Regions: Zambia,
Southern Africa

Situated at the end of the Great Rift Valley, the Luangwa, meaning ‘fishing baskets’, Valley is an oasis in the heart of Africa.

Sunny riverbanks and countless oxbow lakes characterise the Luangwa River as it winds its way along the valley floor between the steep walls of the escarpment. Lined with lush riverine vegetation and home to buffalo, hyena, elephant, zebra, jackal and 15 different antelope, the Luangwa Valley is the only place where one is able to see Thornicroft's Giraffe and the endemic Cookson's wildebeest.

Known as the birthplace of walking safaris, the South Luangwa National Park is where you will find some of the continent's best on-foot experiences. Excellent camps, experienced guides and an array of fantastic fauna and flora make this region the best place to follow in the footsteps of famed African explorers.

Enjoy motor boating, tiger fishing, and canoe safaris on the river, while the shoreline delivers some serious game viewing: hippo and crocodile are present in huge numbers; large herds of elephant and buffalo are often seen at the water’s edge; and thick riverine forest provides cover for leopards.

Undulating mosaics of miombo woodlands and dambos dotted with russet patches of munga woodland; verdant bands of riparian forests and the lush, swampy wetlands of Busanga make up the breathtaking landscape of Kafue.

Home to one of the largest parks in the world, Kafue protects a wide variety of different environments across a broad, undulating plateau. Snaking through the terrain, the permanent Kafue River is the life source of the region, feeding a veined network of rivers and streams bordered by lush riverine thickets that are home to a plethora of game and birds.

In the far north, the Lufupa River flows into the Busanga Swamps, which flood out over the adjacent Busanga Plains during the rainy season. When the waters recede, a lush carpet of vegetation attracts a vast diversity of game – herds of red lechwe and puku, as well as buffalo, zebra and wildebeest roam the marshy grasslands that are dotted with photogenic 'islands' of wild date palms, sausage trees and fig trees. Famous tree-climbing lions hide in the branches of the trees, while packs of wild dogs search for unsuspecting prey.

Known as ‘Mosi-oa-Tunya’ or ‘The Smoke that Thunders’, Victoria Falls is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular waterfalls on earth. In a breathtaking display of power and beauty, millions of cubic metres of water from the mighty Zambezi River plummet into a gorge over one hundred metres below to create massive columns of spray that can be seen from miles away.

Forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, Victoria Falls is also known as the ‘Adventure Capital of Africa’, offering adventure-lovers a myriad of exciting activities to try, from the thrills and spills of white-water rafting to heart-stopping bridge jumps and gorge swings.

Spend a day wandering the rainforest paths and viewing the magnificent wall of water from the numerous different viewpoints against a backdrop of chattering monkeys. Don’t miss a once-in-a-lifetime experience to walk with lions in the wild or get your feet wet and your heart racing with an adrenalin-rushing Nile crocodile cage diving experience.

The closest towns to the falls are Livingstone on the Zambian side and Victoria Falls Town on the Zimbabwe side, each offering a superb choice of five-star hotels and good restaurants – all of which can be arranged with our special Africa Exclusive touch.

Mineral-rich volcanic soils, lush vegetation and the wide, glistening body of the Zambezi River snaking its way along the Lower Zambezi valley floor make this region one of Zambia’s richest and most diverse wildlife sanctuaries.

Steep escarpments and hilly higher ground covered in thick miombo woodlands flow down towards a flat, alluvial plain with mineral-rich soil, lush vegetation and the broad, deep waters of the Zambezi River. Islands rise out of the river, from large rocky outcrops covered in old trees to simple sandbanks with grass and low bush, while old meanders and oxbow lakes form en route to create a veritable haven for wildlife.

There are national parks on both sides of the river – Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean, and the Lower Zambezi National Park on the Zambian side – both of which command exquisite landscapes and a plethora of game.

Game drives in open-topped vehicles are a regular fixture in all camps, as well as walking safaris with a qualified ranger. Explore life on the river with boat and canoe trips and don’t miss an opportunity to catch the famed resident tiger fish.

Untouched, wild and remote, North Luangwa is one of the few regions left that remain as it was and offers one of the finest wilderness experiences in Zambia.

Closed to the public, limited access is with one of the few safari operators granted permission to conduct walking safaris, making it all the more special.

Overlooked by the dramatic 1,000 metre-high Muchinga Escarpment, the Luangwa River is the life source of this region, fed by myriad tributaries and streams. Trickling down the escarpment in a series of small waterfalls, the gin-clear Mwaleshi River recedes in the dry season, leaving many pools along the way that draw huge numbers of game in search of water.

Thick mopane woodlands and lush riverine forests flow into vast open grasslands and scattered acacia thickets, hosting the same diversity of wildlife as the South Luangwa, with the addition of sable antelope, bush pig, and blue monkeys who come down from the escarpment.

With no game drives permitted, the focus is solely on walking safaris where expert guides follow the footsteps of intrepid African explorers to experience wildlife like never before.

Located in the far west of Zambia and bounded by the Luambimba and Luanginga Rivers, this remote and pristine wilderness promises spectacular, untamed landscapes or green and gold grasslands, dramatic lightning storms and an abundance of plains game.

Vast herds of blue wildebeest, zebra, and lechwe roam the seasonally flooded grassy plains in their thousands, prowling packs of wild dog search for vulnerable prey, and prides of dozing lion yawn sleepily in the shade of acacia pockets.

Home to the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, thousands of blue wildebeest begin gathering en masse at the beginning of the dry season to begin their slow grazing journey southwards towards the onset of rain – a spectacular display in itself.

The vast, endless plains create the perfect arena for a show of Africa’s power with dramatic and theatrical thunderstorms that roll across the grasslands, creating a magnificent tableau of green and gold grasslands against a backdrop of an ominous indigo skyline.