We know we’re not supposed to have favourites but if we really had to choose our top ‘bush and beach’ safari combination, it might just have to be Zambia and Malawi. Two countries that often fly under the radar when it comes to safari planning, they are both a joy to discover, from off-the-beaten-track experiences to gorgeous, authentic accommodation, fantastic wildlife viewing and scenery that will make your eyes goggle. After our Africa Travel Specialist, Tessa, jetted into Lusaka to begin her 10-day adventure, this is what she got up to – and why you should go next!
Spurred on by the torrential thunder of iconic Victoria Falls, Tessa started her trip with a bang – and truly embraced her sense of adventure! – with a dip in the Angel’s Pool to peer over the edge of the waterfall into the churning, misty depths below. Tessa described it as, “A surreal, amazing and once in a lifetime experience.” We can see why!
The next (somewhat more sedate) stop for Tessa was Ila Safari Lodge in the Kafue, Zambia’s oldest national park. Right beside the Kafue River, the setting of the lodge is as impressive as its eco-minded ethos. After waking to the serene views and chatter of birdlife, days here are filled with exploratory walks, water excursions and game drives. Tessa’s insider tip? The Kafue is definitely one to watch over the next few years as the wildlife goes from strength to strength.
A highlight of a stay at Ila is always one of the fabulous boat cruises. Solar-powered and completely silent, the boats are one-of-a-kind in Zambia and you’ll glide over the rippling water, just as the sun starts to set and the hippos wake with a chorus of snorts and grunts.
Quietly elegant and bursting with the potential for adventure, Sausage Tree Camp in the Lower Zambezi was next on Tessa’s agenda. A true gem, the camp is surrounded by wildlife of all shapes and sizes, so much so that you may be casually cooling off in the pool whilst hippos wallow in the river beside you, and elephants amble past the sun loungers.
After a peaceful morning canoe ride watching buffalo drinking just a hair’s breadth away, Tessa and her group were surprised with lunch in the middle of the Zambezi! We’re talking gazebos and white linen tablecloths – and a loaf of freshly-baked bread in the shape of a crocodile.
Quite literally on the banks of the Luangwa River, magnetic views are yours to absorb from every corner of Shawa Camp – including the sumptuous bed in your open-sided, treehouse tent. Tessa says she can’t remember a time when the sounds of wildlife were so close…
The South Luangwa is famous for its walking safaris and as Tessa and her group crunched through the grass, expert guides sharing their wealth of knowledge and every sense alert for the bountiful wildlife, Tessa found out exactly why. And just to make things even more special, there was a delicious ‘bush brunch’ waiting for them under the trees!
You would be forgiven for thinking you were dreaming on arrival at Tessa’s next stop, heavenly Kaya Mawa, set in the middle of Lake Malawi. Here, every detail surpasses expectation, from Eggs Benedict on the sand to cruising the ‘Lake of Stars’ in a traditional dhow, to sundowners at the viewpoint, surveying the gorgeous scene below. In Tessa’s words, “Incredible setting, accommodation, food, service… everything!”
And what better way to end a Zambia and Malawi adventure than a candlelit dinner on the shores of Lake Malawi, serenaded by the lapping surf, watching the sun sink below the horizon, and an ice-cold G&T in hand?
Fancy doing the same thing?
Tessa’s trip took her through Victoria Falls, Kafue National Park, Lower Zambezi, the South Luangwa, before ending on the shores of Lake Malawi for some ‘beach’ time.
This is not only a classic itinerary that makes the most of the highlights of Zambia, but it also includes a fantastic special offer from the lovely people at Green Safaris, with free flights and road transfers between camps.
So if the stunning scenery, iconic wildlife watching, walking safaris and spectacular game drives haven’t caught your attention, we hope the promise of saving a few pennies will…