Alison and Miles Nolting in Zambia, October 2024

Alison and Miles traveled to Zambia as part of a group of 22 international agents visiting the three parks of Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and Kafue. In total over 20 camps were visited on the trip with the takeaway that the accommodations are all looking fabulous with understated elegance! The quality of guiding is spectacular and traveling in the dry season of October does make for some one of a kind sightings.

Lower Zambezi

Simply put, the Lower Zambezi has some of the finest big game wildlife viewing in Africa. Explore pristine and untouched wilderness in one of Africa’s most remote safari destinations

Kutali Camp / Anabezi/ Old Mondoro

Kutali – has the charm and ethos of a true seasonal bush-camp

Anabezi is an oasis of sophisticated luxury with twelve stunning tented suites

Old Mondoro – sister camp to Chiawa – An intimate camp of 5 chalets, authentic and unedited Zambian safari

Under the canopy of winterthorn trees and bordering the mighty Zambezi river, the variety of big cat sightings along with buffalo, elephant and hippo makes this a quintessential safari experience.

South Luangwa

The South Luangwa is colloquially referred to as the “Valley of the Leopard” due to such a high density of this elusive African animal being found in the park both day and night! Zambia’s outstanding reputation of guiding is ever prevalent! The likes of Patrick at Kaingo, and Suzio at BushCamps were fabulous.

Kaingo / Kakuli / Chinzombo / BushCamps / Puku Ridge

Kaingo and Mwamba – rustic elegance and 3 award winning photographic hides

Kakuli – Quality details in rooms and loved how they cooked breakfast on an open fire. The evening braai dinner was amazing, and so was the birthday cake and singing!

Happy Birthday in the Luangwa!

Chinzombo – a fabulous lodge with modern and traditional feel throughout

Set up for coffee morning break. Later that day the leopard visited for a sundowner drink

We visited the multiple BushCamps stops of Kuyenda with the surrounding springs. Chamalandu raised tree house style rooms, stylish Chindeni, and Bililumgwe had the personal elephant greeting on arrival. Combining two of these camps for a walking safari would be the way to go for a comfortable luxury walking with great guiding. Our pizza bush lunch stop was a hit.

Puku Ridge is exquisite with the waterhole and EyetoEye hide offering non stop action for this time of year.
Had the fantastic Baobab Bush dinner and choir singing! Best sleep out deck.

Chichele – 6 star coming to South Luangwa – new meaning to a sofa safari!

Best sightings in the South Luangwa

a) Pack of 15 Wild dogs at Kaingo

b) Mwamba lion pride surrounded by Buffalo

c) Dead hippo and 100+ crocs at Kakuli

d) 10+ hyaena with dead Buffalo in water from Puku

e) Leopard on every game drive!!!

f) Bird list of 111

Kafue

Kafue is the oldest and largest of Zambia’s national parks. Thanks to its size and variety of habitats, Kafue holds a fantastic diversity of wildlife. In recent years it has seen a well-managed growth through African Park in the number of safari camps and lodges that operate in and around the park

Fig Tree / Ila Lodge / Chisa Busanga / Shumba Camp

Fig Tree Camp is tucked away with elevated tree chalets with views over the Shishamba River

Ila Tented Lodge is situated on the Kafue River, and developed Zambi’as first electric game drive vehicle

Chisa Busanga lies nestled in the remote Busanga Plains, a wildlife haven where lions outnumber humans. This extraordinary destination features four exclusive “nests”. Miles favorite guide Newton was the resident guide here and won the award for the Best Guide of 2024.

Shumba Camp – this was a second visit and happy to be guided by Isaac again!

A large number of interesting antelope such as greater kudu, sable and lechwe are found in the park. The park has an abundance of lion, good cheetah and leopard. Further north in the park to the Busanga Plains and marshes, there is a greater number and variety of wildlife species. Animals are easier to spot here than in the dense woodland savannah in the south.