Zambia
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Kate, Andrew and Lexie from Kent travelled to Zambia and South Africa
Hello Frances, thank you so much for putting together the itinerary for our fabulous trip to Zambia and South Africa. It was all marvelous. Standout highlights were Waterberry, Kambaku and Grootbos but it was all great. It’s hard when you’ve already had one wonderful safari holiday to even match or beat that first experience but Kambaku River Sands was amazing and, yes, I did get to see my leopard, up a tree with her impala dinner while a lone hyena circled beneath. We saw the big five but also a mature rock python, hyena pups, one only a few days old, a giraffe suckling and the elephants drinking from the swimming pool. Only the Zimbabwean elephants we saw from the sunset cruise on the banks of the Zambezi could match that. We were lucky with the weather in Cape Town and spent the day at the Kirstenbosch Gardens, Camps Bay and the Waterfront. Grootbos was absolutely fantastic and Lexie enjoyed 3 rides on her own with one of the guides. Many thanks for all your recommendations and help. We hope to plan another trip sometime.
Zambia
Accommodation
Accommodation options in Zambia
Zambia is without doubt the one safari destination where you can really experience the traditional bush values of yesteryear. It is still quite a ‘purist’ safari destination, offering relatively little in the way of genuine ‘five star luxury’, and most visitors prioritise the overall safari experience ahead of luxury and sophistication. Accordingly, a wide range of accommodation options in Zambia are perfectly comfortable, without being overly ‘fussy’ or luxurious. Even the more sophisticated camps and lodges tend to retain a close link with the nature around them.
Tented camps exist throughout the country, but there are an equal number of more traditional ‘safari lodges’, which vary hugely in terms of style and comfort. There are also a number of private safari houses that are ideal for family groups.
However, Zambia is particularly known for its seasonal bush camps which offer a genuine wilderness adventure. Such camps are most common in the North and South Luangwa valleys. Historically these camps, whilst comfortable, were fairly basic and always associated solely with walking safaris. Nowadays however, whilst certain bush camps retain a very adventurous feel and concentrate solely on walking, in general accommodation has become a little more sophisticated and many bush camps are now able to offer a combination of walking and driving.
In general, Zambia offers very exclusive safari accommodation and most camps and lodges are small and intimate. High quality personal hosting, sometimes by camp owners themselves, helps to create a relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Near Livingstone and the Victoria Falls, boutique style river lodges compete with more mainstream hotel accommodation options.
Please find below a variety of individual properties and safari options available in Zambia, listed by accommodation style and where appropriate, by region. Simply click on the name to visit the property website. To learn more about the individual accommodation styles, please visit our ‘Accommodation on Safari’ section off our home page. Please contact us for up to date information and opinions on all properties, or for suggestions for your trip.