ZAMBIA

There is no purer way to experience the African bush than a safari on foot, a concept pioneered by British conservationist Norman Carr in the 1950s. The location was South Luangwa National Park, known for its high concentrations of game. Today, it is one of the few parks in Africa to permit spotlit game drives at night – enabling frequent leopard sightings. In Lower Zambezi National Park, on the banks of the river of that name, hippos, crocodiles and water-loving antelope can be glimpsed from motorboat safaris, while safe stretches offer unparalleled canoeing and birdwatching.

To the west, Kafue National Park is the second largest in Africa, encompassing the Busanga Plains – home to diverse antelope species, attracting predators. The border town of Livingstone, meanwhile, offers river-based pursuits, spray-drenched walks and boat trips around Victoria Falls, the world’s largest curtain of falling water – perhaps followed by rhino-tracking in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park.