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Friday Around

the Planet

September 09, 2022

Normally I return from vacation and immediately set to planning my next trip, trying to offset the post-holiday blues. This summer was different. I came back from a safari trip to Zambia and set about adopting a new, slower regime at home.

When my hosts at the Bushcamp Company shared the schedule for this Zambian adventure, I was taken aback by the daily 5:30am wake-up call – not my idea of a holiday. But that early morning call encouraged me to sit and watch the most magnificent African sunrises, before heading out on a dawn safari drive. They were quiet, mindful moments, just me, my coffee, breathing in the surroundings.

There was something equally zen about sitting in silence in a safari jeep, waiting for sight of a leopard that had dragged her kill high up in the branches of a tree, hidden from view. After five minutes, I started to grow restless, looking to move on, see more. But this wasn’t a packaged wildlife documentary. In time, the leopard came down from her perch, and I got to appreciate her on her own terms.

I stayed in lodges so remote there was no electricity (lights are solar powered) or wi-fi. Going off grid meant I read books without mindlessly reaching for my phone. And the 58 messages when I got to a wi-fi zone? None of them were that important.

Now a few weeks out from this once-in-a-lifetime trip, I have a new sense of appreciation for disconnecting. I'm lingering longer in moments away from digital screens, silencing the pings as I watch birds in my garden I never noticed before.

Fionnuala McCarthy | Editorial Director

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3 tips for first-time safari goers

Vaccinations and medication

I had pre-trip jitters over shots – mainly concerned that all my vaccinations were up to date – but Zambia only requires the COVID vaccine for entry. You are advised to take anti-malaria tablets before, during and after your trip. Despite my fears, I didn’t get bitten once there! Anti-mosquito sprays and nets were supplied by our Bushcamp Company hosts. The water in the Bushcamp came from deep wells and was perfectly safe to drink.

Leave the suitcase at home
Fifteen kilos (about 33 pounds) is the max you are permitted to take as you fly into camp on a small prop jet, so a duffel bag or backpack is all you can carry. Do try to borrow binoculars for the trip.

Pack old clothes
The bush is dusty, so leave anything new at home. Bring layers. The days are warm, but temperatures fall at night, so you can put on clothes and take off when needed. Choose neutral colors – greys, browns, khaki, the shades of the bush, to help you blend in.

Cost
When budgeting, remember that the rates quoted per person are all-inclusive, covering all meals, transfers by jeep between camps and daily safari trips (walking, jeep, night drives). You just need to bring cash for tips and any souvenirs.

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