TRAVEL FEATURE - ZAMBIA
MARCO GHEZZI ( W ) FRANCESCA CALTAGIRONE , GIACOMO CORSINI ( P )
THE DIFFERENCE AND DISTANCE OF LIFESTYLES
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Our canoe slowly glides on the peaceful waters of the Zambezi river , one of Africa ’ s largest . We carefully paddle to avoid being heard , because just a few metres away from us many curious eyes are suspiciously peeking from the water ’ s edge . They are the hippos , so many of them like I ’ ve never seen before in my life . They are the true stars of the river , together with the huge elephants and the threatening crocodiles .”
This breathtaking canoe excursion on the Zambezi river is just one of the many adventures that we experienced during our motorcycle safari in Zambia , a country that charmed us for so many reasons . First of all , its vast and very wellpreserved National Parks , such as the Lower Zambesi , Kafue , and South Luangwa , where countless wild animals roam completely free .
In these parks , we could regularly experience remarkably close wildlife encounters during Safari activities taking place in the bush or along rivers and waterholes . Hippopotomi and crocodiles represent a regular encounter , together with massive herds of elephants ; so exciting to see them a short distance from our motorbikes ! Buffalo , wildebeest , various antelope and all the other herbivores that come to the shores of the river to drink . Then there are the predators , especially lions and leopards , that we managed to get really close to .
Just outside the National Parks ’ gates we found many traditional villages consisting of a handful of mud huts , colourful markets , and friendly locals curious to meet those few white men who sporadically happen to reach there . Their smiles and expressions made us understand that here was different to other parts of Africa where tourism is more popular . Foreign travellers are
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