Etosha National Park, Namibia BEST FOR: GIRAFFES AND ANTELOPES Though easily one of Africa’s finest wildlife- watching destinations, Etosha remains the preserve of reasonably adventurous travelers. Its signature feature is the 74.6-mile-wide Etosha Pan, an arid expanse of sunbaked salt, dotted with waterholes and fringed by grasslands and bush. Giraffes, springboks, impalas and kudus pick their way through the heat haze to drink while large herds of elephants walk straight into the water. An evening beside the Okaukuejo waterhole is a highlight of any visit: it always attracts a succession of animals, including critically endangered black rhinos, and its soft floodlights allow guests to observe their nocturnal behavior — a rare treat.
46 | ASTA | Worldwide Destination Guide 2025/26
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia BEST FOR: LEOPARDS AND BUSHWALKS Like Etosha, South Luangwa is a park for connoisseurs. It has abundant wildlife, excellent guides and stunning lodges, including delightfully chic, rustic bushcamps that are dismantled each year before the Luangwa River floods, and rebuilt once the waters recede. Beautiful groves of mature trees make this an exciting destination for anyone keen to see leopards — the shrill alarm call of a monkey may signal there’s one hidden on a branch. With luck, you could even see one on foot. Many of South Luangwa’s guides specialize in leading bushwalks, a satisfying activity that stimulates the senses and magnifies every fascinating detail.