Namwi Island Lodge

If it’s a nature-filled getaway you’re after, you won’t go wrong here: the Salambala Conservancy (a project to re-establish populations of elephants, zebra and impala in the area) is about half an hour’s drive away and, if you’re up for a longer trip, the lions, elephants and antelope of Bwabwata and Mudumu national parks are within two hours. A little closer to home base, make tracks for Chobe National Park over the border in Botswana. Chobe is a top safari destination, so sign up for a day’s adventuring and keep your eyes peeled for elephants, buffalo, lions and cheetahs, or stick around after dark to spot leopards and hyenas. You can’t stay on the Zambezi and not make the trek to the stunning Victoria Falls (at three hours, it’s a bit of a jaunt, but you won’t regret the journey). After gazing at the largest falls in the world, don’t be in a hurry to leave – be brave at the Devil’s Pool, go skydiving, bungee jumping or whitewater rafting, then treat yourself to a classy evening meal aboard the Royal Livingstone Express steam train. Lucky enough to have time left over for an onward journey? You’re well-placed here for forays into Zambia (20 minutes), Botswana (45 minutes) and Zimbabwe (an hour 50 minutes), or you can head further into Namibia through the Caprivi Strip.