Botswana is located in Southern Africa neighbouring South Africa to the south, Namibia to the west and Zimbabwe to the east. The nation encompasses an array of variety when it comes to landscape variation from the flat plains of the Central Kalahari to the swamps of the Okavango and the saltpans of the Makgadikgadi. All of Botswana’s northern regions including the Okavango Delta and the Linyanti Waterfront operate on a private concessions policy. All private concessions have been issued with a permit which only allows the number of visitors in the area to match the number of beds meaning low visitor numbers which increase the class of the safari for those lucky enough to get on board a trip here.

The Okavango Delta is the world’s largest inland delta and fills every dry season with flood waters from the highlands of Angola attracting wildlife from all over Botswana who are migrating away from the drier Central Kalahari and the inland salt pans. Wildlife certainly isn’t hard to come by in the Okavango Delta, the region claims to have virtually every species of animal on the African continent including the likes of Leopards, Cheetah, Lion, Elephant as well as 400 species of bird and 71 species of fish.

Home to the largest elephant population in the world, Tuli Game Reserve is a private reserve covering 46,000 hectares (110,000 acres) and is home to 350 different species of bird. The Tulii Game Reserve is Southern Africa’s largest privately owned game conservation area with wildlife here from leopards, giraffes, cheetahs and lions just to name a few.

Established in 1961 the Central Kalahari Game Reserve is 52,800 km², which makes it the second largest game reserve in the world and contains the likes of cheetah, wild dog, leopard, lion and hyena amongst many others. The landscape here is exceptionally flat with a few grassy and bush areas covering up the underlying sand dunes. A popular visit with most tourists is a trip to meet the indigenous Bushmen called the San who have roamed these lands for thousands of years. The majority of the activities and safaris in this region take place in the ‘green season’ which is when the monsoon rains fall, usually between January – June where quad biking trips and visits to both the Makgadikgadi and the Nxai Pans are common with many visitors.

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African safaris can prove to be the perfect vacation. With so many things to do and see, they promise an enjoyable and relaxing vacation atmosphere. What’s more, they can fill one’s vacation with excitement and adventure as they explore regions in the world you may have only known or experienced through books and stories.

Africa is a vast continent with 53 countries and an area of 30 million square kilometers. Africa includes countries as diverse as Egypt in the north to Congo in the center and South Africa in the south. Only certain regions of Africa offer tourists the safari experience. These include East Africa [Kenya, Tanzania] and Southern Africa [ South Africa, Botswana and Namibia]. Uganda and Rwanda offer trips focused mainly on Gorilla trekking.

Safaris actually started in Kenya and this is recognized as the home of safaris. Kenya and Tanzania therefore provide the best safari experience due to their magnificent wildlife, established and protected network of national parks, stunning scenery, pleasant climate and diversity of attractions, everything from beaches to local culture.

East Africa has a wonderful climate, free from the extremes of winter and summer as endured in Europe or North America. There are two main rainy seasons, the first from late March to May and the other from September to November. These seasons vary, but generally speaking the temperatures are warm and it is not uncommon to get several hours of sunshine in a day even during the rainy season. Therefore weather is not as significant a factor. However sun-worshippers would be better off planning a trip for mid November to February as these months see clearer skies and even warmer temperatures.

After you have planned just exactly where it is you want to vacation during your safari, you will want to take the weather in the area you have chosen into consideration. For instance, in the Indian Ocean Islands the dry season runs from the month of May to October, so you might want to plan your trip accordingly. Likewise, in East and Central Africa, the best time to plan your African safari is during the months of July through August. Southern Africa’s best months are May and June. After you have successfully booked your trip, you will want to prepare yourself accordingly. There are myriad considerations to contend with when you plan to travel to Africa. For instance, you will have to provide your passports, deal with custom concessions, ensure that your immunizations are current, and you will want to pack your clothing according to the weather in the region you plan to visit. Of course, the more individuals that travel in African Holidays to Egypt And Kenya, the more you will have to consider and deal with in terms of preparation.

Learn more about African Holidays to Egypt And Kenya.

Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park lies at the very South of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, with the Luangwa River snaking through the wilds. It is home to one of the highest concentrations of hippo and elephants in Southern Africa. Added to this are lions, leopards, the endangered African Wild Dog as well as unique species of zebra and giraffe that cannot be found anywhere else. And if birding is your thing – South Luangwa National Park offers over 400 species of birds to discover. With over 9000 square kilometres of space, you will never be without a new area to discover and explore.

Top Safari Lodges in South Luangwa

There are a number of different lodges in and around South Luangwa and the best thing to do is spend some time investigating each lodge to decide which is the right one for you. These are the handful that stand out to us, and recommended by us for the continued satisfaction of their clients.

Types of Safari

The great thing about the South Luangwa National Park is that you are able to go on night drives, meaning your chances of seeing leopard are much higher than they would be in the day time.

• Walking Safari - Take a wilderness stroll with an experienced guide and get a totally new take on the African wilds.
• Birding Safari - With the wealth of bird-life in South Luangwa National Park, going on a birding safari can be an incredibly enjoyable and exciting way to see the striking colors and shapes of African birdlife.
• Safaris by boat - If water is your thing, you can take a boat ride on the South Luangwa River and witness the crocodiles and hippos that call the river their home. This also offers a previously unseen view of African wildlife.
• Safari Drives - Sitting in an open-topped 4×4 with your experienced guide, you will be taken to the areas of the most action. With daily drives in the morning, afternoon and evening you are sure to see something that will stay with your forever.

The best time of year to visit

South Luangwa is open throughout the year and it is up to you to decide when you would like to come most. The dry season (April – October) sees many of the animals forced to congregate around available water sources. This makes them easier to see. However, in the wet season (November – March) the entire park comes to life and visitors get the chance to see the animals with their young. If you are interested in seeing birds, the best time to go is the end of the dry season and November, when the migratory birds are in the park.

The people of South Luangwa

As South Luangwa is a national park, there aren’t very many people in the park itself. Many of the guides you will encounter will be from the surrounding areas though, offering unrivalled local knowledge of not only the animals but also of cultural practices and other interesting tidbits.

How long should you stay?

To truly appreciate South Luangwa, a stay of up to a week is ideal. Spending just a night or two in the park is not enough time to take in all the sights and get the most out of your stay.

Getting to South Luangwa

Most people will fly in from Mfuwe airport and your accommodation will pick them up from there. People can also drive in to South Luangwa but it’s quite a long drive from the nearest city and can be quite dangerous.