South Luangwa & The Lower Zambezi

By: Johan Steenhuisen (founder of safariFRANK) Photos: Frank Steenhuisen, Gesa Neitzel

It has been said that if you only visit two continents in a lifetime, visit Africa twice. For the wild at heart it is somewhere that will call you back time and time again – a destination full of adventure and wonder. Two individuals who know this better than most are Frank and Gesa, an intrepid duo who have made the continent their home, and their mission to share its beauty with others.

As qualified walking and trail guides, Frank and Gesa are an integral part of the African adventure company safariFRANK. Throughout the year they journey right off the beaten track, far from the tourist packs, to provide visitors memorable encounters with extraordinary wildlife and to connect them with African culture. Recently, whilst on assignment with safariFRANK, the pair fulfilled a long-held dream to explore South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi. Their aim was to get to know the area and meet with their operators/suppliers based there – but the outcome was so much more.

The adventure started at one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, South Luangwa. As one of the nation’s oldest walking safari destinations, the area has successfully held on to its ‘old Africa’ feel. Animals, plants and landscape combine to form a spectacular wildlife sanctuary which acts as home to hippos (an estimated 6,000), leopards (South Luangwa has been voted one of the top five destinations in which to view them), giraffe, wildebeest and zebra… to name just a few. ‘There is nothing quite like a walking safari in the African wilderness,’ said Frank and Gesa of their experience. ‘Getting up with the rising sun, stepping in the footsteps of elephants, feeling the ground beneath your feet… you never know what will happen once you get out there but one thing is for certain - anything and everything is possible.’

Staying in traditional bush camps added to the experience and created the perfect ‘play and stay’ combination, making South Luangwa irresistible to those seeking a less ordinary adventure. Central to creating these unforgettable moments are the local guides, which the team at safariFRANK know and go to great lengths to appreciate. ‘We were especially impressed by our guides, some of them having worked here for more than 20 years,’ said Gesa. ‘They took a lot of pride in high guiding standards and the old pass on their knowledge to the young.’

safariFRANK is a boutique adventure tour operator based in Brisbane and Berlin.

For more information see www.safarifrank.com or contact them at info@safarifrank.com

After a week immersed in the Luangwa Valley, the road trip continued for Frank as he journeyed alone to the Lower Zambezi. ‘It’s a place I’ve always wanted to visit since first seeing it from afar in Mana Pools National Park, just opposite on the Zimbabwe side of the Zambezi River,’ said Frank. ‘I had heard a lot about this place in my recent time in Zambia, so let’s just say expectations were high.’

These expectations were immediately met as Frank stepped straight onto a boat and headed across the mighty Zambezi River. From here, visitors receive a front row seat to the national park’s spectacular scenery and can view the uninhibited wildlife going about its daily business on the river’s banks. Large herds of elephant roam along the 120 kilometres of river frontage, with frequent lion and leopard sightings providing exceptional game viewing. ‘It felt like an absolute paradise for general game and birds, of which I managed to identify 118 species in two days,’ said Frank.

But what made the area so special for Frank as a walking guide was the vast array of activities which allow visitors to get up close and personal to the extraordinary African wildlife. In an area spread across 4,000 square kilometres of game-rich terrain, safaris can be enjoyed by car, canoe, foot or boat, with night-time game viewing a great option for spotting the area’s healthy population of larger cats.

After a whirlwind two weeks of game viewing and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, Frank and Gesa’s road trip with safariFRANK came to end – for now! South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi had exceeded all expectations and the pair is looking forward to getting back there and showing visitors their Africa.