Make Your Next Trip Extraordinary

Where’s Wendy: Exploring the Next Great African Safari Spot

by Wendy Perrin | August 22, 2017

If you’re like me, you like to travel to places at that optimal moment when there’s enough touristic infrastructure for a unique adventure with all the creature comforts, but not so much yet that the tourist masses and chain hotels have arrived. Zambia is on the verge of that moment. Which is why I’m there right now, doing reconnaissance for you.

I brought along my advance team—my kids, Charlie (15) and Doug (13), and my husband, Tim. We heard from Cherri Briggs, who is one of the African safari travel specialists on my WOW List and who lives in Zambia part of the year (she has a house on the Zambezi river), that because Zambia is still under the radar, you can enjoy a high-value-for-your-dollar safari there that will have you alone amid sweeping landscapes, just you and the animals, no other Land Rovers or camera-clicking tourists in sight. It sounded like a great August vacation for the family, so Cherri designed an awesome two-week itinerary for us—which we’re now halfway through.

Most people thinking about an African safari choose between the two regions that are best known for it because they’ve been doing it the longest—southern Africa (e.g., South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe) and East Africa (e.g., Kenya, Tanzania). Zambia sits smack in between those two regions and, I’m finding, combines some of the best characteristics of each. I’ll be writing in detail about the pros and cons of Zambia soon—who should go, who shouldn’t, what’s the smartest itinerary, etc.—so stay tuned. In the meantime, here are a few snapshots from Week 1.

Pretty vegetables, eh? The ladies sell these in the village near Mfuwe Lodge. #Zambia #southluangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Kids I met in the village yesterday. They’re 6, 10, 11, and 12. #Zambia #southluangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Like father like son. #Zambia #SouthLuangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Greetings from Chamilandu, a remote 6-guest bush camp in #Zambia. #SouthLuangwa @bushcampcompany

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Zambian roadblock. #SouthLuangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Why we look forward to sundown. It’s when our car turns into a bar. @bushcampcompany

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Sundowners with a view. #Zambia #SouthLuangwa #hippos

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

A parade of elephants. #Zambia #southluangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Shower with a view. At Chamilandu Bush Camp, the chalets have three walls. @bushcampcompany #Zambia #southluangwa

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Lunchtime surprise in the bush: Make your own pizzas! @bushcampcompany #zambia

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Can you believe this is in the remote bush? #makeyourownpizza #middleofnowhere #Zambia

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

#onthetable #inthebush #Zambia

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Bush brunch. #Zambia

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

“Hold still, Doug!”

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

You never know what’s around the corner in the bush.

A post shared by Wendy Perrin (@wendyperrin) on

Inspired to start your own safari vacation?

 

Browse our Insider’s Guides to Africa’s best safari destinations, and reach out to the rigorously vetted and superbly well-connected safari travel specialists whom I recommend most highly—those on my WOW List. Reach out to them via the links below to be marked as a WendyPerrin.com VIP traveler and get priority attention and special benefits.

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Botswana

The Great Migration in Kenya and Tanzania

South Africa

East Africa Safaris in Kenya and Tanzania

Africa Cruises

Not sure which location or travel specialist is right for you? Fill out the Ask Wendy form to ask me directly.

Where to Go in October: The Best Places to Travel

Brook Wilkinson | October 16, 2023

How to Make the Most of Studying Abroad

Wendy Perrin | September 23, 2024

Where to Go in January: The Best Places to Travel

Brook Wilkinson | August 22, 2024

How Never to Wait on Hold with Airline Customer Service Again

Wendy Perrin | November 7, 2022

Honeymoon Ideas That Are Truly Special

WendyPerrin.com | February 24, 2023

Winter Is Europe’s Secret Season

WendyPerrin.com | March 27, 2024

Sporty Adventures: WOW Trip Reviews

WendyPerrin.com | September 20, 2024

Post a Comment

Your email address will not be published.

You may use these HTML tags and attributes: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

Our Latest Newsletters