walking Safari – Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is an UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to one half of the Mosi-oa-Tunya — ‘The Smoke Which Thunders‘ — known worldwide as Victoria Falls on the Zambezi River.

The river forms the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, so the falls are shared by the two countries, and the park is ‘twin’ to the Victoria Falls National Park on the Zimbabwean side. …

The wildlife section of the park is tiny but popular. Popular because half day walking safaris are offered.

This is rare in Africa due to the risk of tourists being injured. Or eaten.

It was very early. Very rainy when I was picked up — alone — at my hostel.

We rendezvoused with a British couple alongside the Zambezi.

Everything was about to go wrong. You had to laugh.

The husband had 2 new hips, 1 new knee. He could not walk.

Improvising, we decided to take a quick driving safari before setting out on the promised “walk”.

African guides are normally super entertaining. Very knowledgeable.

We saw baboon, vervet monkey, giraffe, zebra, warthog, sable, impala and many other antelope.

When the British couple departed, I was alone for the walking Safari with a support team of up to 4 men.

I walked with a guide and an armed guard.

There’s no shortage of wildlife in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. But the main attraction is white Rhino. Though not indigenous, they are the most talked about wildlife in Africa.

You cannot see rhino from the road. They are understandably very shy.

Already an hour or more late, we roamed far and wide in the wet mud looking for rhino sign. The guard checked his phone constantly for an update on where we might find them.

Finally, the highlight of Mosi-oa-Tunya. A mother Rhino and her new baby, less than 2 weeks old.

The rhino in Mosi-oa-Tunya were poached to extinction in 2007. 😦

I was told they are no longer worried about poaching here. The Park is now fiercely defended. 5 adult rhino and 5 youngsters, including this newborn.

On the other hand, the enforcement officer spoke longingly of Botswana where guards can (reportedly) shoot poachers on sight.

more of my photos from the day