I was in my element when I got to interview my long-time friend and industry colleague, Tara Beckett, Travel Expert at Rhino Africa, about exploring Zambia on her recent trip. The interview would form the basis for a two-part blog series featuring this country, an underrated destination for first-time safari-goers. She visited some of the most iconic destination highlights and stumbled upon some lesser-known gems. "As travel planners, we put a lot of passion, energy, and first-hand travel experience into crafting the guest's journey," says Tara. So, join me as we experience Zambia's wonders through her eyes...
Experience the thrill of exploring Zambia with Travel Expert, Tara Beckett, Image Credit: Time + Tide
Safari Stories
Those who know me understand that safari is one of my favourite topics of conversation. Sharing stories of my experiences in Africa's wilderness imparts some of its magic, inspiring others to go on safari themselves. I do some of my most creative work when bumbling along on a safari jeep, down a dirt road, tracking animal spoor. The ideas flow thick and fast, like the current coursing along the Zambezi River, the life-giving river forming Zambia's natural border with Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
It's first-hand experience stories that really give us the true depiction of what to expect when visiting a destination, and that's why I was delighted to chat to Tara about why you, too, should consider exploring Zambia.
Game drives give your mind time to rest and to think creatively, Image Credit: Tafika Camp
Exploring Zambia: Africa's Best-Kept Secret
Zambia is a lesser-known gem in the southern Africa safari circuit. Typically a second or third-time choice for safari-goers, Zambia is gaining attention as an exciting post-pandemic destination. With the revenge travel trend alive and kicking, travellers seek out destinations with which to garner bragging rights amongst their peers for their most unique, far-flung qualities.
Zambia is the perfect place if you want to escape a busy, crowded life, Image Credit: Time + Tide
Zambia enjoys established scheduled and charter airlift. It's landlocked by Angola, the DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, and Botswana, while Namibia's Caprivi Strip juts into its southwestern region. Copper mining has been a significant industry since the 1920s, and tourism vies for attention as the industry supports some of Africa's most important habitats.
The Smoke That Thunders
Livingstone, named after the British missionary Dr David Livingstone, who first visited the area in 1851, is the gateway to the majestic UNESCO World Heritage Site of Victoria Falls.
Fly over Victoria Falls in a helicopter for a bird's-eye view
A popular excursion is the helicopter flip over the cascading Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the Smoke That Thunders", in the local Lozi tongue. When gazing upon the landscape, David Livingstone uttered, transfixed at the sheer unfiltered beauty of this natural wonder, "Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight."
Lusaka is the gateway to further afield safari hotspots, including South Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park, and the Lower Zambezi National Park.
These two major tourist hubs connect travellers to iconic safari experiences, and trips can extend to include largely uncommercial beach experiences in neighbouring Malawi or Mozambique.
Discover the Zambezi River's multifaceted allure that goes beyond Victoria Falls, Image Credit: Royal Zambezi Lodge
The Authenticity of Safari in Zambia: Tara's Insights
Tara, however, is no stranger to Zambia; her amazing experiences in this incredible country over the years kept the conversation flowing faster than the Zambezi in flood. Here's what Tara had to say when asked about one of her favourite destinations, Zambia.
Tara (second from the left) representing Africa in New York
How did you travel to Zambia?
"I flew from Cape Town to Zambia's capital city, Lusaka, via Johannesburg on Airlink. On my return, I flew from Livingstone directly to Cape Town on Kenya Airways. We can book all flights originating in Africa, and our guests find this service convenient, as it offers them peace of mind."
Is Zambia considered a first-time destination when travelling to southern Africa?
"Not typically. That said, Livingstone is a popular addition to a Cape Town and Greater Kruger twin-centre itinerary with the ease of airlift from South Africa's safari gateway town, Mbombela (Nelspruit). The other reserves, such as South Luangwa, Kafue, Liuwa Plains and Lower Zambezi, are a little further afield. Access outside of the peak season months becomes limited and more expensive."
Immersive safari experiences in South Luangwa National Park, Image Credit: Tena Tena Camp
What was the highlight of your trip?
"Staying at the characterful micro-camp Bilimungwe, affectionately known as "Bili", in the vast South Luangwa National Park was an arresting experience. This area is known for its incredible diversity of wildlife and, of course, walking safaris. The camp has only four raised canvas tents and three waterholes to boot.
We enjoyed daytime and nighttime game drives and walking safaris with the camp's resident tracking expert. One evening, we enjoyed sundowners in nature's IMAX theatre when we waded into the shallows of a trickling tributary, chairs arranged in a horseshoe shape.
We gazed upon the sky awash with dusk colours seeping from a vibrant apricot hue to candy floss pink and bubblegum blue, tainting the towering thunderstorm clouds. All the drama! The birds, the sky, the rivers... I could go on and on about this beautiful country."
Sharing safari stories around a campfire is the perfect way to bring people together, Image Credit: Royal Zambezi Lodge
Do you have any advice for anyone considering walking safari?
"Proper walking shoes are essential. It would help to have a solid, well-worn pair of trekking shoes. Blisters are an unwelcome distraction. Also, drinking enough water is vital (the camps provide branded canteens with refillable water from a central water cooler, usually stationed in the main mess tent or dining area). Environmentally conscious, the camps operate in remote areas, so plastic is not practical. Bring a refillable canteen or check if the first camp you visit stocks them in the curio shop.
Zambia's walking safari season runs from April to November (specific camps, due to location, have a shorter season) and offers an intimate encounter with nature. Compared to traditional game drives, the exclusivity and intimacy of walking safaris allow visitors to connect with nature on a deeper level. The resourcefulness of the hospitality staff in the temporary bush camps is impressive – most are fully dismantled at the end of the safari season, leaving the lightest footprint possible."
You can't go to Zambia without going on a walking safari, Image Credit: Tafika Camp
What is the one thing you wish people knew about Zambia?
"The authenticity of the safari experience in Zambia. In general, the overall wildlife and safari experience is one-of-a-kind. Perhaps better known for its robust predator populations – lion and leopard (South Luangwa), Zambia is also home to the largest mammalian migration on earth, the bat migration (Kasanka).
Each year, 10 million fruit bats arrive from the Democratic Republic of Congo from roughly October to December to enjoy the rich feeding grounds populated by mango, waterberry and loquat trees. The scale of this migration outweighs the better-known Great Migration that occurs annually across Tanzania and Kenya, a natural spectacle where over two million antelope, led by blue wildebeest, submit to the push-and-pull of their instincts. Following the seasonal rains across borders, plains and plateaux, locked in a perpetual quest, seeking the nourishment of greener pastures.
The sheer feeling of space is a luxury in Zambia – visitors can enjoy one of the world's last proper wilderness areas here, and value for money sets this destination apart. Paradise found."
Zambia's bat migration is not so well-known but a spectacular occurrence
Checked bag or carry-on bag?
"Carry-on bag, for sure. The luggage allowance on the light bush planes is 15 kgs maximum in soft-sided bags, so it's much more viable to travel with a carry-on bag. If Zambia forms part of a multi-destination trip, see if you can store the rest of your luggage somewhere or send it unaccompanied to your next destination before your arrival."
When is the best time to travel to Zambia?
"Zambia is incredibly special at any time of the year. I went in the "emerald season", running from March through November. My trip coincided with the start of the long rains at the end of November. Depending on the location, 90% of the camps in South Luangwa close between December and mid-April due to the roads becoming impassable. Chinzombo and Mfuwe Lodge stay open year-round. Access is from nearby Mfuwe International Airport."
Chinzombo Lodge stays open all year, Image Credit: Time + Tide
Zambia: Home of Unique Safari Experiences
Nature-based safaris, such as walking and canoe safaris, abound in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park. Minimum restrictions are in place for such safaris, and they can be unforgettable, life-changing wilderness adventures for families with older teens.
Passionate, informed and committed to promoting safaris to this fantastic country boasting no less than 70 tribal languages, Tara waxed lyrical about her recent visit.
She talked of sunshine, broad smiles, unique accommodations, the unparalleled thrill of walking in the wild, inspiring trailblazing conservation-led tourism initiatives and the warm hospitality of hardy, humble Zambians.
Enchanted, I hoped that those I regaled with tales of my safari experiences struck a similar chord.
You'll see wildlife, big and small, all around in Lower Zambezi National Park
Planning Your Zambia Safari Adventure
Tara concluded, "I attended the New York Travel Adventure Show in January, and it was super to get the chance to introduce Zambia as an exciting destination."
The next instalment of this blog unpacks Tara's take on the gracious accommodations she stayed at and the hospitality she enjoyed.
Are you ready for your own Zambian safari adventure? Let Rhino Africa's Travel Experts like Tara plan the perfect itinerary for you. And soon, you'll be telling your own safari stories!
