Zambia

Zambia is where the walking safari was born, where Victoria Falls is best experienced, and where some of Africa’s greatest wildlife spectacles still unfold with almost no one watching. Few countries offer so much variety — and so much space to enjoy it.

Why Zambia

• The birthplace of the walking safari. Pioneered in the Luangwa Valley in the 1950s, and still done better here than anywhere.
• The best of Victoria Falls. Livingstone Island, Devil’s Pool and the upper-Zambezi river lodges are all on the Zambian side.
• Two great migrations. Up to around ten million fruit bats at Kasanka — often called the largest mammal migration on earth — and Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration on the Liuwa Plain.
• Rivers and lakes. Canoe the Lower Zambezi, fish for tigerfish, dive Lake Tanganyika.
• Space. Kafue alone is the second-largest national park in Africa, and visitor numbers across the country are low.
• Guiding. Zambian guides train for years, and small, owner-run camps are the norm.

Zambia region by region

The Luangwa Valley. South Luangwa is Zambia’s flagship park — leopards, walking, night drives and huge concentrations of game. North Luangwa, its wild neighbour, is walking-only and home to Zambia’s black rhino.

The Zambezi. The Lower Zambezi offers canoeing among elephants and some of the best tiger fishing in Africa. Upstream, Victoria Falls and Livingstone combine the falls with quiet river lodges, and Lake Kariba offers houseboats and fishing.

The west. Kafue National Park — with the seasonal Busanga Plains — is vast and varied. Further west, Liuwa Plain hosts its wildebeest migration and famous hyena clans, and Sioma Ngwezi protects the Ngonye Falls on the upper Zambezi.

The north. Kasanka’s bat migration, the shoebills and black lechwe of the Bangweulu Wetlands, the historic Shiwa Ng’andu estate, and in the far north, Lake Tanganyika — one of the deepest lakes on earth, with exceptional diving.

Lusaka and the Kafue Flats. The capital is the main gateway, with beginner scuba diving and easy trips to the birdlife of Blue Lagoon and Lochinvar on the Kafue Flats.

A classic first trip

Our favourite introduction to Zambia is about ten nights: four in South Luangwa for walking and leopards, three in the Lower Zambezi for canoeing and the river, and three at Victoria Falls on the upper Zambezi. Add Kafue for more space, or Lake Tanganyika to finish on the water.

When to go

June to October is the main safari season, getting hotter and better for game as it goes. The emerald season, roughly November to April, brings the migrations, newborn animals, the best birding and lower prices, while Victoria Falls peaks from about March to May. See the best time to visit Zambia, month by month.

Getting there and around

International flights arrive in Lusaka, and Livingstone has its own international airport for Victoria Falls. Zambia’s domestic airline network links Lusaka with Mfuwe (South Luangwa), Livingstone, the Lower Zambezi airstrips in season and towns across the north, and light aircraft reach remote camps. Many nationalities can visit Zambia and Zimbabwe on the KAZA UniVisa — always check current entry rules before booking.

Frequently asked questions