Zambia trip | Discover Zambia's African Parks

From Victoria Falls, you’ll travel by charter flight to the stunning Liuwa. A stay in Liuwa Plain National Park is no ordinary safari, but a journey to one of Africa’s most remote and unspoilt wilderness areas. The vast plains, covering more than 3,369 km², form an almost untouched ecosystem and make the park one of the least visited in Zambia, though certainly not the least impressive. At the right time of year, a safari here rivals the best in Africa, culminating in the continent’s second-largest wildebeest migration. Huge herds roam the landscape, followed by predators such as lions, cheetahs and hyenas.

You’ll stay at King Lewanika Lodge, the only permanent lodge in the park, where exclusivity and simplicity come together. What makes Liuwa special is also the story behind it. The park is one of Africa’s oldest nature reserves and has been managed since 2003 in partnership with African Parks, the Barotse Royal Establishment and the Zambian government. This partnership has led to a significant recovery of the natural environment, with growing wildlife populations and a sustainable system in which local communities also remain actively involved.

A stay in Liuwa Plain National Park is more than just a safari. It is a deep immersion in nature, culture and conservation, where you are not merely an observer, but become part of a remarkable and hopeful story.

From your intimate base in the heart of the wilderness, you’ll start the day early with sunrise safaris. Liuwa Plain National Park is home to large herds of blue wildebeest, as well as zebras, tsessebe, roan antelopes, red lechwe and buffalo. The park is also home to predators such as lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs and hyenas. The most famous lioness was ‘Lady Liuwa’, who roamed the park alone for years following poaching, but thanks to African Parks’ reintroduction programmes, the lion population has now recovered.

Go in search of these animals through a variety of activities, such as game drives, walking safaris, seasonal canoe trips and nature walks during the wildflower season. Thanks to the park’s small scale, every experience feels personal and authentic. As well as the wildlife, Liuwa is also a paradise for birdwatchers, with countless migratory birds finding their breeding grounds here. The ever-changing seasons constantly transform the landscape, from vast grasslands to fields ablaze with flowers, making every day unique and offering endless opportunities for photography and exploration.

Today, you’ll set off for the next stunning area of Zambia where African Parks is committed to nature and wildlife conservation: Kafue National Park. Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest and largest national park and one of Africa’s largest protected nature reserves. The park is bisected by the Kafue River, which creates a varied landscape of savannahs, wetlands and forests. Thanks to this diversity, Kafue is one of the continent’s most important biodiversity hotspots, home to 158 mammal species and 515 bird species, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and wild dogs.

African Parks plays a key role in conserving this unique ecosystem, working alongside the Zambian authorities to restore wildlife populations, protect against poaching and ensure the sustainable management of the area. As a result, populations of large mammals and predators are recovering, and the park remains a sanctuary for endangered species.

During your stay at Ila Safari Lodge, you will experience this wilderness in a sustainable and comfortable way. The lodge is a pioneer in Zambia in the field of ecotourism, utilising solar power, an electric safari vehicle and boat, and maintaining a strong focus on minimal impact. With just ten tented chalets, Ila offers an intimate safari experience in a Game Management Area just outside the park, where elephants, hippos and other wildlife regularly pass by.

The journey continues to the Lower Zambezi. You will travel there again by charter flight. A stay in Lower Zambezi National Park takes you to one of Africa’s most unspoilt and exclusive wilderness areas. Over the coming days, you will stay in the heart of the Zambian bush, on the northern banks of the Zambezi River, at the impressive Baines’ River Camp. This luxury lodge is situated in a remote setting and offers one of the most exclusive safari experiences in the region. The camp is named after the famous explorer Thomas Baines and is renowned for its combination of comfort, adventure and pure wilderness.

The Lower Zambezi is renowned for its impressive elephant populations, large herds of buffalo and predators such as lions, leopards and hyenas. Thanks to its riverside location, it is also a true paradise for birdwatchers, with over 400 species of birds. This is a destination where wildlife does not always reveal itself readily; patience and immersion are key, making every sighting all the more special.

As well as traditional game drives, Baines’ River Camp also offers a wide range of activities. Accompanied by experienced guides, you can go on a walking safari, canoe down the river, go fishing or visit the Mugurameno School. Each guide has their own specialism, allowing you to discover a different side of the bush every time. Here, you’ll experience nature in its purest form: unspoilt, vast and unforgettable.

The coming days will be centred around the country’s most famous national park, where safaris are at their best: South Luangwa National Park. From Lower Zambezi National Park, you’ll fly to Mfuwe, which is situated south of Luangwa. Thanks to the rich biodiversity and the open nature of the landscape, wildlife sightings here are exceptionally good, and every encounter feels close and intense.

South Luangwa National Park is renowned for the relative ease with which leopards can be spotted, which is quite remarkable. Normally, leopards are very shy and sleep in the shade during the day, making them difficult to spot. You may also encounter elephants, lions, buffalo, zebras, hyenas and hippos here.

Enjoy your stay at Kafunta River Lodge, a family-run lodge offering excellent value for money, situated on the banks of the park boundary in South Luangwa National Park. From the lodge, you look out over a vast marshland that is a true paradise for wildlife, and the perfect place to begin your Luangwa adventure. Elephants come here to drink and bathe, whilst countless bird species hunt for insects and frogs above the water. Lions, wild dogs and leopards are also regularly spotted here. Directly beneath the restaurant deck, you’ll often see hippos lazing in the water, just a few metres away, whilst you enjoy a drink.

You’ll leave Luangwa and fly to the Bangweulu Swamps. This vast swamp area, situated in north-eastern Zambia, is one of Africa’s most important wetlands and is shaped and managed by both nature and local communities. It is a place where people and nature have been closely intertwined for centuries. Cheetahs have also recently been reintroduced, marking the return of this iconic predator to the ecosystem after almost a century. This demonstrates how actively nature restoration is taking place in the area, thanks in part to the collaboration with African Parks, which works alongside local communities on sustainable management, wildlife conservation and the restoration of the natural balance.

Bangweulu is a haven for a wide variety of animals, including the rare black lechwe antelope, elephants, buffalo, hippos and a wide range of bird species, such as the shoebill stork. This remarkable bird is still found in a few marshy areas in Africa, including Bangweulu. The area is home to more than 400 bird species, making it a paradise for birdwatchers.

Over the next few days, you will be staying on a remote island amidst a landscape of marshes, lagoons and seasonal water bodies, where nature and tranquillity reign supreme.

Shoebill Island Camp is best known as one of the best places in the world to see the rare shoebill. It is also home to large populations of black lechwe and hundreds of bird species, making the area a paradise for birdwatchers and nature lovers. The camp offers an authentic and intimate safari experience, allowing you to explore the wetlands by boat and on foot, depending on the water level.

As well as its rich biodiversity, Bangweulu also offers a unique interaction between people and nature. Around 50,000 to 90,000 people live in and around the marshes and depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. This has led to a number of challenges, such as overfishing and human–wildlife conflicts, but has also given rise to initiatives for sustainable management and community projects.

Bangweulu is not only an important nature reserve, but also a place where visitors can enjoy the unspoilt beauty of the African wilderness and experience the unique culture of the local communities. All this makes it a truly special destination in Zambia. A wonderful way to round off your journey through Zambia!