Countries featured on this page include Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Angola
Zambia and Zimbabwe
The mighty Zambezi River rises in Zambia and flows south before turning east on its journey to the Indian Ocean. Along the way it is joined by the Chobe River, tumbles over the Victoria Falls, broadens into Lake Kariba, surges through narrow gorges, and widens out to flow between wildlife areas of Mana Pools National Park in Zimbabwe and the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia, wilderness areas or great beauty and tranquility.
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From Zambia, both the Kafue and Luangwa rivers flow in as it surges into Mocambique through the Cabora Bassa dam. The crystal-clear water of Lake Malawi flows down the Shire River entering the Zambezi beyond the dam before it finally spills over white sands onto the coral reefs of the Indian Ocean. These rivers have been the lifeline to central Africa for centuries and early explorers would have been overwhelmed by the huge herds of wildlife they came upon from the mouth to the sources.
The Busanga Plain in the northern area of Kafue National Park is a birder’s paradise. From June, when the floodwaters begin to recede, until the end of October, visitors might be forgiven for thinking they had entered an aviary inhabited not only by a multitude of birds but thousands of puku and lechwe antelope and their predators. Zambia is not a place of mass tourism but has a pioneering spirit where it is still possible for safari guide to take his guests to some of the least visited places in Africa.
There are twenty national parks in Zambia, although a few of them are not maintained and so contain no facilities and few animals. Others have high concentrations of animals and are popular with tourists, while two or three are world-famous.
Zambia’s Luangwa River meanders through a vast, fertile valley that is home to a large variety of birds and animals. The continuation of the Great Rift Valley; its escarpments reveal primitive fossils and hot springs occur on the valley floor. Some of the best walking safaris in Africa are on offer here, where walking with professional guides has always been encouraged in the Luangwa Valley.
Zimbabwe
Hwange National Park on the northern border of Botswana, is a UNESCO World Heritage site teeming wildlife and Mana Pools, adjacent to the Zambezi River in the north of the country, are among the best national parks and safari destinations in the region, where the Big 5 can be seen in impressive numbers.
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Zimbabwe is also distinctive in Africa for its large number of medieval era city ruins built in a unique dry-stone style. The most famous of these are the Great Zimbabwe ruins in Masvingo, which survive from the Kingdom of Zimbabwe era. Other ruins include DhloDhlo and Naletale.
The Matopos Hills are an area of granite kopjes and wooded valleys commencing some 35 kilometers south of Bulawayo, southern Zimbabwe. Cecil John Rhodes, famous for his vision that led to the foundation of Rhodesia, and other early white pioneers, are buried in these hills. Of all the countries specializing in safaris, Zimbabwe has the most diverse scenery and remarkable places, whether reached in a vehicle, on foot or in a canoe. Its most famous landmark, the Victoria Falls, never ceases to astound visitors with its power and beauty.
This is a country that has produced excellent safari guides. Wherever you go guiding will enhance your experience. In the north and west are the main wildlife areas, where huge baobabs, mahogany and acacia trees shelter immense herds of buffalo and elephant; in the eastern highlands, the rolling hills and morning mist rising over trout streams is reminiscent of Scotland.
Malawi
Malawi is home to some beautiful game viewing wilderness areas including notable national parks – Nyika, Kasunga and Llwonde. Lake Malawi, listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site for the unique animals and birds that inhabit its shores, offers excellent sailing and leisure boating opportunities. Visitors to Chongoni can get a glimpse of Malawi’s cultural heritage from its rock paintings dating back to the stone age.
Angola
Angola is a Southern African nation whose varied terrain encompasses tropical Atlantic beaches, a labyrinthine system of rivers and Sub-Saharan desert that extends across the border into Namibia. The country’s colonial history is reflected in its Portuguese-influenced cuisine and its landmarks including Fortaleza de São Miguel, a fortress built by the Portuguese in 1576 to defend the capital, Luanda.
Next to Brazil and Madagascar, it is one of three countries with the highest biodiversity in the world. After years of civil war it is now back on the world radar. The country’s largely untouched nature, cultural diversity, unique wildlife, and the hospitable locals are like something from the past. As soon as you leave Luanda, you will feel like an explorer. Far away from mass tourism where you can still experience the real and original Africa.