Zambians and Zimbabweans are immensely proud of the way they do things on the safari front, and they have every reason to be. The possibility to get out on foot and wend your way along rivers in a canoe adds an extra dimension to your experience here, enriched by the world-class quality of the guides - widely considered the best in Africa.

Best time to traval: June through October and mid-March through mid-May are the best windows in which to venture a visit to these stunning spots.

Two countries that combine beautifully but can also stand alone. Most experiences here centre around the mighty Zambezi but take yourself slightly off the beaten path into the northern reaches of Zambia or the south of Zimbabwe and you will find some of the most amazing wildlife spectacles in Africa.

This concession is the jewel in the crown that is Hwange National Park, and its vast open grasslands and life-giving waterholes make for the best game viewing in the park. Come in the dry season, and watch hundreds of elephant trooping in to drink: with most other sources parched, they walk up to 36 hours to reach Makololo's mini lakes. As they get close, they break ranks in a jubilant dash to the water, and their joy is infectious as they drink, splash and play in the sparkling shallows.

Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya - 'the smoke that thunders' - this natural wonder is the world's largest waterfall, and is equally spectacular seen from Zambia or Zimbabwe. The magic lies in greeting it with the dawn as the sunrise filters through the spray in the form of rainbows: take a leisurely breakfast cruise on a luxury boat, floating above a 108m plunge. Then the day is free for adrenaline adventures such as bungee jumping, gorge swinging, and white water rafting - or, if you prefer, an elegant high tea on the veranda of the Royal Livingstone.

We know a secret sweet spot far enough downstream from the masses, where you can experience all the untamed riches of the Zambezi National Park as well as the many pleasures afforded to you when you have Africa's fourth-longest river at your disposal. Seek out wildlife from the water, stopping off on mid-channel islands for a walk on the wild side - or a sumptuous picnic lunch on a sandbank with your toes cooling in the water, a shade-cloth canopy overhead, and a cold beer in hand.

Strip it back to basics with a portered multi-day walking safari, well off the beaten track where no roads run, and explore the wilderness on foot much as Livingstone did. The camps en route are fashioned entirely from grasses, sticks, and bark - and you'll be rubbing twigs together to make fire for your morning tea. In the stellar company of guides who have been walking this area for over 30 years, take in the silent peace of the bush, and meet its resident wildlife at eye-level.