Top Ten African Safaris

If feet are your favorite mode of travel, then South Luangwa National Park is the place to head. The Zambians pioneered walking safaris and offer some of the best in Africa. Unknowingly interrupt a pack of lions as they devise an ambush against a herd of impala, or stare at an elephant from ground level. In any case, you are no longer protected by the steel cage of your game vehicle. You are free to roam and the animals are free to roar . . . at you!

The easily unnerved or anxious are not recommended for this safari! You can hire an experienced safari ranger for as little as a day trip but it is the extended trek—four or five days—that will truly make you one with the wild. Birders will love it here too. As you walk through, flying overhead are more than 400 species of birds making South Luangwa a birder's paradise. It is also a prime destination for viewing elephants. Once known as "The Crowded Place" and "The Kingdom of the Elephant," the Luangwa Valley boasts more than 15,000 of the giant ones.

Just the Facts

Best Season: May-September for dry, mild temperatures.

Highlights: Night rides or walks in South Luangwa National Park