Brushing shoulders with Victoria Falls, one of the world’s famous Seven Natural Wonders, Zambia is also famed for its astounding diversity of wildlife. In between bush camps, canoeing in Zambezi Valley’s rapids and adventurous game walks through the Lower Zambezi National Park, expect to cross paths with lions, hippo pods and Thornicroft on our Zambia safari.
Though landlocked, Zambia’s three distinct rivers have driven an eclectic mix of wildlife to the region for centuries. Surrounding the Luangwa river’s intricate ecosystem, you’ll find leopards and over 400 species of tropical birds.
The Zambia Valley Trip offers a 3-day canoeing and wildlife watching safari along the Zambezi River. Exploring by boat gives you the best viewing opportunities and it’s likely you’ll come across some of the country’s most revered animals. As you paddle along the tranquil waters, look out for the likes of elephants, crocodiles, buffalo, monkeys and many species of birds, to name just a few.
Our Zambia safari holidays take you closer to the action and a game drive through the Chiawa Game Management Area is an eye-opening experience where you can hope to spot hyena, aardvarks and possibly even the elusive leopard if luck is on your side. To add to the excitement of our Zambia safari tours, you’ll spend the evenings camping under the stars on secluded islands. Listening to the sounds of the wild and watching for the nocturnal animals is an experience to treasure forever.
African Elephant: This majestic animal is the largest that you’ll see on Zambia safari holidays and is often spotted drinking from the waters of the Zambezi River. Although this huge beast can weight up to seven tonnes, it has an elegance that makes it one of the favourites of the Big Five. The Zambezi River is the fourth longest in Africa, flowing for 2,200 miles before reaching the Indian Ocean so it’s no surprise it’s one of the best places to see the African elephant. The best months to see them at the Zambezi is during the dry season between July and October when they come down to river to drink.
African Lion: When you think about Zambia safari tours, they most likely conjure up images of the African lion. Arguably the most awesome wild species on the continent, this big cat is revered yet feared at the same time. Lions are extremely social creatures within their prides and it’s not unusual for the lionesses to stay with the same pride for their entire lives. These fascinating beasts are often seen playing in Lower Zambezi National Park until the temperatures begin to soar and then they tend to sleep in the shade. Dusk is one of the best times to observe the lions as they set off on their evening hunt for prey.
Leopard: Renowned for being the most elusive of Africa’s Big Five, the leopard can lead you on a wild chase when trying to catch sight of it. They tend to hunt alone, hiding in the forest or deserts. The leopard mainly feasts on larger prey such as antelope and deer and are feared by many of the wild animals you’ll find in Zambia. While it is an intimidating species and one with incredible power, it also exudes an air of grace that is captivating to watch. The leopard is classed as a big cat but it’s the smallest compared to the lion, tiger, jaguar and cheetah and is extremely agile with an amazing talent for climbing trees.
Rhino: The rhino is often considered as a lolloping animal because of its size and sturdy build yet surprisingly it can run at speeds of up to 30-40mph. Imagine listening to the thunderous sound as herds of these hefty creatures speed across the wilderness. The average rhino can weigh up to almost 8,000 pounds with their horns protruding up to 5ft, making it one of the largest of the animals found in Africa. Downstream from the famous Victoria Falls, the rare white rhino can be seen along the banks of the Zambezi River.
Hippo: Cruising along the Zambezi River as if they haven’t a care in the world, the hippo is a water-loving ‘river horse’ that is often seen on trips to Zambia. While their pace is slow and they don’t particularly look terrifying, they are one of the most dangerous species in Africa. That said, they are still magnificent creatures to watch with fascinating personalities. At any one time you might see a huge herd of more than 60 hippos swimming along the river.
This is a great trip if you like your wildlife. Make sure you bring the best camera/lens that you have got as you can get some amazing photographs.
Having said that there are a few things that could be better:
– Tortuguero is famous for its turtles. We didn’t see any even though we went to the beach around dawn both mornings we were there. Subsequently we found out that you can go on a local guide tour overnight, they then liaise with other guides to share where the turtles are (it is a long beach) to give you the best chance of seeing them. You may have to ask about it at the Lodge about booking a guide
– Manuel Antonio. Likewise a local guide would help find more of the wildlife here, as they know the area & have the required spotting scopes
– Savegre. To see the Quetzal (which is the main reason for going there, & is spectacular) again, you need a local guide to take you to the right area. These can be booked via the hotel
Hopefully Exodus will include these local guides/trips going forward as I have shared this feedback with them.
We enjoyed the coffee/chocolate tour at La Fortuna, where you get to make your own chocolate (you need to add a lot of sugar otherwise it’s very bitter !)
We also did a night trip to see more frogs & other night animals while at Manuel Antonio which was good
This is a well planned and managed tour. We liked having the two days at the coast either side of the five days inland. Our tour guide Lucky was very good and it was very useful having Dineth, the naturalist, with us to help find and identify wildlife. The bus was very spacious and the hotels good. We didn’t see whales and leopards and, if that is a must for you, then this is not the right trip. However, if you enjoy wildlife generally then this is an excellent choice. The countryside is very beautiful and interesting, and the walks and game drives enjoyable. We saw lots of different birds and a good selection of mammals and reptiles.
