Roll all your romantic notions of Africa into one – crashing waterfalls; rivers reflecting the sunrise; miles of wilderness hopping with wildlife – and that’s Zambia. Home to the jaw-dropping Victoria Falls and birthplace of the walking safari, which emphasises becoming part of nature instead of simply observing it, Zambia is diverse and wonderfully unspoiled.

The sheer scale and purity of Zambia’s natural wonders makes it an exceptional safari destination, yet many of its national parks are scarcely visited, providing a glimpse of Africa as it might have looked years ago. Not that it’s stuck in the past! Ziplines and bungee jumps over Victoria Falls bring a 21st century twist, but the real adventure is just being here. Zambia lets you get close to it – exploring on foot, hearing the sounds of the bush, being drenched by spray from the Falls – and while community engagement is still in its infancy, tourism does support local people, projects and schools, where a warm welcome awaits