered frequently asked questions we’ve received over the past decades about our bespoke safaris. Here we discuss everything from pre-planning information to responsible travel. We hope you will find this useful, but if you have any further questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Slowing down and staying longer is the new way of travelling and there are huge benefits to this approach. People, wildlife and the environment directly benefit from you staying a little longer; but in equal measures, so do you.
For families of all ages there is so much to see and do in South Africa, making it an excellent and diverse travel destination. We’ve chosen 20 of the best experiences to immerse you in the culture, wildlife and beautiful places of this remarkable country.
7 Secret Places to Spot Leopards in Southern and East Africa
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite leopard viewing destinations for the best chances of guaranteed sightings.
We highlight some of the places filmed in Planet Earth Three’s Deserts and Grasslands episode; view elephants in Zakouma National Park and Arabian camels roaming the Ennedi plateau in Chad, ostriches and chacma baboons in Namibia.
Namibia has a diverse cultural heritage and is home to one of the most distinct African tribes — the Himba — a group of semi-nomads who live in the Kunene region.
What To Do In Kenya With Children? We’ve chosen our best experiences for a luxury family safari to Kenya.
Booking your family safari to Botswana opens a door to a world of exciting adventure. From the minute your Cessna touches the bush strip, your family will be in the wilds with expert guides. We curated the top 10 family experiences in Botswana to whet your appetite.
When one of TV’s best-known wildlife enthusiast, Steve Backshall, tasked us with crafting an unforgettable father-son safari in celebration of his son’s 5th birthday, we knew exactly how to create a trip that would excite and inspire both in equal measures.
Botswana is one of the best places for a family holiday of a lifetime! There are millions of animals across plains, deserts and deltas.
South Africa is an excellent choice for family travel with children of all ages. Its wildlife is abundant, with a great diversity of species, including the Big Five: rhino, leopard, lion, elephant and buffalo. There are vast malaria-free reserves and it’s easy to get from safari regions to Cape Town and the beach.
A safari holiday gives your family a wonderful chance to meet local communities and experience their culture.
The only travel company to have access to a huge moment in conservation history, our Kenya Conservation safari group got to watch a rhino release!
An Exploration of Unforgettable Experiences at My Favourite Camps in Kenya
The Kalahari is a fascinating place for a family safari. The children can sit by a meerkat den watching these curious little creatures foraging and playing as one stands guard on its hind legs looking out for eagles. They can watch enthralled as a San Bushman reveals hidden secrets that have enabled them to survive here for thousands of years.
Are you celebrating a big birthday, a retirement or special anniversary? Maybe you have a plan to take your whole family, children and grandchildren on a trip that will delight and inspire them. Any reason will do!
Care for Wild Rhino Sanctuary
Working in partnership with globally recognised conservation organisation; Care for Wild, the world’s largest rhino orphanage, we have curated a truly unique and exclusive experience giving a privileged few behind-the-scenes access to this otherwise incredibly private sanctuary.
The Serengeti and Ngorongoro Crater are truly spectacular settings filled with great herds and big cats. We take you far from the crowds and minibuses with your own private guide, staying in exclusive accommodation. Families with older teenagers will love the wildly remote Selous, Ruaha and Mahale, where you can walk, canoe and even track chimpanzees. Round it off on exotic Zanzibar.
Imagine gliding silently along an Okavango waterway in a mokoro canoe as zebra and impala graze the grasslands. Or cantering on horseback with your guide alongside giraffe. In the Kalahari, take an early morning walk with a San Bushman as he explains the ancestral secrets of survival.
Here’s something you might not expect. The people looking after you on safari might create some of your happiest safari memories. You’ll remember laughter and those after dinner stories and jokes around the campfire. During a three-night stay in a luxury camp, you’ll get to make friends with your guide, the chef, the vegetable gardener and the other people who love their work.
Botswana is a great choice for an exclusive family safari. Roaming the spectacular deserts, deltas and savannahs are literally millions of animals. The fertility and abundant water of the Okavango and Linyanti Deltas supports an incredible 200 different mammal species. The Government’s high value, low volume tourism policy helps conservation and enables you to enjoy a top quality private safari.
Between safaris there is plenty for children to do in camp while the adults relax. Safari lodges may be small and in remote locations, but they have excellent facilities and your hosts’ purpose is to give you the best possible time. In this section we also suggest a couple of places that combine easily to complement your Botswana safari.
With opportunities to see the Big Five of both land and sea, along with incredible scenery, enormous national parks, world-class vineyards, a fascinating history and vibrant, friendly people, South Africa frequently tops the lists of the world’s best holiday destinations. Even so, less than 1% of the world's travellers make it here, so it’s a place where you’ll find yourself with a few select, like-minded and discerning adventurers who have discovered this gem of a country. It’s a place you could return to for the whole of your life and never tire of it.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We’ve compiled a list of our favourite experiences to inspire your imagination.
We will ensure you can enjoy the best of Africa in the exclusivity of Kenya’s private conservancies where walking, riding and other expertly guided activities enable the richest safari experience.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences to consider including in your Namibia safari:
Botswana is Africa’s most exclusive safari destination. Each enormous private reserve has just one or two luxury lodges guaranteeing a series of private experiences as you travel from one exquisite location to the next. Expert guides will take your family on safari among big cats and vast elephant herds in beautiful deltas and deserts.
Young children delight to see wild animals in their natural environment. With Journeysmiths your safari will be expertly designed to match your family’s needs and interests. We use the best guides and arrange superb accommodation in the wilds of Africa.
We’ve collated a list of our ten favourite Tanzanian experiences to show you what’s possible in this incredible country.
Here’s our list of ten wonderful experiences that you might consider having whilst you are in Uganda:
The best way to give your family the facilities it seeks may be to book out an entire camp or lodge. Perhaps you are planning a multi-generation safari. Or you may want to fulfil a dream of walking, mokoroing and camping out in the Okavango. You may simply crave an extra degree of privacy. Most lodges we use take fewer than 16 guests, some take only eight, so booking a whole lodge is a viable option.
Kenya has the ingredients for an amazing family safari. Your children will love seeing vast numbers of animals in iconic African settings. Stay in amazing and exclusive accommodation on private reserves. Enjoy adventures on foot, horseback and by open vehicle with Africa’s finest guides. Your children can see pioneering conservation work in action and meet remote tribal communities. Maybe end with a few days by the coast.
If you’re looking for a country that’s got everything, choose South Africa. Renowned for the spectacular views of the Garden Route, vibrant Cape Town, malaria free safaris, fascinating history and outstanding wildlife, the whole family will fall under the alluring spell of this diverse country.
Are you feeling inspired to travel after watching Planet Earth Three?
Coasts offer the opportunity to see a wide variety of wildlife both at sea and on shore and are excellent destinations for wildlife enthusiasts. Follow in the footsteps of the Planet Earth crew and journey along the picturesque Garden Route coast to see Cape fur seals gathered in their thousands in South Africa. Head to the eerie Skeleton Coast of Namibia to find the desert-adapted lions that laze on its sand dunes. Or hop on a boat in Chile and watch the enormous barnacled body of southern right whales emerge from the water as they breach a matter of metres from your eyes.
Without freshwater, life on land wouldn't exist.
Freshwater is the most precious resource on our planet, but it's finite. Vital to life, only 2.5% of all Earth’s water is fresh and less than 1% of that is accessible. Planet Earth Three’s episode on freshwater documents its importance for selection of species.
Mountain gorilla can be found in Rwanda and Uganda, both superb destinations but each offering something slightly different. Read on to find out which is best for you.
The school holiday cycle is full of opportunity; there is a safari for every season, whether it’s during the Christmas, Easter or Summer holiday period.