The Complete Self-Drive Zambia & Zimbabwe

Arrive in Livingstone and pick up your "bakkie": a rugged Toyota Hilux 4x4 with a rooftop tent. This will be your home on wheels for the next three weeks. Check in at the charming Maramba River Lodge on the banks of the Zambezi River. Grab a cold beer and enjoy your first African sunset on a relaxing boat cruise. Keep an eye out, elephants are often already drinking along the riverbank.

Time for some action. Livingstone is made for adventurers. Join guide Jonathan on a hike down into Batoka Gorge and camp deep in the canyon beneath the stars. Looking for even more adrenaline? Jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge on a bungee, or tackle the Zambezi's white-water rapids. Prefer something slower? Glide silently through the reeds in a traditional mokoro canoe or take a helicopter flight over the thundering Victoria Falls.

Leave the crowds behind and drive about six hours to Sioma. This is Western Zambia at its purest. No crowds of tourists, just peace and space along the Zambezi River. Camp beside the river at Lumbe Pools. Visit the impressive Ngonye Falls and meet the people from the local village. This is one of those places where you lose track of time and simply live to the rhythm of the river.

Prepare for one of the most remote places in Africa. After around five hours on the road, you'll arrive in Liuwa Plain. Endless grasslands stretch beneath an enormous sky. This is home to the wildebeest migration and large clans of hyenas. You'll stay at the wild campsite, Kwale Camp. Together with a local guide, you'll visit communities that have lived here for generations and learn about life in this remote wilderness.

Continue to Kafue, Zambia's largest national park. The landscapes change constantly, from dense forests to open savannahs. You'll stay at Kasabushi Camp on the river. Head out on a game drive with an experienced guide. There's a good chance you'll spot lions, elephants or rare antelope. Because Kafue is so vast, you'll rarely encounter other safari vehicles. Safari as it was meant to be.

Time for a completely different atmosphere. Drive to Lusaka, Zambia's vibrant capital. Together with locals Anella and her daughter Faith, you'll visit lively markets filled with street food and local art. You'll even learn how to cook traditional Zambian dishes in their home. The following day, continue to Kariba on the shores of the vast lake. Check into Hornbill Lodge and watch the sun disappear in a blaze of red over the water.

Leave the mainland behind and step aboard a catamaran. Lake Kariba is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world and feels more like an inland sea. Sail past dead trees rising from the water and spot elephants and crocodiles along the shores of Matusadona National Park. At night, you'll sleep on board beneath an incredible blanket of stars in the middle of the still water.

Return to land in Milibizi, a peaceful corner of the lake. Life moves at a slower pace here. You'll stay at the simple but welcoming Hog & Lilly Lodge right on the waterfront. It's the perfect place to wash off the dust from the past few days and prepare for the next rugged stage of your journey.

Chizarira is Zimbabwe's best-kept secret. Rugged, wild and dramatically perched on top of the escarpment. You'll stay at the intimate Lons Camp hosted by Sarah. Together with her, you'll explore the park on foot. This walking safari lets you experience the raw energy of the bush like never before. No roaring engines, just cracking branches and tracking wildlife through deep ravines.

Continue to Hwange, Zimbabwe's largest national park. This area is famous for its enormous elephant herds. You'll camp deep in the bush at Silwane Camp. Together with a guide, you'll visit the waterholes where hundreds of animals gather to drink. The sound of trumpeting elephants at sunset is something you'll never forget.

Your self-drive adventure through rugged Western Zambia and Zimbabwe comes to an end. Return your 4x4 and fly home with a bag full of dusty clothes and unforgettable stories. Africa has captured your heart, and the memories of its wild bush will stay with you forever. Safe travels!