Zambia & South Africa Travel Guide
“If I have ever seen magic, it has been in Africa”
John Hemingway
Africa rocked me to my core.
The people, way of life, scenery, and wildlife in their natural habitat made me speechless. (Which does NOT happen often)
In a time where travel is more expensive than ever, what better way to invest your vacation money? The dollar goes FAR in Africa.
I’m talking – steak dinner, wine & an appetizer for $10! And don’t forget – everything is included when on safari, so you can enjoy sundowners until your heart’s content.
And BONUS – when investing in safari, your dollar goes toward conservation effort, and supporting local African villages.
Where to stay on safari:
Lodging ranges from luxury camps with your own private plunge pool overlooking the elephants, to tented camps without electricity.
If there’s one trip to work with a travel advisor for – it’s an African safari. With a multitude of logistics to consider, including boat transfers, bush planes, coordinating daily game activities, ensuring you’re staying at a safari camp that supports conservation efforts, and more. Private concessions offer more exclusivity & transparency about those efforts than National Parks will, and it’s important to talk with a professional who will ensure you consider this.
I have a few safari camp suggestions listed below, under Zambia. Depending on what locations intrigue you, I’ll talk you through the best options.
It’s my first safari. What should I expect?
You should expect nothing less than a soul awakening experience. This is the trip that you’ll tell your grandchildren about.
When you were enjoying your morning coffee with lions roaring in the near distance.
When you witnessed a leopard chow down on her prey 30 feet high up in a tree.
When you see mom & dad elephants back up to protect baby when your safari jeep drives by.
When you drove through an African village, and little children sprinted giddily towards your jeep to scream the happiest hello you’ve ever heard.
When you felt like you were the only humans alive in the whole world, gazing at a baby leopard in the African plains at dusk.
When you witness a baby lion learning to roar and you’re left speechless.
When you canoe in the lower Zambezi with hippos, getting mock charged by a sassy mama. (this DID happen to us, and I live to tell the tale 😉)
Logistically speaking - you’re awoken in the early AM with a “healthy shot” before getting a light breakfast. You’ll go on a morning game drive when the animals are out on the prowl. After seeing God’s beauty in its purest form, you’ll be taken back to camp for a wonderful breakfast and siesta (AKA pool time overlooking the elephants!) After the siesta, you’ll enjoy afternoon tea before going on your second adventure of the day - helicopter safari, water safari, walking safari - you name it - before enjoying sundowners with the most breathtaking sunsets on the planet.
I have great news for you – South Africa is the PERFECT place for your first safari.
South Africa has city, adventure, and recreation. You can swim while watching the elephants one day, cycle through the Cape Winelands the next, go on a side car tour, swim with seals, visit an ostrich farm, and paraglide the next day in Cape Town.
And don’t get me started on the people, oh the people! They will steal your heart. I met a woman named “Many Blessings” … Yup.
Will there be bugs?
The number of insects will 100% depend on the season you go. I rarely saw a mosquito when I was there in November, although there were plenty of cicadas in Zambia. This usually would have bothered me, but my mindset shifted as I was “part of their world now”, and I learned to appreciate everything for what it was.
Will I need vaccinations before I go?
My suggestion for this is to speak with your doctor, but you can’t go wrong with taking antimalarials. There is the recommended ‘Malarone’ that can be prescribed prior to going. Your doctor will know if anything is strongly recommended for you. There is no risk of yellow fever in South Africa. The government of South Africa requires proof of yellow fever vaccination only if you are arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever, and this does not include the US.
When to go:
Remember that their seasons are opposite ours. Green season is cheaper but there aren’t as many animals, the bugs are worse, but it’s not as hot. When we start planning your trip, I’ll talk through with you what is important. For example, is Devil’s Pool on your list? (it should be!) This is only open certain months of the year. Where are you headed? I will have different recommendations on time of year if you want to see Zanzibar, Zambia, Cape Town, Botswana etc.
In this guide, I’m going to break down:
1) Cape Town
2) The wine region of Stellenbosch/ the Cape Winelands
3) Zambia (specifically safari at Lolebezi!)
After reading, I hope you’ll be on the same page as me that Africa doesn’t have to be as scary or dangerous as misconceptions like us to believe, and that you can have truly life changing experiences here.
Cape Town, South Africa
Let’s narrow in on Cape Town, because it’s one of the most incredible cities in the world, in my opinion.
This city has an incredible food scene, hip farm-to-table inspired restaurants, and a plethora of adventures.
You’ll be blown away with the magic of Cape Town and it’s buzzing food scene and wide, white sand beaches.
Things to do in Cape Town
Table Mountain – Note: Visibility on Table Mountain may be limited, so it may be wise to hold off on buying tickets.
Kayak with the penguins
Swim with the seals
Road bike
Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens - Bring in wine and have a picnic! – Alcohol is allowed here.
Tokra for olive oil tastings by Delaire Graff
Paraglide
Enjoy a helicopter tour
Horseback riding with champagne from Nordhoek beach
Cape Point Vineyards
Windsurfing
Catamaran tours
Hang with the ostriches by Cape of Good Hope
Wine tram through Franschoek
Zip lining
Explore the city on a side car tour
Signal hill for sundowners
Shipwreck and pirate ship experiences
Explore Cape Town's most scenic road with all 144 curves of Chapman’s Peak Drive
Hike Cape Point - Shipwrecks, Whales, White Sand and Wildlife
Electric Bike in the Cape Winelands
Get up close with Cheetahs at the Cheetah Encounter outside of Stellenbosch
Butterfly World outside of Stellenbosch
Where to Stay in Cape Town:
There’s a lot to consider when planning your stay in Cape Town, but here are some iconic gems to consider:
The Silo: I was one of the lucky ones who got to stay in the iconic sweetheart of Cape Town! The views and rooms are mind-blowing here. With a fabulous rooftop pool, sexy rooms (some are 2 stories!), this hotel is especially a must for anyone who appreciates design and/or art and wants to be in a central location right on the waterfront.
Cape Grace: This hotel is classic, victorian, and even a little nautical. With a lovely pool, it’s in a perfect location on the waterfront, with astounding views of Table Mountain.
Ellerman House: You’ll feel like you’re visiting someone’s colonial mansion! Just 11 rooms and suites and 2 private villas.
12 Apostles: This is quintessential Cape Town! Further away from the waterfront, but it’s oh so wonderful to eat breakfast with the whales! With the iconic Leopard bar, and even hotel kitties. This hotel has its own helicopter pad, hiking on site, and 2 pools to enjoy authentic South Africa.
The Cape Winelands
If you adore wine, then it’s a must to explore beautiful Stellenbosch, less than an hour outside of Cape Town. This mountainous region has over 150 wineries! It’s the Napa Valley of South Africa, and its beauty (and wine!) will leave you speechless.
Ask me about my favorite wine estate in this region, that includes:
Complimentary mini bar
Wonderful spa
Chocolate tasting
E-bikes
Complimentary wine tasting and cellar tour
Wine Picnics & Viewpoint Tastings
Helicopter
Yoga
Free shuttles into Stellenbosch
Plan to spend a day wine tasting? I recommend hiring a driver to truly enjoy African wine, and not worry about a thing.
Now, onto beautiful Zambia, Africa (Gimme the elephants!)
Zambia is a hidden gem destination in Africa. It houses some of Africa’s top National Parks, as well as the Lower Zambezi. Home to the renowned Victoria Falls, the bucket list adventure of Devil’s Pool, and some of the best safari guides in the world, Zambia has heart and soul. And it flows through the mighty Zambezi, sticking with you forever like the African drumbeat.
Things to do in Zambia
Lifechanging safaris
Livingstone Island & Devil’s Pool
Rhino walks
Village visits
Sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River
Star gazing at camp
Helicopter safaris
Incredible game drives, including walking safaris, canoeing with hippos, helicopter & boat safaris
Fishing on the Zambezi River
“Flight of angels” over Victoria Falls.
White water rafting on the Zambezi River
Bungee jump from the Victoria Falls bridge
Enjoy a siesta at your private pool at camp
See the Big 5 in the wild
Witness a natural wonder of the world, Victoria Falls
Where to Stay in Zambia
Now I’m a little biased based on where I was blessed to stay, but here are some incredible options:
Thorntree River Lodge – Livingstone, Zambia - The lodge sits on the banks of the Zambezi River inside Zambia’s Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. It’s luxurious, stylish, and there might even be monkeys on your doorstep.
Lolebezi – located in the untouched wilds of the Lower Zambezi, this lodge has one kilometer of private river frontage. Each of the 6 suites has a private plunge pool, perfect for siesta on the hot African afternoons, gin and tonic in hand, watching the great Zambezi river flow past.
Sungani Lodge in South Luangwa – A lodge with great sense of place, and unique individuality that can be described as “relaxed sophistication”.
**Keep in mind that not all safari lodges have Wi-Fi! Not all lodges have animals roaming right on camp, and not all lodges support conservation efforts.
SO - is a Safari on your bucket list?
“The only man I envy is the man who has not yet been to Africa, for he has so much to look forward to” Mullin.
I wish everyone this experience, at least once in their life.
I have sooo many safari tips, but here are just some of the details we’ll go over when we plan your dream safari:
Time of year to visit
Baggage restrictions on small bush flights
Outfit inspiration
Packing guides
Tipping guidelines on safari
Adventure planning such as time of day I recommend for certain activities and more.
In summary – there are SO many different factors to consider. Is beach important to you? What adventures do you crave? What type of lodging are you envisioning? I can’t wait to talk through all of these details with you.
So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get you to the LIONS.
Looking for more Africa inspo? Check out my story highlights on my Instagram, @onyx.and.evergreen.travel.
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