In 1995 Chris McIntyre (expertafrica.com) crossed the Zambezi with trepidation. He left behind him prosperous Zimbabwe, where he had lived for nearly three years. Ahead was the unknown: Zambia. McIntyre had been able to find little about the country's attractions and expected problems. But backpacking around, he found kindness and friendliness in a great country. He marvelled at the Victoria Falls, ventured into national parks, canoed on the Zambezi and dined under the stars. The result was the first travel guide to Zambia, published by Bradt. Since then, the prolific travel-guide author has often explored Zambia, initially with his backpack, then driving many a 4x4 and occasionally taking to the air – discovering hidden waterfalls, private reserves, the colonial extravagance of Shiwa Ng'andu and superb birding on Liuwa Plain. McIntyre now shares Zambia with his family and, as managing director of the specialist tour operator Expert Africa, sends visitors there too.

Susie McIntyre grew up in Zambia's Copperbelt and in Saudi Arabia. From wild childhood explorations from Luangwa Valley to Kafue; Victoria Falls to Lake Kariba, via to remote 4x4 driving trips to the country's Western Provinces and northern reaches, to more decadent fly-in trips across the country's main safari destinations, she has travelled extensively across Zambia by virtually all means of transport. She has spent the last two decades promoting responsible global travel, both as a PR and marketing consultant specialising in travel and tourism, and as an author and journalist. She is passionate about southern Africa: its people, wildlife and diversity. In Zambia, she been involved in the PR and marketing of independent safari camps in the main national parks, plotted and drafted national-park maps, and assisted her husband and co-author Chris McIntyre with previous editions of Bradt's Zambia.