The
Luangwa river valley Kasanka Lochinvar Sumbu
National Park During
the dry season, herds of elephants can be found in
Sumbu on the 80 kilometer shoreline of Lake
Tanganyika's which includes sandy beaches, vertical
cliffs and rocky coves. This 2,020 sq. km park
offers a diverse range of wildlife, including
hartebeest, buffalo, zebra, lion and leopards. It
is an excellent viewing platform for flamingo
during their migrations, as well as an angler's
paradise. Lower
Zambezi Downstream
from Victoria Falls, this relatively new national
park is a superb location for big game viewing
along the breathtaking Zambezi River. Canoe safaris
are a popular means of getting up close to
elephant, hippo and buffalo, just to name a few, do
be aware, however, of the large crocodiles which
also inhabit its waters! Nyika
Plateau Bangweulu The
Bangweulu Floodplains in Zambia's remote northern
reaches are a watery wilderness home to millions of
birds feasting in its nutrient rich shallows,
including the very special shoe bill stork. It also
attracts the endemic black lechwe antelope by the
thousands &endash; a real sight to see. Chete
Island wildlife and bird sanctuary Two
islands, about 160 km upstream from the dam wall at
Lake Kariba, form this isolated park and wildlife
estate: Chete and Sekula. Safari camps have only
recently been established and afford the wildlife
enthusiast the untouched beauty of Zambezi Valley
wildlife and surrounding scenery. Above
material and images have been supplied for use by
the Africa Travel Association courtesy of the
Zambia National Tourist Board
Wildlife
Safaris in Zambia's National ParksOne
of the highlights of your trip to Zambia for the
ATA Marketing Congress or any occasion, will be the
opportunity to explore it's vastness, which
includes a fine selection of National Parks and
wilderness areas.
The chance to discover
truly unexplored regions of Africa's subcontinent
are yours. Safari opportunities in Zambia abound!
Whether on foot, by boat or canoe, on horseback,
micro light or by open vehicle, Zambia offers
mountains of the real Africa. Bordered by Namibia,
Botswana, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Tanzania and
Mozambique, Zambia lies at the heart of the
subcontinent, It is untainted by mass tourist
development and offers up unsurpassable natural
beauty to those who choose to delve into its
timeless origins. You can choose from luxurious
lodges or camps that blend in with the surroundings
for a hospitable stay in any of Zambia's national
parks.
Kafue
National Park
Only two
hours to the west of Lusaka, Kafue National Park
is, at 22,500 square kilometers, one of the largest
and most diverse wilderness reserves in Africa. The
Lufupa and Lunga tributaries of the kafue river are
the core of its watershed system and flow into the
park from the north. The Kafue consists of open
grassy plains, miombo and mopane woodland, and
patches of Zambezi teak, and is best known as home
to elephant, buffalo, red lechwe, cheetah, roan and
sable. Over 400 different species of birds have
been recorded in the Kafue Flats area
alone.
Considered by many to be one of the most
prestigious wildlife sanctuaries anywhere on earth,
the South Luangwa National Park is one of beautiful
riverine woodland, replete with a vast range of
large game mammals. Elephant and lion are numerous
as are large numbers of antelope. Naturally
occurring are Thornicroft's giraffes, particular to
this valley region. Nile crocodile are more
abundant in the Luangwa River than any other river
in Zambia.
The
less renowned North Luangwa National Park is the
epitome of the remote wilderness area but access is
limited only to licensed tour operators.
One of the country's smallest national parks,
it has been managed privately since 1990 with the
profits from tourism directed back into the
community. It boasts no less than eight lakes and
four rivers, which offer spectacular wetland game
species, fish and birdlife. Small pockets of swamp
forest can be found as well as the million fruit
bats that come to roost during the rainy
season.
This small game park boasts over 3,000 lechwe
antelope as well as a bird refuge sheltering an
estimated 428 species, including a number of rare
breeds.
The Great Rift Valley provides the backdrop for
magnificent tropical Alpine flora found in this 80
sq. km park, a scenic high plateau more than 2,000
meters above sea level. Flower enthusiasts will
enjoy the bounty of orchids to be discovered, while
ornithologists will be overwhelmed with the flood
of migratory birds, particularly in November and
December.
The
Africa Travel Association in cooperation with the
Zambia National Tourist Office, is providing the
photos and information in this section on Zambia as
a preview of what the hundreds of delegates from
North America, other African countries and around
the world can expect when they visit Zambia before,
during and after this year's International
Marketing Congress. From its National Parks and
vast wilderness areas to the host cities of Lusaka
and Livingstone, we know it will be an
unforgettable journey and an outstanding event and
learning experience. If you have items on any
aspect of travel and lifestyle in Zambia, please
send to africatravelasso@aol.com.
