The landlocked country of Zambia is home to the immense Luangwa Valley, the grand Victoria Falls, and the wild Zambezi River, plus over a dozen National Parks and many significant wildlife conservation initiatives. It is no surprise that Zambia is where adventurous travellers seek raw African wilderness. There’s no better way to get close to African wildlife than on one of Zambia’s famous safaris. Here are just seven of the many incredible animals to observe in their natural habitats.
The largest species of elephant, African elephants roam the river-heavy National Parks of Zambia including South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, and Kafue. Perhaps the most endearing giant mammal, elephants live in close matriarchal families similar to humans. The members of the family are so close you’ll rarely see them more than a few steps away from each other.
The king of the jungle spends its time hunting or lounging in the grassland areas of Zambia. The southern region of South Luangwa and Kafue National Park both have large prides within small territories, so your chances of spotting one of these majestic felines are fairly good. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a pride of lions climbing trees in Kafue, where they are known to be extra playful.
The largest species of rhinoceros, white rhinos were once rare in southern Africa due to poaching. However, in 2010 the Zambia Wildlife Authority relocated four white rhinos from South Africa to Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Today, a herd of over 10 lives near Victoria Falls, heavily guarded to avoid further poaching.
Hippopotamuses are semiaquatic mammals that spend their days cooling off in rivers. You can spot them munching on grass along the rivers in South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, and Kafue. It is best to keep your distance since these huge creatures can be territorial in water. If you hear their warning snorts, move away to avoid a powerful charge from their heavy bodies.
Leopards are shy solo hunters. They typically hunt in the woodlands of South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks. The best time to catch a glimpse of these elusive cats is after dark on a night safari. It is important to stay alert since they will try to sneak away from your lights as quickly as possible.
Zebras live in herds of 20 to 100 in the grasslands of most National Parks within Zambia, though they have the heaviest population in South Luangwa. As prey, zebras find safety in large numbers. When standing in large groups, their black and white stripes create an optical illusion to intimidate and confuse potential predators.
The tallest animals in the world, giraffes graze on trees in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks. The subspecies of giraffe, the Thornycroft’s giraffe, has unique markings and are unique to Zambia. Giraffes live in herds of about 20 and use their long, muscular necks to gently eat leaves over four metres above the ground and fight off threats when needed.
You can find out more here about the best time to visit. If you are interested in organising a safari to search for the astonishing animals of Zambia, contact True Travel to speak with an expert today.
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