Best hotels in Zambia

Lower Zambezi National Park is well-loved for its diverse landscapes and, at its heart, the majestic, life-giving Zambezi River. This region of southern Zambia is a pristine wilderness, home to large numbers of Africa's animal icons, especially lion, elephant and leopard. And it's the setting of Anabezi Camp, a truly lovely place that provides everything you want from a safari holiday and more. The hospitality and guiding are first-rate, the array of activities both on ground and the river are exhilarating, the tented accommodation and interiors are quietly elegant. And the food – it's good, very good.

The solar-powered King Lewanika Lodge is the only permanent safari lodge in this region, and is situated in splendid isolation in Zambia’s untouched Liuwa Plain National Park. Stunning landscapes are characterised by vast seasonally-flooded plains and wooded islands, and the camp is designed to make the most of the incredible sense of space and total immersion in this wildlife hotspot. Just six open-fronted super-luxury tented villas on raised platforms are spread out along the fringes of the floodplains, with far-reaching views. Liuwa is famous for its thriving lion population, abundant predators, and the second largest annual wildebeest migration south of the Serengeti.

Back in the 1970s, this shady spot on the banks of the Luangwa was Norman Carr’s green season base. Today, the ultra sleek and very stylish Chinzombo Camp has replaced the tents of old and given the area a new lease of life. Peaceful and tranquil and offering a good dose of luxury, the camp is a good option for some pre or post safari relaxation. But with 60 acres of private land on offer, a river teeming with wildlife and direct access to the National Park via boat, the game drives are exclusive, breath-taking and not to be missed.