By Hannah Stitfall

If you've ever dreamed of a true African safari, Zambia during the dry season is a must for any wildlife lover. It is a place that I have always dreamed of visiting as a wildlife filmmaker. Incredibly, I was offered the chance to go earlier this year, a real pinch-me moment! So last October, I set off with Dusty Boots Travel to embark on a two-week African Safari adventure of a lifetime!

A country full of breathtaking landscapes and unparalleled wildlife, Zambia is also incredibly diverse, with 72 different languages spoken up and down the country, a result of the rich cultural diversity found here. Zambia truly encompasses every part of Africa’s immense beauty, and my first safari here during the dry season was nothing short of extraordinary!

When is the best time to visit Zambia?

The dry season in Zambia runs from around May to October, and it is the best time to visit for several reasons.

First, the weather is generally mild and pleasant, with warm days and cooler nights, making it comfortable for days full of safari activities. However, I must add that this year has seen the dryest and hottest dry season in 200 years, with most days the temperature hitting just shy of 40 degrees.

However, during the dry season, the lack of rain means there is hardly any vegetation for the wildlife to hide in, making it much easier to spot it. Plus, as the water sources dry up, animals tend to congregate around remaining rivers, lakes, and waterholes, looking for a drink, which provides incredible game-viewing opportunities.

What is a Typical Day like on a Photography Safari?

Rhiann, our tour guide from Dusty Boots, had organised an incredible itinerary for some other photographers and me. Over the 2 weeks, we visited four different camps: Chiawa Safaris, Puku Ridge Lodge, Tena Tena camp run by Robin Pope Safaris, and lastly, Mwamba camp run by Shenton Safaris.

It was a jam-packed itinerary. Each day, we were up around 4:30 am/5 am for our first game drive, which usually finished at around 11 am. Then we would head back to camp to offload our footage, shower, eat, and try to sleep a little before returning again at around 3 pm for the afternoon evening game drive, returning to camp at around 7 pm. This was our itinerary every day for the two weeks, and whilst a little intense, it was well worth it for the wildlife sightings!

Why is the Luangwa Valley so special?

Throughout the trip, we travelled up Luangwa Valley, also known as the “Valley of the Leopards”. It is home to impressive populations of big cats, hippos, elephants, zebras, buffalo, and over 400 bird species.

The Luangwa River is the lifeblood of this ecosystem. In the dry season, it becomes a hub of animal activity, attracting thirsty wildlife from miles around.

The dry season is also a fantastic time for birdwatching, as many migratory species pass through Zambia. South Luangwa is a bird lover’s paradise, with visitors able to spot countless species including the incredible carmine bee-eaters, which, it’s safe to say, have now become my favourite birds!

We had the most incredible wildlife encounters, including lion kills, lion cubs, and elephants. I think there were only two or three game drives during which we didn’t see a leopard! However, for me personally, the most special thing was seeing wild African dogs!

What are African Wild Dogs?

Also known as painted wolves, they are one of Africa’s most unique and most endangered predators and one I hoped we might see. However, Wild Dogs can travel up to 30 miles daily in search of food, making finding them quite tricky. We were incredibly lucky, though, to see them not only once but twice! And the second time, there were puppies!

They are known for their striking fur patterns that almost resemble a black, brown, white, and yellow patchwork coat. Each dog’s fur pattern is as unique as a fingerprint, providing them with excellent camouflage. They are highly social animals that live and hunt in packs led by an alpha pair, and their close-knit social structure is central to their survival.

Unfortunately, their population has declined dramatically due to habitat loss, human- wildlife conflict and disease, making them one of Africa’s most endangered carnivores. Conservation efforts are now crucial to protect these fascinating animals and ensure their survival in the wild, which is why seeing them was even more special.

What equipment should you take on a Safari?

On this trip, I took two cameras with me so I wouldn't miss any shots by having to switch lenses as and when the action commenced.

I had one with a long lens (180-600mm) for when the wildlife was far away and the other lens a bit shorter (70-200mm) for when the wildlife would come very close to the vehicle. I found this setup worked really well most of the time, apart from when the wildlife would walk directly next to the vehicle (which happened a lot!).

I was also armed with my Craghoppers NosiLife range for the trip, which I pretty much lived in for the two weeks! I would always wear one of the shirts on the game drives and the trousers, as being by a river in Africa there were a lot of biting insects. Thankfully, the gear kept them at bay throughout the trip, and so I only had to apply mosquito repellent to my hands, neck and face!

Overall, I can’t recommend Zambia in the dry season enough for any wildlife photographer, filmmaker or anyone who wants to experience an incredible African wildlife safari. It’s safe to say that I will definitely be back one day, and I already cannot wait!