Zambia overview & wildlife notes Geography: Zambia is a vast plateau comprising deciduous savannah, small trees, grassy plains and marshland. Higher ground includes the Copperbelt Highlands and the Nyika Plateau. Lake Kariba and the Zambezi form the country’s southern border with Zimbabwe. A third of the country is devoted to conservation. Key attractions: The Victoria Falls is one of the world’s most remarkable sights – the Zambezi (over a mile wide at this stage) plummets 350 feet into a steep gorge sending up swirls of spray to a background of thunderous noise. Knife Edge Point is considered the best view point. The North & South Luangwa National Parks provide wonderful opportunities for spotting game. Vegetation includes dense woodland and open grassy plains. The area has many oxbow lakes, good watering holes for game. Home to one of Africa’s largest elephant populations, leopards are also a familiar sight here. The Luangwa River in the South Park and the Mwaleshi in the North Park attract a plethora of animals and birds with huge crocodiles and hippos living in the river. The grasslands of the Kafue National Park extend for hundreds of miles surrounding the forest lined banks of the Kafue River. The area is teeming with all kinds of plains game and when the Busanga Plains to the north flood between March and May, they become a bustling haven to thousands of hippos and a multitude of bird species. A small but beautiful park on the edge of the River Zambezi, Lower Zambezi National Park is a wonderful place for game-viewing from boat or land. Founded by Stewart Gore-Brown in World War 1, Shiwa N’gandu is an ancient country estate with beautiful English gardens and a stately manor house. About 12 miles away are the Kapishya Hot Springs where the pools of hot spring water and the cool of the river are great sites for bathing. Population: 11.3 million When to go: Apart from Livingstone, which is open all year round, Zambia is best avoided from November to May. 33

We think Zambia and Malawi are the perfect countries for the more seasoned African traveller to explore. S A F A R I D R I V E 0 1 4 8 8 7 1 1 4 0 34