For those who know their leopards from their cheetahs, Zambia holds a very special allure. It’s the birthplace of the walking safari, home to four iconic reserves and has Victoria Falls right on its doorstep.

Despite being landlocked, Zambia has plenty of water. Three great rivers – the Kafue, the Luangwa and the Zambezi – flow through Zambia and are big features of its national parks. These rivers attract all manner of wildlife to its banks and are part of the reason Zambia is the land of the legendary African walking safari.

You’ll find fewer visitors here than in neighbouring countries like Botswana and Zimbabwe – making for more intimate experiences with more personal attention from guides. In fact, Zambia offers the quintessential off-the-beaten-path experience. This can be appealing to travellers looking for a quieter and more authentic safari experience.

Ultimately, Zambia’s combination of natural beauty, abundant wildlife, cultural diversity, and adventure opportunities make it a unique and compelling destination for those seeking an authentic African experience. Of all the 20 national parks, 4 stand out, which showcase this perfectly, and each offer something very unique. Due to geography and logistics, you’ll be unlikely to visit all four on a single trip so you’ll need to choose carefully between them if planning a trip. Here’s what you need to know about each of these destinations.

South Luangwa National Park

With its diverse ecosystems, including riverine forests, grassy plains, and the iconic Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park provides a habitat for an array of wildlife, from elephants and big cats to numerous bird species. This is a predator haven in particular, with leopard sightings common, and so it might come as somewhat of a surprise that this is also where walking safaris originated.

The captivating history of walking safaris began in Zambia in the 1960s with the legendary conservationist Norman Carr, who pioneered both photographic-based conservation tourism and the walking safari in South Luangwa National Park. Carr believed that exploring the African wilderness on foot offered a more intimate and immersive experience, connecting visitors with nature in a unique way. His innovative approach revolutionised the safari industry, making Zambia a sought-after destination for walking safaris.

South Luangwa National Park is a captivating destination for those seeking an authentic African safari experience. With its rich biodiversity, unique activities like walking safaris, and a more remote atmosphere, it has earned its reputation as a top wildlife destination in Africa.

Lodge Pick: Chinzombo

Chinzombo boasts 24 hectares of private Luangwa River frontage, with the lodge well positioned under the shade of ancient trees on a wildlife-rich ridge.

The six Chinzombo villas appear to float over the landscape and possess spacious living areas, luxurious bathrooms, private plunge pools and shady decks overlooking the Luangwa. An adventurous addition to your safari experience at Chinzombo is to sleep out under the stars. Set high in a dry riverbed in the national park between May and October, this extraordinary experience is an adventurous addition to any safari, allowing you to reconnect with nature and each other in a simple, meaningful way.

Lower Zambezi National Park

While South Luangwa takes the spotlight in walking safaris, Lower Zambezi National Park offers an equally exciting and educational experience for nature enthusiasts. With over 120km along the banks of the Zambezi River, this park showcases a breathtaking landscape of floodplains, woodlands, and waterways. Walking safaris in Lower Zambezi National Park reveal a different facet of Zambia’s wildlife, from the majestic elephants to the elusive leopards, providing a thrilling adventure for safari enthusiasts.

Visitors can also enjoy game drives, boat safaris, canoe safaris, and fishing along the Zambezi River. Canoe safaris along the river provide a unique perspective on the wildlife, and anglers can try their hand at catching tigerfish and other species.

Together with Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, on the opposite side of the Zambezi River, Lower Zambezi forms an extraordinarily wildlife-rich region that offers a first-class safari experience.

Lodge Pick: Sausage Tree

The stylishly designed Sausage Tree Camp is constructed of canvas and eco-friendly man-made “wood” and decorated with soft linens, natural woods and modern furnishings, the owner-run property enjoys unrivalled vistas over reed islands in front of camp, where animals are drawn. The seven luxurious canvas suites and the two-bedroom ‘Kigelia House’ feature en-suite bathrooms with open-air showers.

Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia and one of the largest in Africa, covering an expansive area of over 22,000 square kilometres. Located in the western part of Zambia, it offers a diverse and relatively untouched wilderness experience.

Kafue’s terrain ranges from lush riverine forest to vast grasslands to wetlands to miombo woodlands. It’s due to its diversity of ecosystems that it has such a rich variety of wildlife, including elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, African wild dogs, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, and numerous antelope species.

The Kafue River runs through the park, providing a lifeline for wildlife. It’s fantastic for boat rides to see hippos and crocodiles in great grunting profusion, and is a great place to see leopards. The highlight for many is the Busanga Plains, a vast tract of Serengeti-style grassland home to an abundance of plains game and predators. It transforms during the rainy season, attracting large herds of herbivores and the predators that follow them.

Kafue is also a paradise for bird enthusiasts, with over 500 bird species recorded. The Busanga Plains is particularly famous for its birdlife, including wattled cranes, pelicans, and numerous raptors.

Lodge pick: Chisa Busanga Camp

Chisa Busanga Camp (also known as “The Nest”) derives its name from its remarkable architecture, with treehouses built in the shape of weaver nests found in the area, to perfectly blend in with nature. Each ‘nest’ is raised between trees on private wooden decks that offer a bird’s eye view of Busanga Plains and offers complete privacy with an indoor/outdoor shower and a birds-eye view, both from the inside and from your private observation deck. To top it off, this is a silent camp, that relies entirely on solar power, prioritising composting, recycling, and sustainably sourced materials.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Now for something completely different. Mosi-oa-Tunya is one of Zambia’s smallest national parks. It extends from the Batoka Gorge and continues for about 12km along the Zambezi River, above Victoria Falls.

It’s bordered by Livingstone town, which adjoins several ancient wildlife migration routes and river crossing points, some of which are still frequented by elephants. A few of these fall within the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, where wildlife can be found throughout the year but elephants especially during the drier months.

What makes this park unique in Zambia is that it’s the only wildlife area with white rhinos. These are closely protected from poachers by the scouts from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife.

This little sanctuary is free from predators. This, in combination with it being an area with man-made boundaries, guarantees a stable population of wildlife throughout the year. In addition to the migratory elephants, white rhino, giraffe, buffalo, waterbuck, impala, wildebeest, zebra, bushbuck, warthog, monkeys, baboon, hippo and crocodiles are residents in the park year round. They inhabit a mix of riverine forest and mopane woodland as well as grassland, which also provides a variety of habitats for numerous bird species.

A visit to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is a great activity for the family or for those who would like a taste of safari or a couple of hours away from ‘town life’ but don’t have time to travel further afield.

For close-up views of the Eastern Cataract of Victoria Falls, nothing beats the hair-raising (and hair-wetting) walk across the footbridge, through swirling clouds of mist. There are plenty of other activities on offer too. One that gets hearts racing is a microlight flight above the iconic Victoria Falls. But you can also walk with rhinos, bungee jump or take on some of the world’s greatest rapids.

Lodge pick: Thorntree River Lodge

Set within Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park, on the banks of the Zambezi River, Thorntree River Lodge maintains an authentic African feel with contemporary canvas roofs, open-plan living areas, spacious decks and stunning river vistas. Fine cuisine is served in the dining area which flows into a well-stocked cellar. Communal seating areas extend out to the barbecue area and infinity pool, and a wooden floating deck moves with the water level, a seamless integration of water and land. Due to the absence of predators, Thorntree River Lodge is unfenced and has game wandering through it.

Zambia whispers promises of unforgettable adventures for those seeking an authentic African safari experience. Beyond the thundering majesty of Victoria Falls lie vast national parks teeming with wildlife, diverse ecosystems, and unique activities. From the predator-rich paradise of South Luangwa to the awe-inspiring Busanga Plains of Kafue, each park offers a distinct encounter with the wild heart of Africa.

This Zambia is an adventurer’s haven, where legendary walking safaris originated, whether you crave an intimate wildlife encounter or a taste of Zambia’s untamed spirit, there’s a national park perfectly suited for your exploration.

So, pack your sense of wonder and prepare to be captivated by Zambia’s untamed beauty. Don’t wait to turn your Zambia dreams into reality. Contact Scintilla today and let us craft your unforgettable African adventure.