Ordinarily, we'd never stoop to inserting gratuitous references to swimsuit models into our various online musings on travel.
But heck, this is related and near newsworthy enough. We'll take the bait. And while we're at it, put in an online vote for model Jessica Perez (no relation) for "rookie of the year."
Seems that locales in yon Zambia were used as backdrop for various skimpily attired fair maidens in the 2012 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, prompting the nation of Zambia to make some promotional hay.
Zambia Tourism Director Margaret M. Makungo observes, "Zambia is home to Victoria Falls, the Lower Zambezi, the walking safari and one of the greatest wildlife reserves in the world, South Luangwa National Park.
"To have our country showcased in Sports Illustrated with all those beautiful models on site is just wonderful."
While industry observers call the Swimsuit issue the "most-read" magazine edition on the planet, calling those who peruse the pictorials "readers" is as much a stretch as calling the published result of most any top model these days a "natural" wonder.
Still, a tip of the cap to Zambia, one of five countries used as a backdrop and the first presented in the edition.
We're told you must travel to Lusaka, Zambia via South African Airways and on into Joburg.
Some photographer who purports to "work" for a living teamed with stylists, grips and other various supporting cast to take the shots of Genevieve Morton, Irina Shayk, Cintia Dicker and Kirby Griffin posed in a number of Zambia’s iconic areas.
The featured location in the magazine spread is Livingstone Island's Victoria Falls and the infamous Devil’s Pool.
We're told the flow of water at a shallow pool at the fall's falls allows visitors to reach the edge of the falls.
Victoria Falls, known locally as the “smoke that thunders” is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, a draw to tourists and honeymooners world-wide.
Other locations included in the layout include nearby Stanley Safaris Lodge, Tongabezi Lodge, a five-star romantic retreat set on the Zambezi River that feeds the falls, Mukuni Big Five Safaris and encompasses Mosi oa Tunya National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
They love their soccer in Zambia, and are thus also justifiably proud their team recently emerged victorious in the African Cup of Nations. They're also looking forward to co-hosting the United Nations World Tourism Organization Conference in 2013.
Getting there from these parts is no small trick and will take a day and a half of flying. A spin through the dryer at Kayak turned up a roundtrip flight for $1,929 out of LAX available on Travelocity by way of New York City on South African Airways.
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