Part One: Where To Next?

by Tayla McCurdy

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Where To Next?

Where to next? That’s the big question, right? For those of you that have traveled numerous times to South Africa, Kenya, and Botswana and are stuck on where you should go on safari next, then this article is for you.

If you have spent more than five minutes talking to me then you would have most certainly heard me mention Zambia, I always find a way to work it into a conversation, and for good reason. I have been singing Zambia’s praises since 2015 when I started managing a camp in the Lower Zambezi National Park. This is the first time I truly fell in love with a place and have left a piece of my heart in Zambia. Here are just a few reasons why you should visit Zambia as a safari destination:

SAFETY

There is no doubt that Zambia is one of the safest countries to visit in Africa. Currently, the Global Peace Index (GPI) is ranked at 1.841 and measures 23 indicators of peace grouped into three categories: ongoing international and domestic conflicts, societal safety and security, and militarization. A lower score indicates a more peaceful country. For example, the USA ranks at 2.44 while South Africa ranks at 2.283.

FRIENDLINESS

While South Africa is known as a friendly nation, Zambia outperforms most African countries in terms of friendliness. Upon landing in Lusaka or Livingstone, everyone is excited about your arrival, including the customs officials, which is something I dread. No matter what kind of help you need, anyone will be happy to give it without any expectation of return.

WILDLIFE, SCENERY, and a NATURAL WONDER OF THE WORLD

Every year, over 10 million straw-colored fruit bats migrate to Zambia during October and December, making this the largest mammal migration in the world. Another migration occurs in the far western sector, which is the second largest migration of wildebeests in the world. Want to see leopards? No problem. South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi National Park have leopards dangling from most trees. There’s a reason why it’s called the Valley of Leopards. Last but not least, Zambia is home to Victoria Falls which is a must-see!

In terms of wildlife, there isn’t much more you could ask for: elephants swimming across the Zambezi River to feed on the islands, large packs of wild dogs crossing vast plains, lions, and hyenas causing chaos with buffalo herds and hippos cooling off in the majestic rivers during the hot summer months. Another perk to visiting Zambia’s national parks is the low density of people and vehicles. That means no overcrowding of the wildlife and the opportunity to spend hours watching without any interruptions.

Zambia’s excellent guides are my number one reason for going on safari, I trained to be a guide in Zambia many years ago, and I can tell you it isn’t an easy qualification to obtain. It is inspiring to see how much respect most guides have for the environment, their approach to game viewing is sensitive without sacrificing the ability to capture the moment without harassing the animals.

No matter how you explore the national parks in Zambia, whether by vehicle, on foot, in a canoe, or by boat, there is always something exciting to discover.