Our close friends
Last time we looked at our direct neighbours: Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique. In this article, we’ll take a look at some wonderful destinations just a little further away: Zambia, Angola and Malawi.
Zambia
Zambia very smartly took advantage of the drop in tourism in Zimbabwe, especially as it shares the famous Victoria Falls with its neighbour. The country has much more to offer than just Victoria Falls, however. In recent years, Zambia has made moves to curb poaching, and build its conservation and tourism industries. Which is very lucky for tourists, as the country has so much beauty to offer.
Highlights include the Victoria Falls, with its breath-taking views and adventure activities. You can fly or microlight above the falls; you can walk to the falls and view them from the vantage point of the Victoria Falls bridge; you can white-water raft below the falls; and, if you are very brave, you can swim in a natural rock pool right on the lip of the falls, or bungi jump from the bridge.
Lake Kariba, which sits between Zambia and Zimbabwe, can also be accessed from Zambia. Also offering a variety of water sports and activities is Lake Tanganyika, which sits between Tanzania, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia.
Zambia’s game parks have improved dramatically in the past few years, and South Luangwa is now a very highly rated game park in Africa. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and lagoons is incredible, with a chance to see four of the big five (with the exception of the rhino). Birdlife is simply superb – this is a must-visit destination for any serious birder. Zambia now has 19 game parks and 34 game reserves, so there is plenty more to choose from if you’d like to range wider.
Angola
Angola is the new kid on the block as far as tourism goes. Angola offers a vibrant capital city, magnificent beaches, game reserves, waterfalls, islands, rivers and jungles. Right now, Angola has few tourists, which means that you get an authentic experience of this fascinating country as it develops.
If you’re looking for a white-sand, palm-tree beach experience, visit Mussolo Island or the multitude of beaches and bays stretching along the Atlantic Ocean.
For experience of a vibrant, growing African city, spend some time in Luanda. While you’re there, visit the Benfica Market, and then travel a short distance south for a visit to the National Slavery Museum.
Game parks to visit include Iona National Park, the largest in Angola, Kissama Game Park, just south of Luanda, or Cangandala National Park for birdlife. The country’s game parks have seen years of neglect, but the game and fauna are now recovering.
Malawi
Malawi sits at the heart of southern Africa and tourism is centred on Lake Malawi. Malawi is a diverse country, however, offering more than just Lake Malawi. The varied terrain of Malawi incorporates lush green countryside, highlands, escarpments, plateaux, forests, mountains and river valleys. And of course, the lake.
Lake Malawi is an enormous body of fresh water fringed by golden beaches. It offers visitors a beautiful setting for a variety of water-based activities, including swimming, snorkelling, fishing and bird watching. Resorts and lodges can be found right along the lake, so simply pick a beautiful spot and visit.
Malawi has nine national parks and wildlife reserves, and while they do not offer the wildlife experience offered by Botswana, for example, the do offer a simpler, more intimate experience. In the South, visit Liwonde National Park for the best game viewing. In the North, Nyika National Park is worth a visit. Because of its variety of eco-systems, Malawi also has a fantastic variety of birds.
All in all, Malawi is a very pleasant place to visit, not least due to the Malawian people themselves, who are extremely friendly and welcoming. Malawi is a small country with a big heart.
In our next article, we’ll take a look at Swaziland and Lesotho, two landlocked countries surrounded by South African soil.
