Our Zambia safaris or Zambia tours offer you a precious opportunity to discover the real version of Africa. Zambia, the birthplace of the legendary African walking safaris is a large, landlocked country in south-central Africa. This beautiful nation might not be as high-profile as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa or Botswana, but Zambia has a great safari industry with lots of incredible attractions, activities, tours and holidays on offer.
Zambia’s fantastic reputation is helped along by a great safety record and friendly and English-speaking local people with a positivity not easily seen elsewhere in Africa. Zambia’s premier attraction – which it shares with Zimbabwe – is the Victoria Falls – a World Heritage Site and one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. No Zambian safari should miss this natural sight.
Another major attraction that makes Zambia safaris so special is its wildlife and the setting in which you can see it. While the animal kingdom is much the same as in other nearby countries, Zambia safaris parks are much wilder. Let’s go on a Zambian adventure!
Recommended Zambia Safaris by Experts
Where To Go In Zambia | Best Destinations For Zambia Safaris
Zambia has some of the most beautiful and wildest national parks in Africa. These include the game-rich South Luangwa, the quiet Lower Zambezi with its riverside lodges, and the wide floodplains of Kafue. And then there is mighty Victoria Falls, a wide curtain of thundering water and the best place to visit on Tanzania safaris for all types of adventure activities – little wonder it’s known as the adventure capital of Africa and one of the continent’s top places of interest.
1. Victoria Falls
Where does one begin to describe the awe and thrill of Victoria Falls? Indeed no trip to Zambia would be complete without a visit to Victoria Falls. It should be number one on your bucket list of things to do on Zambia safaris, and there is little doubt why. Twice the height of Niagara Falls, it is the world’s largest uninterrupted sheet of falling water.
It displaces 500 million liters of water per minute (the equivalent of 200 Olympic-sized swimming pools). It is no wonder that the local name for Victoria Falls is Mosi oa Tunya, or the ‘Smoke that Thunders’. Shared by the two countries, Zambia and Zimbabwe, protected within two national parks, Victoria Falls National Park and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, this is a Natural World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Victoria Falls is also the adventure capital of Africa. You could stay here for ages and enjoy a different activity every day, from white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and gorge swinging to helicopter and microlight flights (also known as the flight of angels), sunset boat and steam train cruises, horse riding, game drives, canoe trips, and so much more.
2. South Luangwa National Park
If you are looking for fantastic big game viewing in Zambia, the best place to visit is unquestionably the South Luangwa National Park.
The impressive butterfly-shaped park covers an area of about 9,050 km2 of the Luangwa valley. Few African safari parks can match the remarkable density of game that gathers at this Zambia safari park’s rivers and lakes: huge herds of elephant, hippo and buffalo, well-fed lion prides, graceful giraffe and giant Nile crocodiles are among the crowd-pleasers.
You can enjoy day and night drives which are a great opportunity to see leopard. Apart from housing some of the top safari lodges in Zambia, South Luangwa is known for its guided walking safari adventures that can be anything from a gentle morning stroll from your luxurious lodge to several days in a remote bush camp.
This Zambia safaris park is in fact the birthplace of the legendary African walking safaris. Few experiences on African Continent can rival walking through an untamed wilderness led by experienced, armed ranger guides who are passionate about the bush and take great pride in sharing their knowledge and enthusiasm with you.
3. Lower Zambezi National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park is a quiet game park with wide, flat floodplains and a wild mountain backdrop. It is also offers serious game viewing. A handful of its safari lodges and camps sit on the Zambezi riverbank, with a slew of day safari activities perfectly arranged to suit your mood.
This top-tier safari destination is ideal for those who are interested an expertly tailored Zambia safari experience, where you get to decide whether to wake up early for a sunrise game drive or sleep late and go fishing – it is entirely up to you! Just be sure to go on a canoe safari, it is a great way to get close to hippos, elephants, buffalos, crocodiles and aquatic birds. And it is from the vantage point of a canoe that you truly get to know the meaning of big game.
4. Kafue National Park
Spanning 22,400km2, wild and unspoiled Kafue National Park is more than twice the size of South Africa’s Kruger National Park, yet receives a fraction of its visitors. Those seeking an intimate unspoilt safari experience will be in their element as chances are you won’t see any other tourist vehicles on your game drives, not even at a big cat sighting!
This isn’t the place to come with a wildlife checklist but there is plenty to see – huge herds of red lechwe and puku offer prey for the many Kafue’s predators, especially lion – and it is the best place to visit on Zambia safaris to see cheetah. The best lodges in Kafue are found at Busanga Plains, wide open floodplains known for the best game viewing in the park.
5. North Luangwa National Park
North Luangwa National Park will appeal to those who want to experience Africa at its absolute wildest. This Zambia Safari Park has no permanent lodges, only few roads and just a trickle of visitors. While you may not see as much wildlife here as in neighbouring South Luangwa National Park, the game viewing is still great.
Highlights include impressive herds of elephant and buffalo, a large number of lion prides, frequent hyena and leopard sightings, and endemic Cookson’s wildebeest. Activities in North Luangwa focus firmly on walking safaris, some of the best things to do on Zambia safaris.
6. Kasanka National Park
If you thought East Africa’s wildebeest migration was spectacular, you have not seen the Kasanka Bat Migration in Zambia! It is officially the biggest mammal migration on Earth and one of the natural world’s best-kept secrets.
For years this startling sight of nature remained virtually unseen by African safari enthusiasts. Every year from October until December, a staggering 10 million African Straw-coloured Fruit-bats descend into a tiny patch of evergreen swamp forest in Kasanka National Park in northern Zambia.
You can witness this incredible event, along with the chance of seeing some of Big 5, rare antelopes, incredible scenery and much more.
best time to visit Zambia
Zambia safaris and tours are best arranged when it is easiest to see the wildlife since apart from Victoria Falls, that is the major attraction. And the best time for wildlife viewing in Zambia is the Dry season months of May to October. During this time, animals tend to congregate near water sources, which make watching them easier.
The Wet season months of November to April in Zambia are called the ‘Emerald season’, named after the infinite shades of green in the luscious bush at this time. South Luangwa National Park in particular is enthralling during the Emerald season.
However, please note that some accommodation close at this time of the year, and roads can be in very bad shape. The best time to visit Victoria Falls is from June to August as they are at their most spectacular in these months.
How much does a safari in Zambia cost?
Budget Zambia safaris cost from $150, a mid-range safari start at around $400, and a top-end, luxury safaris in Zambia start from $500 to $800, all per person per day.
Below is a costings table to gives an instant overview of how much the average Zambia safari will cost, depending on your style of travel. You can use this table to quickly match your daily budget to the kind of Zambia safari you can afford. As with most safari destinations in African safari, timings and location make all the difference to what you pay for a safari in Zambia.
| Comfort Level | Private (per day) | Group (per day) |
|---|---|---|
| Budget Camping | $200 | $150 |
| Budget Accommodation | $225 | $175 |
| Mid Range Accommodation | $400 | $250 |
| Luxury Accommodation | $575 | $500 |
| Luxury Plus Accommodation | $1,075 | n/a |
How safe is Zambia for tourists?
Zambia is very safe country for tourists to visit. Zambia safari parks rarely see any crime. Zambian people are friendly, polite and full of curiosity, and most would be shocked to think you felt unsafe or unwelcome in their country. In larger urban areas such as the capital Lusaka, the same rules apply as they would in any city. That is, don’t move flashy expensive items, leave valuables in a hotel safe, don’t walk around at night.
In the parks, wildlife viewing always entails some risk – after all wild animals are unpredictable. However, if you use a bit of common sense and listen to the instructions of your guide, then you will be fine.
More Important Tips When Travelling To Zambia
1. Money and Spending
The unit of currency in Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha although US Dollars are widely accepted at hotels and lodges throughout the country. If you plan on paying by credit card, note that high commissions are sometimes charged around Victoria Falls, and the more remote lodges may have difficulty in processing credit card payments – check with your safari expert before you leave.
Generally speaking, Zambia safaris are fully inclusive which means that all of your guided walks, game drives, meals and drinks are included aside from the premium brand alcohol and imported liquors.
2. Tipping
Tipping in Zambia is entirely at your will but as a guideline we suggest US $10 per person per day for your ranger and tracker and US $25 to be divided amongst the rest of the lodge staff. At restaurants, some establishments will add service charge for your bill; if not, 10% is standard. For in-depth tipping guidelines, please contact us.
3. What to Pack For Zambia Safaris?
If you are coming for a safari in Zambia, pack lightweight, loose-fitting clothing in natural fabrics such as cotton or linen that will keep you cool, as well as a fleece or jacket for the evenings and early mornings.
Zambia is known for its exceptional walking safaris so be sure to pack a pair of comfortable walking shoes, as well as a hat or cap to protect you from the sun.
If you are visiting Zambia in the rainy season, remember to pack a rain coat – downpours here are generally short but very heavy. During game drives, wear light neutral clothing colours such as olive, khaki and brown but not white as it will quickly get dusty. Avoid dark blue and black as these colours attract tsetse flies.
When planning a Zambia safari, bear in mind that the dress code is conservative so women should pack knee-length or longer skirts to wear in the towns.