Zambia

Zambia is the real Africa: wide and unspoilt, etched with dusty pot-holed roads, great valleys and vast tracts of undeveloped land. Safari is fantastic here, and walking safaris are a highlight.

Zambia has splendid wildlife, wide-open spaces, and incredible wilderness. With three main national parks and many smaller national parks, the visitor has plenty of options to choose from.

Zambia is bisected with great valleys including the Zambezi, the Kafue and the beautiful Luangwa which, lying at the end of the Great Rift Valley, contains some of Africa’s best and most diverse wildlife.

Zambia, along with Zimbabwe, is the location of the spectacular Victoria Falls over which the great Zambezi River cascades in an awe-inspiring, crashing curtain of water. Its possible to take a private helicopter trip and fly directly over Victoria Falls, giving breathtaking views of one of the largest waterfalls in the world.

The Lower Zambezi has become one of southern Africa’s premier destinations for peaceful game viewing and unparallelled tigerfish angling. The park’s 4,000 square kilometres of pristine wilderness contains some of the continent’s most picturesque areas for witnessing nature in all its glory, and a policy of non-intrusive enjoyment of wildlife and low environmental impact has preserved the area.

South Luangwa National Park lies at the end of the Great Rift Valley, close to the eastern border of Zambia with Malawi. The Luangwa river runs through the park, forming many oxbow lagoons and alluvial floodplains, which attract enormous concentrations of game. This vast wilderness area is renowned for its excellent wildlife, walking safaris and nocturnal game viewing.

To the west of Lusaka and southwest of the Copperbelt is Kafue, a wondefully unspoilt gem in the heart of Zambia. Just a little larger than Wales, Kafue is home to a large variety of game, dotted around strikingly beautiful and varied habitats.

Undeniably one of the great natural wonders of the world, The Victoria Falls lie on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Their crashing water is a breathtaking sight from either country, named by locals "Mosi O Tunya" - the smoke that thunders - because the cloud of spray and dramatic noise they create can be seen and heard from many miles away.

Lusaka is the buzzing capital city of Zambia. and while most visitors will pass quickly through, there may be occasion to overnight in the city. With wide, tree-lined streets and a vibrant atmosphere, Lusaka can make for an interesting stopover.

Scott Dunn: ANYTHING ELSE IS JUST A HOLIDAY

Zambia

Lower Zambezi

Luangwa Valley

Kafue and western Zambia

Victoria Falls

Lusaka and central Zambia