By Lynda Murphy, Africa Easy Program Manager
When people ask me where my favorite places in the world are, I have always said Southern Africa is in my top two. This year I was lucky enough to visit Zambia on a scouting trip, and prior to arriving in Zambia, I was in Durban, South Africa, attending INDABA — the largest Africa travel show — with Africa Easy colleague, Leslie Holgate. It was a busy, yet exciting three days of speed marketing sessions. We had the great pleasure of face-to-face meetings with Africa Easy’s valued partners and friends. After all the excitement and wealth of information received at INDABA, I was ready to change into my safari gear and head northwest to Zambia.
Zambia is a country not to be missed and offers some of the world’s best safari opportunities; I felt as if I was getting a glimpse into “real Africa.” I covered a lot of ground during my driving and flying safari, and the weather from start to finish was “lekker!”
My 
first stop was in South Luangwa National Park, where I stayed at Nkwali Camp, located on the banks of the Luangwa. En route to the camp from the airport, we already had our first game sightings of neighboring giraffes and elephants. The game viewing was fantastic, and we did not have to go very far to see hippos, lions, leopards, and zebra, just to name a few. The accommodations and staff could not have been better, waking to the pre-dawn soft drum beats and watching as a resident elephant sauntered through our camp gave me a real sense of remoteness here.
My
personal highlight was the Lower Zambezi National Park; I stayed at Chiawa Camp and Old Mondoro, where there were cats galore. Both camps are located in the national park, situated right on the banks of the Zambezi River. The land and water game viewing options are endless. Time spent in this area was one of the most amazing experiences for me. Between the animal viewing, and both Chiawa and Old Mondoro staff’s enthusiasm and attention to detail, along with the camp management and expert guides – all was flawless from beginning to end.
Every day was magical for me here, with so many land and water safari activities to choose from. Day and evening game drives in open 4×4 land rovers, water safaris on pontoon and speed boats, as well as canoes floating down the Zambezi River. We also dined al fresco on an island in the middle of the river. Sundowners on land and water were always a welcome treat, especially with a full moon.
One day we were taken to a small clearing where we watched in amazement as a pride of 13 lions, from cubs, juveniles, and lioness to the big guy himself, devoured an elephant. Afterward they were lying around in the road playing, cleaning and napping with very full bellies.
Our
guide’s incredible knowledge and tracking experience had us following a young male leopard to a small stream where he patiently waited for just the right moment to scoop up a cat fish. The leopard feasted as we were watching in awe, then proceeded to clean himself just as I see my own kitties do at home.
My last day in the Lower Zambezi was spent canoeing the Zambezi River, alongside the many resident hippos and crocks!
“The Smoke That Thunders,” also known as Victoria Falls, is one of the most amazing sights in the world. I had the opportunity to see the falls from the Zimbabwe side about 10 years ago, and seeing the falls from the Zambian side is surely not to be missed! Also, I recommending seeing Livingstone Island, where David Livingstone first set eyes on the falls. If you have the time to spend a few days on either of the Zimbabwe or Zambia side, whether you choose to stay at a safari lodge or the famous Royal Livingston you will not be disappointed. I can’t wait to go back!
