There are lots of things that make a safari fantastic – good guiding, beautiful accommodation and cold G&Ts to name a few. But when you experience the sort of spine-tingling wildlife encounters that we’ve relayed below, that’s when you know you’ve got a truly memorable safari. Read on for our list of what to see in Zambia and fill your trip with animal encounters of the extraordinary kind…
1. 100-strong herds of elephant in the Zambezi
It’s been said that the Lower Zambezi National Park is one of the best places in Zambia to see elephant; we would say it’s one of the best places on the continent! The parks host a remarkable number of large mammals but it’s the ellies that really steal the show as they bathe and splash in the shallows of the river, often in herds 100-strong. It’s the truly spectacular backdrop that really makes the sightings of the grey pachyderms even more special, think rambling fig trees and trailing mopanes; burbling streams and glittering lagoons; towering mountains and sprawling wetlands. Cameras at the ready!
Combine your elephant viewing with a dose of luxury at Anabezi Camp, or get back to basics (in style) and add Old Monodoro Bush Camp to your Zambia route.
2. Packs of spotted hyena in Liuwa Plain
If you’re thinking about what to see in Zambia, this one might come as a surprise. Contrary to popular belief (and the Lion King), spotted hyena don’t just scavenge for leftovers; they are fierce and ferocious predators in their own right, and around 95% of their food comes from hunting. In Liuwa Plain, hyena are in fact the apex predator and have been known to hunt in clans of up to 50 individuals. It’s not for the faint-hearted, but watching them in a feeding frenzy, claws ripping and teeth clashing, is quite something.
It might be the only accommodation in the park, but you certainly won’t be disappointed by the stunning King Lewanika Lodge with its stylish interiors and award-winning guides.
3. A daytime leopard kill in South Luangwa
The South Luangwa is not the Serengeti. There are no, golden-hued grassy plains stretching as far as the eye can see, nor are there rumbling herds of wildebeest. There are plenty of trees, however, from enormous Natal mahoganies, glinting in the luminous sunshine, to cool congregations of shady ebonies. And it’s in these trees that you’ll find the most mysterious predator of them all, the leopard. The crafty cats exist here in higher densities than most parks in Africa and game drives reveal them hunting in broad daylight (really) and lounging in branches, spots quietly peeking through the leaves.
Situated in a grove of ebony trees on the banks of the Luangwa River, you might be lucky enough to peek a leopard from the veranda of your chic safari cottage at the beautiful Mchenja Bush Camp.
4. Elusive cheetah roaming in Kafue National Park
Once you’ve ticked off leopard in the South Luangwa, you might be on the lookout for another elusive big cat – the cheetah. Rare in Zambia, your best chances of seeing the felines are in the Kafue, most particularly in the glittering Busanga Plains in the north of the park. The seasonal wetlands are dotted with pretty tree islands and wooded thickets, perfect territory for roaming cats, and with no fewer than 16 species of antelope in the area, there’s plenty of prey around to keep them happy.
Plan your Kafue visit between May and October and stay at seasonal Shumba Camp or Busanga Bush Camp. Both have panoramic views of the plains and the cheetah that wander past.
5. Pods of hippo snorting outside your tent in Luambe
Little Luambe National Park is rife with wildlife; dainty antelope spring around the bush, large mammals are well-represented and you’ve got a good chance of spying a leopard on your night drive. What really steals the show here though are the hippo. Enormous pods take pride of place in the Luangwa River, all flickering ears and noisy honks, and their playful harrumphing will become the soundtrack of your trip. As the water dries up in the hotter months of August to October, the action begins – visit at this time for territorial fights and teeth-gnashing aplenty.
Perched right on the edge of the Luangwa, beautiful Luambe Camp has front row seats to all the commotion happening in the river below.
