Zambia Wildlife Holidays
Zambia Wildlife Holidays and Safaris
The Wildlife of Zambia - not necessarily a Big Five destinatio
n, Zambia still has a huge amount to offer with regular sightings of the popular predators including lions, leopard, hyena and also sightings of cheetah further south on the plains of Busanga in Kafue National Park. Elephant and buffalo are also present in large herds whereas, unfortunately, black rhino are nowadays extinct although reintroduction may remedy this.
The advantage of a Zambia holiday is that as a safari destination it is still relatively untouched and is therefore a magical place to visit. With all of the large predators mentioned above frequenting the main parks such as South Luangwa National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park and Kafue National Park, the traveller can be privy to some exclusive wildlife sightings...and this is a real treat in a world where nowadays it is difficult to find anywhere that remains unexplored. A lone leopard at night as you drive back to your lodge, a herd of elephant crossing the Luangwa River as you take your siesta or the raucous alarm calls of baboons in flight can all be moments experienced by you and you alone and are a highlight of your holiday in Zambia..
Even today Zambia, as other African safari destinations, has its areas specifically put aside for hunting as it generates so much income. This however does have a dramatic effect on the wildlife numbers as the Game Management Areas (GMA's) are let out to tenure to the highest bidder. Zambia photographic holidays are on the increase however and the more wildlife enthusiasts that visit Zambia the more income is generated and the more pressure mounts on putting a stop to hunting. 
It is essential for the national parks and GMA's to be developed along with the local communities as without their interest and support wildlife conservation will not be successful. It is only through these communities seeing that they benefit more from conserving wildlife than eating it that conservation will be a success... There are a number of examples across Zambia where this is now being, or has been, implemented with one of the best examples being the Kawaza Village Cultural visit and support of the Kawaza Village School initiated by Robin Pope Safaris and funded by clients that we send to the area.
Where a Zambia holiday differs greatly from other safari destinations is that it can offer both walking safaris and night drives, providing completely different insights into the lives of the wildlife of Africa. Night drives are a thrilling experience as you set off in your safari vehicle under cover of blankets to see what is hiding out in the darkness. You soon realise that the nighttime belongs to the hunters as encounters with lions hunting, leopards stalking and hyenas scavenging makes for edge of your seat encounters...
Walking Safaris are also a major attraction in Zambia with a variety of options and lengths of walks available giving the intrepid traveller a different slant on the wildlife of Africa and an up clsoe and personal wildlife holiday experience! Things look a lot different on foot providing for some thrilling encounters and illustrating to the participant the finer detail of African wildlife as you understand the intricacies of tracking and animal survival in the bush.
A different type of "Wild Life"that cannot be ignored when visiting Zambia on your wildlife holiday is the renowned Victoria Falls. It is difficult to describe the sheer ferocity and size of the Falls as they are spectacular! The volume of water cascading 100 metres plus puts things into perspective pretty quickly! Aside from the sheer scale of the Falls and the perfect photo opportunity there are also a number of wild activities that one can do here including white water rafting, bungee jumping, scenic helicopter flights, swimming in the devil's swimming pool, dinner on Livingstone Island and much, much, more...
