Bangweulu means ‘where the water meets the sky’, and I think it’s a perfect description of this extraordinary, community-owned and protected wetland in northeastern Zambia.

Bangweulu is unusual in terms of wildlife conservation in that it is made up of Game Management Areas, where around 60,000 local villagers migrate seasonally, with the rise and fall of the water levels, and depend on the marshlands to sustain their traditional way of life.

For me there is something timeless about travelling through these swamps. I find it a world away from racing around in a safari jeep. Your guide at the front of the canoe, long pole in hand, propelling you through narrow channels, between the thick reeds and papyrus. Silence, except for slight burbles and gurgles as you glide through the water. It’s one of my all-time highlights.