It’s no wonder that Lower Zambezi used to be a private game reserved especially for the presidents of Zambia. Until 1983, this incredible stretch along the Zambezi River was off-limits to everyone else. Today it welcomes safari lovers who want to have the option of spending all morning exploring the woodlands, forests, mountains and escarpment before escaping the heat with relaxing boating and canoeing on the river in the afternoon (some go as far as setting up lunch tables on sandbars so your feet are in the cool water – and far from curious hippos or crocodiles!).

Lower Zambezi National Park is still fairly seasonal, which means many animals see few humans or vehicles over the rainy summer months. When camps and lodges reopen, the game viewing is almost more ‘authentic’ as the animals’ instincts have not been smoothed through exposure to human activity. To the east lies Mupata Gorge, to the north sits the escarpment and the south is bordered by the meandering water – all of this creates a paradise for good populations of buffalo, elephant, sable, eland, greater kudu, waterbuck and their predators, including wild dog. Because of the river, the aquatic birdlife thrives: look out for kingfishers, herons, darters, cormorants, ospreys, spoonbills, skimmers and more.

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.