Luxury Safaris to Zambia, Zimbabwe

These Southern African nations represent some of the best remaining opportunities to discover the essence and spirit of Africa. In these lands of exceptional wildlife and dazzling scenery, one of the last great adventures of Africa – the walking safari – was pioneered.

One of the world’s most legendary rivers, the Zambezi, provides endless opportunities for exploration by canoe, boat, or whitewater rafting. The river becomes the roaring waterfalls called Mosi-oa-Tunya, “Smoke that Thunders.” Named Victoria Falls by David Livingstone in 1855, this extraordinary water wall is breathtaking as it crashes over cliffs and down into a deep gorge before traveling into Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Two of Zambia’s finest national parks, South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, have abundant wildlife. But the star is still Kafue National Park, the oldest and largest of Zambia’s national parks. Wildlife includes Cape buffalo, crocodile, elephant, giraffe, hippo, hyena, impala, leopard, lion, warthog, waterbuck, and zebra, and hundreds of bird species. The park is regarded as one of the best places in Africa to encounter leopards. Zimbabwe has a growing international reputation for its national parks, the largest of which is Hwange, bordering Botswana. Mana Pools National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is one of the least developed national parks in Southern Africa.

It is a region of the lower Zambezi River in Zimbabwe where the flood plain turns into a broad expanse of lakes after each rainy season. As the lakes gradually dry up and disappear, many large animals migrate here in search of water, making this one of Africa’s most renowned game-viewing regions. Lake Kariba’s shoreline is home to large concentrations of buffalo, waterbuck, impala, zebra, and elephant. The region also has been inhabited for thousands of years by migrating tribes of hunter-gatherer societies. Archaeological sites around the falls have yielded stone artifacts dating back three million years.

Southern Africa’s rich heritage shines through its vibrant folk art and cultural traditions. Visitors can choose from opulent lodges to intimate private tented safari camps. For those seeking a deep amd personal safari in an untouched wilderness, Southern Africa offers the pinnacle of the African adventure.