Eco-tourism in Zambia
Zambia is a notable ecotourism destination. Among the well-established initiatives are Nsobe camps, Nsendamina and Kawaza villages. Here indigenous people have opened up their villages and their rich culture to give visitors a genuine chance of experiencing rural Zambian daily life. Arrangements for visits can be made through Tour operators.
Attractions
Although Zambia’s attractions are many, there is one principle reason for the majority of visitors to travel in Zambia and that is for one of the greatest safari experiences in the world today. The country is famed for it’s huge protected wilderness areas and the massive numbers and diversity of game they are home to. As if that wasn’t enough, the great sanctuaries remain largely unexplored, undeveloped and unspoilt. Other visitors are few and far between and the call of the wild beckons wildlife enthusiastiasts to return year after year.
There are many more places of Zambia that are of interest to the visitors who has either been before, has a specialist interest or has a lot of time to spend in the country. Many places as yet, do not have the infrastructure necessary to cope with international visitors and can only be accessed by private safaris. To the north in the highlands region above the escarpment is a park known as Nyika Plateau National Park that has excellent hiking and good wildlife.
Maramba Cultural Village
Just outside Livingstone is the Maramba cultural village, which gives visitors an insight into the rural way of life.
Luangwa National Park
In the South Luangwa National Park, an incredibly diverse range of wild animals can be seen. The Great Rift Valley slices through the park, the land rising 800 metres up to the plateaux on either side. Through the middle of the valley runs the Luangwa River, which, with its tributaries, account for the great profusion of game to be observed either from open-topped vehicles or on foot. The park is the home of large herds of elephant and numerous antelope species. Lion and leopard are also to be found and certain types of giraffe and wildebeest are unique to the valley.
The North Luangwa National Park is less frequented than its southern neighbour and so offers a complete, off the-beaten track experience, lending itself especially to walking safaris.
A dramatic feature is the Muchinga escarpment on the park’s western boundary, which rises 1,100 metres above sea level. The Mwaleshi River cascades down the escarpment in a series of waterfalls towards its confluence with the Luangwa.
The park is noted for its huge herds of buffalo as well as elephant, lion and leopard. Some antelope species like oribi, hartebeest, reedbuck and eland are more common than in the southern park. Almost 350 species of birds are found.
Lochinvar National Park
Birdlife can also be seen in great profusion in Lochinvar National Park. Hosting 428 different species, including a number of varieties, it is one of the finest bird sanctuaries in the whole of Africa. On the flood plain lechwe antelope graze in their thousands.
Kasanka
Kasanka is a small, yet attractive, wetland park, which is a retreat for the sitatunga antelope. The park is of particular interest to ornithologists as it attracts a number of unusual bird species not normally found in the Southern Africa region. To the far north of Zambia is Nsumbu, situated on the shores of Lake Tanganyika and so attracting large numbers of game.
Activities and Pursuits
Walking safaris, believed by many to offer the ultimate wildlife experience, are a particular specialty in Zambia. Although animals tend to be more wary of humans on foot than in vehicles, the opportunity to become part of the environment is very rewarding, allowing walkers to appreciate the fascinating activity going on around them. Walks, led by experienced, armed safari guides are conducted at a leisurely pace to enable the guide to interpret all the bush signs and the participants to absorb the wonders of the bush.
The more tranquil stretches of the Zambezi and Lake Kariba are ideal for canoeing safaris.
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