1 The Luangwa Safari House South Luangwa
From the land, the stone and thatch façade appears solid and impregnable but the great wooden door swivels open to reveal the house has no rear wall. Instead you see straight through to broad views of shady ebony trees, a plunge pool, a waterhole and a raised walkway leading to a deck. The Chindeni Hills form a distant backdrop. There are four en suite bedrooms. Activities include game viewing by vehicle and on foot.
2 The Chongwe River House Lower Zambezi
Approached from this tributary of the Zambezi, the house has a cool, cave-like appearance. Another Neil Rocher design, it is built largely from local natural materials and there are no straight lines and no doors. The floor plan matches that of the Luangwa House, but the appearance is quite different. The trunk of a winterthorn has been carved to create sofas looking out on to the deck and the substantial swimming pool. The ceilings are made from water-worn pebbles caught between parallel wooden bars and the downstairs showers 'rain' from the pebbles. Game drives and walking safaris, canoeing, fishing and boating are all on offer.
3 Tangala House Victoria Falls
Tangala looks out over green lawns rolling down to the Zambezi above Victoria Falls. It has four bedrooms, all with private bathrooms and a distinctly Moroccan theme and a living area with inside and outside space. The house is particularly suitable for children and has a trampoline and a large swimming pool along with three friendly dogs. It is fully staffed and activities include game viewing by vehicle and water, canoeing and everything at the falls from sedate admiration to rafting and bungee jumping.
4 The Old Manor Shiwa Ng'andu
This is an English country mansion in the heart of Africa near the Bangweulu wetlands, built at the beginning of the last century by Sir Stewart Gore-Brown and now run by his grandson. It is a curious combination of Victorian and Tuscan architecture. The history of the house and Gore-Brown is recounted in The Africa House by Christine Lamb. Visit hot springs and waterfalls or try fishing, bird-watching and horse riding.
· Africa Travel Centre (0845 450 5705 www.africatravel.co.uk) arranges tailor-made holidays to Zambia. A sample trip, staying on an exclusive basis for three nights at Luangwa Safari House and for three nights at Chongwe River House, to include all meals, activities and return BA flights costs from £2,395pp, based on four people travelling. A three-night extension to Victoria Falls, staying at Tangala House, costs from £1,195pp.
