Yesterday, I was presenting a webinar that many of you attended—I even spotted several familiar names on the attendee list! We were exploring creative ways to combine East and Southern Africa in a single itinerary. While popular routes often include Cape Town and Victoria Falls, this particular session focused more on the structural foundation of building a multi-region African itinerary.
For this exercise, we set aside the usual highlights and used Livingstone as the hub in a hub-and-spoke model. This allowed us to structure an itinerary beginning in Lusaka and ending in Nairobi. Cape Town can easily be added at the start, and post-Nairobi, options like gorilla trekking in Uganda or Rwanda—or even a journey up to Egypt—are all within reach. In Zambia, many travelers don’t venture beyond Victoria Falls, which is a real missed opportunity. Take South Luangwa National Park, for example. It’s renowned for its outstanding walking safaris that offer a deeply immersive experience in the African bush. The park is rich in wildlife, particularly known for its high density of leopards, which makes night drives especially exciting. Along the Luangwa River, it’s common to see large pods of hippos and numerous crocodiles, and bird enthusiasts will appreciate the more than 400 species that call the park home. The region’s impressive biodiversity is also supported by both natural wildlife dispersal and occasional translocation efforts.
Another standout is Lower Zambezi National Park, a personal favorite of mine when visiting Zambia. It’s also known for its strong leopard population, thanks in part to the dense woodlands and towering ebony and fig trees that provide ideal habitat. But what truly sets this park apart is its atmosphere. Unlike some of the more trafficked parks, Lower Zambezi offers a blend of safari experiences, walking safaris and canoeing, in particular, which I consider must-dos. These lower-impact activities reduce the constant presence of vehicles, making wildlife, especially leopards, more relaxed and often more visible during daylight hours.
When you combine these two safari experiences with the vast savannas of the Mara conservancies and the distinctive landscapes of the northern rhino sanctuaries, you have a safari that feels anything but repetitive. It’s a journey that breaks away from the traditional mold—ideal for both the traveler with 14 days and the one with 30. This style of safari invites you to go beyond the vehicle, to engage with the land more deeply, whether you’re in Kenya or Zambia. It’s about rewriting the rules—no longer limited by old ideas of borders or routines. And the same goes for rivers.
While most people are familiar with the iconic Nile or Zambezi, few realize the vital role played by the three rivers of Lewa: the Ngare Ndare, the Ngare Sergoi, and the Marania. These perennial rivers rise from Mount Kenya and the Kenyan Highlands, forming part of the greater Ewaso Nyiro River system. More than just geographical features, they are essential lifelines—for wildlife, yes, but also for the communities that surround the Lewa Conservancy. These waters support daily life, livestock, and small-scale agriculture, reinforcing the deep connection between conservation efforts and community wellbeing. In many ways, these rivers are just as significant to Lewa and its people as the Nile and Zambezi are to the broader continent.
Enjoy this week’s video and check out this new safari here
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If you are the type that wants to go on a trip to spend lazy days lounging around, then Zambia might not be for you. However, if you are an adventurous traveler who is in search of excitement, then definitely consider planning a trip! Zambia has been called a diamond in the rough; all it needs is for an intrepid traveler to carve it out and shine it up. When planning a trip to Zambia, it is very important to know where the best sights are. Here are three options of great places you should visit while in Zambia.
Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls is a very popular tourist destination in Zambia. There might be crowds of other travelers, but it is worth wading through them to see the spectacular views of the thundering mile wide falls. The spray from the falls can be seen from miles away and the roar of 546 million cubic meters of falling water per minute will stick in your mind for years to come.
South Luangwa National Park
The South Luangwa National Park is known as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. The concept of the walking safari was born here and it is a great way to observe some of the 60 different animal species and 400 bird species that roam the park. See antelope, hippopotami, baboons, giraffe, zebra, buffalo, elephant, storks, red chested cuckoos, and more. Nature lovers will love a visit to the South Luangwa National Park.
Lake Kariba
With so many beautiful natural wonders in Zambia, it might sound odd to visit a manmade destination. However, Lake Kariba is definitely worth a visit. This is the largest artificial lake in the world and hosts a thriving ecosystem. There are numerous fish species, birds and larger animals that call Lake Kariba home. Its possible to spot Nile crocodiles, hippos and sometimes even elephants. Fishing is a major attraction here, so be sure to look into taking a fishing safari.
There is almost an endless list of amazing things to see and do in Zambia. However, Victoria Falls, South Luangwa National Park, and Lake Kariba are among the most exciting. Be sure to include them in your to-do list when visiting Zambia.
If you are searching for a destination that will show you the “real” Africa, look no further than Zambia. It is home to some of the most spectacular sights in the world and is also among one of the safest to visit. A visit to Zambia is sure to bring visits to Victoria Falls, the Zambezi River and many other areas bursting with wildlife. The wildlife of Zambia is very divers and is a pleasure to experience via safari. This country is perfect for casual travelers and thrill seekers alike.
One of the major sights that travelers come from all over to see is Victoria Falls. The falls are so big that columns of spray can be seen from miles away. For ideal views of Victoria Falls, you will want to trek to the Victoria Falls Bridge where you can see down the gorge on one side and through the falls on the other. For a especially thrilling Victoria Falls experience, consider taking to the skies. Micro-light and fixed wing flights are available to take you around the falls.
Another reason people travel to Zambia is its robust wildlife. Animals that you would likely see while on safari are leopards, lions, cheetahs, elephants, hippos, buffaloes giraffes, primates and hundreds of different bird species. If you are a bird enthusiast you will definitely want to visit Zambia as it has been said that at least 740 species live there. There are several options for taking in the Zambian wildlife such as safaris, walking, canoeing, horseback or even on an elephant!
If all of this adventure is a bit intimidating, Zambia is also home to some great shopping as well. A visit to the Mukuni Victoria Falls Craft Village will offer the opportunity to browse a wide range of intricate crafts such as wooden or stone animal carvings, masks, drums, walking sticks, jewelry and more. The local vendors are usually open to trade for things such as T-shirts, batteries, shoes or other essentials.
As you can see, Zambia has a wide range of activities that are sure to please travelers of all interest sets. For a taste of the best that Africa has to offer, consider visiting Zambia.
Nestled between Zambia and Zimbabwe is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world. Victoria Falls is a waterfall that is 1.7 kilometers wide and 108 meters tall, which makes it the largest in the world. This waterfall has to be seen, as it is a testament of how powerful nature can be.
Victoria Falls is known by the locals as “Mosi-oa-Tunya” and has been an object of intrigue for travelers for over a hundred years. Scottish explorer David Livingstone journeyed to Africa in the 19th century and wrote about his experience with Victoria Falls. In his work Narrative of an Expedition to the Zambesi and its Tributaries, he describes the waterfall as something that is so majestic that it is hard to put into words. Victoria Falls still continues to mesmerize onlookers more than a century later.
While the height and width of the falls is astounding, even more interesting is its geological makeup. Other great waterfalls like Niagara were formed by the slow recession of rock over which the river falls, while it seems that Victoria Falls seems to have been formed by a crack across the river. This mighty rift is the reason why spectators can see the entire length of the falls head on.
Visitors travel to Victoria Falls every year to marvel at the power of the river. In 1989, it was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site for both geological and ecological values. If your travels will take you to Zambia or Zimbabwe, make sure you adventure out to see the Victoria Falls. It will be an experience you won’t forget.
