Zambia; one of Southern Africa's least crowded and profoundly wildlife-rich destinations. It shelters extraordinary natural beauty and is one of the most pristine and unspoiled wildlife havens on the continent, it truly is a treasure trove. You'll soon see why it is one of my favourite safari and wildlife countries.

This extremely considered safari offers a true wilderness experience and will take you to two of Zambia's most remarkable wilderness destinations getting you up close and personal with iconic African wildlife. Due to their remoteness there will be minimal chance of throngs of tourists gatecrashing wildlife sightings.

Firstly; we head to the spectacular Lower Zambezi National Park, which spans 4,092 square kilometres (1,580 square miles) of pristine wilderness. It is situated adjacent to Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, creating a giant expanse of protected wilderness. It boasts breathtaking vistas over the Zambezi River, as well as lush riverine surrounds.

This leg of your Zambia photo safari will see you exploring some of the best forest habitat, not just in Africa, but in the world. The stage is always set here and with tall trees, green canopies and arching boughs – it’s lights, camera, action from the get-go. 

The Lower Zambezi is home to a plethora of African species and it is literally crawling with elephants, wandering through the giant trees and swimming in the Zambezi River. Want an elephant standing on its back legs and reaching for fruit with its trunk, then this is the place - it's a sight which will fill you with absolute wonder! This is also one of the best locations in all of Africa to see leopards but with the forest setting being so sublime, it becomes THE BEST place in Africa to photograph these enigmatic cats. 

This applies to all the other animals too. Being able to place your subject in such a beautiful environment is what makes this one of Africa’s most sought-after scenic and photographic destinations. This park is currently the best place in Africa to see wild dogs, also dubbed the painted wolf, hunting and they hunt a range of subjects (including Cape buffalo).

Secondly; we head to one of Southern Africa's most renowned wildlife sanctuaries, Kafue National Park. Found in the centre of western Zambia, Kafue is the oldest and largest of Zambia’s national parks, covering a massive 22 400 km² / 8 650 mi². Thanks to its size and variety of habitats, it holds a fantastic diversity of wildlife including four of the Big Five with only rhino being absent. It's certainly less crowded than other National Parks meaning wildlife sightings are more exclusive and peaceful which in turn means less jostling for the prime photography positions.

Zambia is one of the best places to see some of Southern Africa's most resplendent bird species are also one of the major draws to both the Lower Zambezi and Kafue National Parks with over 850 being present throughout the country.

Zambia is the official ‘off the beaten track’ safari destination of both Southern and East Africa. Do you want to experience untamed Africa how it once was, then then this Zambia Safari is the one for you.

Your safari is much more than travelling to places far and wild. It’s about immersing you in the environment, giving you the best, most intimate experience with every detail taken in to consideration. Reaching fantastic places, searching for beautiful and inspiring aspects of wildlife and the natural world. All are key to helping you create memories that will inspire you to explore the amazing world we call home.

Day one sees our small group of safari enthusiasts assemble in Zambia's capitol, Lusaka. 

After arriving at the International airport and clearing immigration, you will be transported by road transfer to a lovely, relaxed boutique hotel. The perfect venue to prepare for the upcoming adventures.

When the group is fully assembled, your host and private guide, Alex will talk through all the logistics and answer any questions about the journey ahead.

The rest of the day is simple, a delicious dinner and early to bed to dream about the incredible wildlife photography journey you're about to embark on!

Accommodation: Latitude 15 Hotel, Lusaka. Bed and breakfast

Today the safari begins properly. After an early breakfast, we head to the airport and domestic departures to catch our local flight to Lower Zambezi National Park. Our home for the next five nights is the wonderful Sausage Tree Camp located deep within the Zambezi Valley.

This region of the Lower Zambezi has been carefully chosen to give access to both old forest and on the famous Zambezi River itself.

Right from the start, your Zambia photo safari will be wild and free as you begin to take in ‘real Africa’. Arriving in camp to a refreshing drink and face towel, you will be briefed by the camp manager. Camp is set on the banks of the Zambezi River and elephants pretty much have right of way in camp, so the briefing is important – this is not 'touristy' Africa!

With expansive views and no fences, you will be both extremely comfortable and in the wild, and on a night you'll be lulled to sleep by snorting hippo, feeding elephants and roaring lions.

After settling in to camp, enjoying lunch (and maybe a quick siesta), we'll head out on our first afternoon safari and begin exploring the wonderful Lower Zambezi.

Activities here will be a healthy mixture of game drives in open 4x4 vehicles, motorised boat safaris, walking safaris (which promote amazing eye-level photography opportunities) and also a quintessentially Zambian safari pursuit - the canoe! Highly qualified guides lead us along some of the most tranquil and picturesque channels, getting close to creatures big and small, in silence...

On the first afternoon, we will probably head out by motorised boat, going in search of swimming elephants, spouting hippos, kingfishers and colourful bee-eater colonies. Photographing silhouettes from on the river, as the sun sets behind the Zambezi escarpment, you will fall hopelessly in love with this special and wild corner of Africa.

As the day draws to an end with the sun on your back and a cocktail in hand as you watch the sun set over the waters of the mighty Zambezi River – you will be glad to be alive and really appreciate the wonderful place you find yourself!

Accommodation : Sausage Tree Camp, Lower Zambezi National Park. Full board.

Sausage Tree Camp is set in the most stunning location on the banks of the Zambezi River in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park's best game viewing area.  Voted "Best Location in Africa" 2016 the camp overlooks an expanse of narrow channels and low set reed islands teeming with game, with the magnificent Zambezi escarpment as the backdrop.

With a maximum of 18 guests accommodated in 7 "Luxury Suites" consist of lounge & dining areas, large deck and private plunge pool with views over the Zambezi River.

The recently rebuilt Front of House Tent houses the Dining, Lounge and Bar areas and connects to a large 25m lap pool which is idyllically situated overlooking the mighty Zambezi River.

Sausage Tree Camp was voted number one on the BBC Holiday Programme’s “Ten Best Luxury Destinations”. The location within the Lower Zambezi National Park allows the fantastic team to offer truly immersive safari experiences, not only on land by four-wheel game-viewing vehicles, but also on foot and even by boat or canoe. And with expert private guides and “Muchindas” (butlers) to see to your every need, you can be assured of world-class service.

You'll wish you could stay longer....

After an early morning breakfast around the campfire with fresh muffins and porridge, à la Zambian style (or maybe just a cup of coffee if you prefer as it will still be dark), we head off on a safari drive or explore the Zambezi river by motorboat.

At 4,092 km² of protected wilderness, the Lower Zambezi National Park has minimal human access and the irresistible, life-giving Zambezi River as its heart. 

Simply put, the Lower Zambezi has some of the finest big game wildlife viewing in Southern Africa. This, coupled with the variety of safari activities on offer and the aesthetics of this park, make for a truly fantastic wildlife spectacle as well as outstanding photography opportunities. 

This part of the park offers an incredible mosaic of habitats and it feels ancient because it is ancient. Giant baobab trees, oxbow lakes, secret forests reminiscent of the Jungle Book (but African style), woodlands and floodplains all combine making this a photo safari for true Africa aficionados. 

Large predators are very much in attendance here and you can expect lion and leopard. Even wild dog are very well represented. The most notable omissions in the area are giraffe and cheetah. However a night-time safari scouting for honey badger and aardvark should help make up for that!

Along with an exceptionally talented local guide, working as a team both they and Alex (who is a fully qualified and very experienced safari guide), will show you the best nooks and crannies in the park. You will be on pole position for both the action and light and if you're a keen or budding photographer, you will receive expert tuition pertaining to composition and camera settings for each scene and subject on your Lower Zambezi photo safari.

We'll take the sightings at our own, unhurried pace, spending time with our wildlife subjects in order to better understand their behaviour all in aid of capturing more. engaging wildlife imagery.

After a morning searching for wonderful wildlife, we'll return to camp for lunch/brunch but only once the light is thoroughly burnt off of course!

Between photography sessions, we'll find a quite, comfortable corner to meet as a group and talk through the images we've captured with considered, editing and review sessions designed to help you captures the best possible images of from your safari.

But don't worry, there will still be ample time time to unwind in camp, with the the languid Zambezi River flowing in front of your tent from your tent before meeting for afternoon tea. By this time it will be hot and the animals of the Lower Zambezi will have been drawn to the river’s edge. We may take to the river, the boats we are in are quick enough to capitalise on any photo opportunities that present themselves. Swimming elephants, crocodiles stalking stampeding buffalo, yawning hippos, flying bee-eaters – the list of wildlife sightings and possibilities on the river just goes on and on. 

Returning to camp once it is dark, another delightful dinner and hot shower await before drifting off to sleep - the good news is that you awake only to do it all over again.

Accommodation : Sausage Tree Camp, Lower Zambezi National Park. Full board.

This morning we wave our goodbyes to Sausage Tree and the Lower Zambezi and head to the local airstrip for our internal flight towards Kafue National Park, named after the Kafue River, a major tributary of the Zambezi that flows through it

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s largest and oldest national park, and is quite possibly one of Africa’s last great expanses of well-protected remote and pristine wilderness. It is is a spectacular example of true African wilderness with the Busanga Plains stretching as far as the eye can see. Wildlife viewing is exceptional all year round and a beautiful wildlife haven which you can’t properly envisage until you’ve seen it with your own eyes. It an excellent destination for those seeking a less crowded safari experience.

The area is one of Zambia’s most significant wetland resources and supports tremendous diversity. Fertile dambos (lagoon swamps) situated in the south are fed by the Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers – prime locations for viewing some of the 500 species of birds found in the park. This vast area of virgin bushveld is waiting for you to explore it and there is quite simply an abundance of wildlife.

Red lechwe leaping across shallow wetlands, lions hunting in golden grasses, and elephants emerging out of morning mist – this is the Busanga Plains experience. Found in the northern region of Zambia’s Kafue National Park, this remote wilderness is distinct from the miombo woodlands of the park. Instead, flat grassland dambos are dotted with date palms and sausage and fig trees.

Birding is top-class, with hundreds of species recorded in the area. Even if you are not a birder or bird photographer, you will find it impossible to marvel at the hundreds of birds taking off all around you.

Accommodation : Chisa Busanga Camp, Kafue National Park. Full board.

Chisa Busanga Camp’s woven Nest rooms are fast becoming one of the most iconic examples of contemporary safari architecture.

Inspired by the weaver bird nests in the area, Chisa is perhaps the first property in Africa to adopt not only its shape, style, and structure from nature but also its materials and building processes. 

This pioneering example of biomorphic design was created to be unique and unforgettable for guests and yet nonintrusive to the local wildlife, architect Bert Meerstadt designed each Chisa room to resemble a weaver bird nest. The challenge was to create a structure that could be built in the middle of a seasonal floodplain without harming the environment. 

Chisa Busanga Camp is entirely solar-powered and is the only camp in the Busanga Plains to operate Silent Safaris, where electric game-drive vehicles (which are also recharged with solar power) with no intrusive engine noises enable guests to get that much closer to the wildlife.

Like its namesake, the weaver nest, each Chisa room has a large circular opening at the front that maximises its stunning view over the Busanga Plains. Everything inside each Nest is magnetised around this view, from the queen-sized bed to the indoor-outdoor shower and cosy seating nook.

Each Nest is also lit from within by a large, handmade chandelier from Katundu in Malawi. Each chandelier comprises strings of seeds in another subtle nod to the weaver birds. Chisa means 'Bird's Nest' in Nyanja, and every detail of these nest rooms has been carefully crafted to bring this inspiration to life. 

Our in time Kafue, as with the Lower Zambezi, will be filled with wildlife and exploration. The differences of these two national parks complement each other perfectly making for a fantastic, varying safari experience.

All the major predators present, with leopard and lion numerous. Lions hunt leaping lechwe here and often an early morning mist settles over the plains making it one of the most beautiful and ethereal photographic destinations in all of Africa. “Did you say lions and lechwe in the mist of a golden dawn?” Like I said, you have to see this place to believe it. 

As with the Lower Zambezi, we’ll be out as the sun begins to break over the horizon looking for active predators in the golden light before they settle down after their nocturnal activities.

Kafue and Busanga are home to a huge variety of mammals, with more than 20 species of antelope, - including Sable and Roan - and is considered one of Africa's best parks for plains game. You'll certainly be in awe of the sheer natural beauty that Busanga shows off at every opportunity.

Time spent in here will not be wasted and due to its sheer size, we'll spend as much time as we can exploring the area by solar-powered open 4x4 safari vehicles as well as along the river in motorised boats. Green Safaris are passionate about creating safari experiences that are gentle on Busanga’s delicate ecosystem.

As you disappear quietly into the floodplains and dambos on the e-Cruiser or on foot, the game sightings are more intense, the birdlife interactions closer, and the sounds of the bush are uncompromised. The lovely local guides and Alex are fluent in the language of the bush and they are always ready to teach people how to read it.

When not out exploring and back at camp, the plunge pool is absolute bliss in the midday heat and the campfire is where great conversation and stargazing happens.

Accommodation : Chisa Busanga Camp, Kafue National Park. Full board.

Today sees the end of your Southern Africa adventure and beginning of your journey home.

No doubt you'll also leave with a yearning to return and explore further explore Africa's majesty!  You will have tasted real Africa and when you leave, all you will be thinking about is your return...