Zambia

The wild heart of Africa, Zambia is a green oasis of national parks fed by rivers and wetlands that attract a huge variety of animals. Elephant, lion, wild dog and hyena are commonly spotted, and leopard cool off from the sun on the shady branches of trees. Before or after your safari in Zambia you can visit Victoria Falls, half of which lies within the country’s boundaries. 

Added to its game drives, Zambia is known as the home of the walking safari, and its guides are among the highest qualified in Africa. They will show you how to track animals, identify birds from their calls and discover the hidden world of insects as you walk through the bush.

The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season between June and November. The skies are cobalt blue, the days are hot, and the nights are cool. Temperatures can sit anywhere from 23°C to 36°C across the country. Wildlife-spotting opportunities are plentiful during this time too.

Victoria Falls makes a great option to combine with a safari, but can be visited on its own when the camps are closed briefly in the wet season between January and February. This is when the ‘smoke that thunders’ lives up to its name. This name was coined by the Kalolo-Lozi people, who could see the enormous clouds of mist and spray from a distance.

Rain does fall outside of the wettest months, but this is compensated for by minimal crowds and top-quality birdwatching, plus temperatures remain warm.