It’s hard to believe that Kafue is Africa’s second biggest national park given that it isn’t really a household name. But perhaps that what makes it special: 22 400km² / 13 900mi² of land given over to literally hundreds of bird, mammal and reptile species and only a handful of lodges and camps. Clocking in at the size of Wales in the United Kingdom or Massachusetts in the United States, Kafue is immense and a ‘must-do’ for every serious safari lover.

It is named after the Kafue River, which is mercurial, changing from gently flowing water to exciting rapids and then back again. The Nanzhila River is another lifeline while the Itezhi-Tezhi Lake was dammed to create a colossal expanse of water. The park has everything from classic mopane and miombo woodland to stunning riverine and riparian forests. To the north, the Busanga Plains are an ancient hunting ground for lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog trying their luck with everything from roan and lechwe to kudu and puku. The birding is sensational (with big ticks including white-fronted bee-eaters and fish eagles) while rare species like pangolin and aardvark are seen fairly often.

One of the few places that offers a true walking safari – between camps – rather than just a simple nature walk. I love Zambia because it is still very authentic: up on the Busanga Plains in Kafue, you’ll have a true picture of Africa at its most pristine and untouched.