Zambia Safari Guide

Zambia is an incredible and immersive African safari destination. It’s often thought of primarily for Victoria Falls and only secondarily as a safari destination. However, Zambia has been running safaris as long as almost any African country, and it’s beloved by safari purists for its wild, authentic nature. This authenticity, along with safety, a diversity of safari activies and camps, plus wildlife than rivals almost anywhere (except rhino) is finally putting the country on the map. We’ve created this short primer to introduce you to one of our favorite places in the world.

Zambia’s Best National Parks

Unlike some other countries in Africa, Zambia has few private game reserves. However, the national parks are well-managed and operated somewhat like private reserves, with night drives and limited off-roading available. Here are some of the places you’ll want to visit:

South Luangwa National Park

Located in eastern Zambia, South Luangwa covers 2.2 million acres along the Luangwa River. Known as the birthplace of the walking safari, the park offers exceptional wildlife viewing. There is an extremely high density of leopards, and large herds congregate near the river during the dry season. We highly recommend a camp-to-camp walk as part of your itinerary here.

Lower Zambezi National Park

Situated along the Zambezi River, Lower Zambezi National Park spans one million acres. This elephant paradise offers diverse activities, including walking safaris, canoeing, boating, and traditional game drives, all set against spectacular sunsets over the river.

Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park is one of Africa’s largest parks, covering 5.5 million acres in western Zambia. Yet it remains wild, diverse, and less visited than other major parks. The northern Busanga Plains offer some of Africa’s best lion viewing with relatively few tsetse flies and exceptional biodiversity.

Liuwa Plains National Park

Located in remote western Zambia, Liuwa Plains covers 832,000 acres of open grassland that was once the traditional hunting ground of the Lozi kings. The park is home to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration, with vast herds moving across the honey-colored plains. The remote location offer an authentic African safari experience with minimal crowds.

The Bangweulu Wetlands

Located in northern Zambia near Lake Bangweulu, this community-managed conservation area covers approximately 1.5 million acres of pristine wetlands. While not technically a national park, the area is renowned for exceptional birding opportunities, including the rare shoebill stork and countless waterbirds.

Kasanka National Park

Kasanka National Park covers 96,000 acres in central Zambia’s miombo woodland region. The park is world-famous for hosting the planet’s largest mammal migration, when up to 15 million fruit bats arrive between October and December, creating an extraordinary natural spectacle. 

Zambian Seasonality

Zambia’s weather can be divided into two distinct seasons – dry and wet. Many camps will close for the wet season, but there are opportunities to visit year-round.

Dry Season (May-October)

Clear skies start to return in April, marking the opening of many safari camps across the country. May and June are great for seeing the mighty power of Victoria Falls at full flow, but the wildlife viewing improves as the landscape dries out in August and September. Sightings get even better through October until the rain starts up again in early to mid-November. However, temperatures get increasingly hot, often pushing into triple digits. It’s a great time to visit if you’re a safari lover and used to hot summer temperatures at home. 

Wet Season (November-April)

When the summer rains begin to fall in November, the animals rejoice and disperse into the parks. Many camps will close during this time to rest and repair because the rain becomes more disruptive as you get into December. However, some lodges in South Luangwa will stay open to offer unique river safaris in an emerald landscape as the Luangwa River swells to its full size. Viewing of bats in Kasanka and wildebeest in Liuwa Plain is also best during the wet season.

Zambian Safari Pricing

As Zambia has gained in popularity, rates at Zambian safari camps are comparable to those elsewhere in Africa. We suggest budgeting a minimum of $700 per person per night for your safari. However, you can get better deals if you like a more bare-bones walking camp, and you can also find luxury options with private plunge pools that will take your breath away.

Accessibility and Health

Like Botswana, flights to Kennith Luanda International Airport in Lusaka, Zambia, often require an extended layover in South Africa, Ethiopia, or the Middle East. Many flights arrive in the morning, so you can catch a small aircraft or helicopter to the safari areas on arrival. Zambia has prioritized visa-free tourist access, so getting into the country is relatively simple for US passport holders. Just share your itinerary and return flight with immigration.

No vaccines are required for entry, but malaria is present in most Zambian safari areas. Consult your doctor about taking prophylaxis.

Zambian Experiences Beyond Safari

One highlight of Zambia is the diversity of experiences across the country. Many types of safaris, along with other active and cultural activities, satisfy the adventure traveler.

Victoria Falls

Victoria Falls is the largest waterfall in the world, and the main tourist attraction in Zambia. You can visit during peak season, from April to June, for the best view of the massive mist cloud and “the smoke that thunders,” but there are activities here year-round. A helicopter ride over the falls makes a fantastic climax to your trip, or you can take a microlight if you are feeling adventurous. In the low flow season, starting in August, you can do other activities like swimming at the edge of the falls in Devil’s Pool or whitewater rafting downstream.

Cultural Experiences

Almost every safari lodge offers cultural visits to local villages to complement your safari. These aren’t scripted tribal dances, but truly engaging with the people supported by tourism in the parks. For a more traditional cultural interaction, travelers should visit the Liuwa Plain and the Lozi community. For a different take on the Zambezi River, far upstream of Vic Falls, we love Royal Chundu Lodge. They are focused more on authentic local cultural experiences and activities like canoeing in the upper Zambezi.

Lusaka

Lusaka isn’t a huge tourist attraction, but you sometimes have to stay overnight for flight connections. We love the Latitude 15 Degrees hotel, and the African Craft Market is an excellent place to find souvenirs or home decor.

Learn More About Zambian Safaris

To learn more about Zambia, check out some of these stories from our travels: