Zambia is a truly magical safari destination, considered by some to be one of Africa's best-kept secrets. This Southern African country comprises all the best aspects of its more high-profile counterparts, like Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa. Zambia offers a well-rounded safari experience in the raw African wilderness, endowed with several awe-inspiring natural wonders, an abundance of diverse wildlife, mighty bodies of water, and vast, untamed open spaces.
This beautiful country is the birthplace of the legendary African walking safari, as well as home to Victoria Falls and the Zambezi River. This popularity of Zambia as a safari destination can be largely attributed to the many tourist attractions the country has to offer. Jaw-dropping views of crashing waterfalls, rivers reflecting the gorgeous sunrise, and untamed wilderness that's home to a variety of wildlife are commonplace throughout Zambia. Not to mention that there are so many things to do in Zambia.
Zambia's Natural Wonders and Safari Experiences
Zambia shares Africa's biggest waterfall with its neighbour, Zimbabwe - with the natural wonder acting as a natural border between the two countries. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (which aptly translates to ‘Smoke that Thunders'), Victoria Falls attracts roughly one million visitors annually to watch the mesmerising water cascade down into the mighty Zambezi River. On Zambia's Victoria Falls side, you'll enjoy exceptionally close-up views of the waterfall, as well as access to Devil's Pool - a natural rock pool situated at the very edge of the waterfall, known to provide an adrenaline-filled swim - during low-water season.
To top it all off, you can easily cross the border from Zambia into Zimbabwe to enjoy all the activities and experiences the other side of Victoria Falls has to offer. The Zimbabwean side is where you'll find all the heart-pumping escapades that have earned Victoria Falls the nickname “Africa's Adventure Capital”.
Game drives through wildlife-rich regions are awe-inspiring, but there is one safari type that outdoes the traditional - the walking safari.
Zambia | The Home of the Walking Safari
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Kafue National Park stands as Zambia's largest conservation area and the second largest in the entire world. Arguably Zambia's most popular safari destination, the Lower Zambezi National Park lies opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park, with nothing but the mighty Zambezi River separating the two. During your visit, indulge in day and night game drives, guided nature walks, river cruises and fishing expeditions. Liuwa Plain National Park is one of the world's oldest conservation regions, with a history dating back to the 19th century. In addition to its conservation merits, Liuwa Plain also hosts the second-largest wildebeest migration on the continent and is renowned for its lion population.
Best Time to Visit Zambia
Like with most things in life, timing is everything. The best time to visit Zambia depends on where you want to go and what you want to do, as the optimal time to view the waterfall in Victoria Falls differs from the ideal time to see game in the national parks. Although there's an overlap where you can enjoy both experiences, it is a small window to see the two at their best in the same period.
If you're keen on a safari experience with little to no visitors about, then you should travel to Zambia in May and June. The ground is still a bit muddy and slippery after the rains, but camps and lodges begin to open again around this time. July to November is high safari season in Zambia, with visitor numbers being at their peak. This time is also known as the dry season and is a popular time of year to enjoy a safari trip. Vegetation thins out significantly, making it much easier to spot animals in the bush. Additionally, several precious water sources dry up, and wildlife prefer not to move too far away from any remaining ones.
July to November is also the best time to enjoy a walking safari in the legendary South Luangwa National Park. August is a particularly excellent time for walking safaris, with the drier bush being easier to navigate on foot. March, April, and May are great times to see Victoria Falls. After the rains seen at the beginning of the year, the flow rate of the Zambezi River increases, which in turn feeds the Falls. In May, the Falls are at their fullest and highest. This might sound like a good thing, but the large volume of water plummeting over the edge creates a huge amount of mist and a deafening noise (hence the name Mosi-oa-Tunya or the Smoke that Thunders), making it difficult to actually see or photograph the waterfall.
January, February, and March are perfect for birdwatching. If you're an avid birder, Zambia offers some of the best birdwatching on the continent. The Southern African country is home to 860 species of avifauna, with South Luangwa, Kafue and Lower Zambezi supplying outstanding birding opportunities. Peak rainy season in Zambia takes place in the first three months of the year.
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Ideally, you'd want a trip that encompasses the best of both worlds - an adventure in Victoria Falls and fantastic game viewing in the national parks. July And August are tourist seasons in Zambia, meaning that the country sees its highest volume of visitors during these two months. It's the best time of year to enjoy both the waterfall and a safari, so Victoria Falls and the more popular national parks tend to be packed. Zambia's low or green season (i.e., when the rains come in) is still a fantastic time to enjoy a safari.
Planning Your Zambia Safari
Preparation is key for any holiday, but especially for a safari in Africa. If it's your first time in Africa or on safari, consider combining Victoria Falls with one of Zambia's national parks, like South Luangwa, to get the best of both worlds. But if this isn't your first rodeo and you've already experienced Southern Africa's most popular safari destinations, then you might want to enjoy an adventure off the beaten track.
The length of all trips to Zambia depends on how many destinations you want to visit. It's suggested that you try to spend at least two to three nights at each destination on your itinerary to get a well-rounded experience. Keep in mind that the distances between destinations are usually long and most require a light aircraft to get from place to place. Aim to have as many full days as possible in a destination.
A good exercise before you start planning your safari is to nail down your must-sees and must-dos. These refer to activities, sightings, experiences, or accommodations that are top priority for you and must be on your itinerary. Knowing your interests or preferences makes it much easier to plan a tailor-made trip, as it's unlikely that you'll be able to do and see everything that Zambia has to offer - well unless you have unlimited time and deep pockets.
It may sound excessive, but it's advised that you begin planning your safari about a year in advance - especially if it's to a popular tourist destination like Victoria Falls. The best accommodation is limited and fills up quickly. For safari destinations that are a bit more under the radar than Zambia's heavy hitters, you have a bit more breathing room.
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Yes, Zambia is a safe country for travellers, and locals are generally warm, welcoming, and friendly towards visitors. Zambia is a peaceful, stable, and thriving democracy, but, as with any country, there's still a moderate risk of petty crime, like pick-pocketing, and opportunistic theft in busy urban areas.
Safari Lodge Options in Zambia
There is no shortage of outstanding safari lodges and camps in Zambia. Whether you’re looking for the ultimate rustic camp with minimal walls and maximum bush ambience or a more traditional luxurious retreat with all the modern comforts, Zambia has plenty of options for everyone.
- Mukambi Safari Lodge, on the east bank of the Kafue River, is an excellent springboard for exploring Zambia’s largest national park. Visitors can choose between three types of accommodations: thatched chalets, luxury standing tents, or a two-bedroom riverside villa aimed at families.
- Chundukwa River Lodge Situated on the Zambezi River 25km/16mi upstream of the mighty Victoria Falls, Chundukwa River Lodge stands on a large farm that houses the area’s biggest and oldest stable. As might be expected, horseback rides are a popular activity here, but the property is also great for walking, running and cycling.
- Kafunta River Lodge One of the Luangwa Valley’s most luxurious lodges, Kafunta has been owned and managed by the same vastly experienced Australian-German couple since it was established in 1998. It comprises 10 stilted thatched chalets and suites set along the east bank of the Luangwa River facing South Luangwa National Park.
- Baines’ River Camp Situated just outside Lower Zambezi National Park, this idyllic camp comprises eight chalet suites and a two-bedroom family cottage perched on the north bank of the mighty Zambezi River. The chalets have been outfitted with incredible attention to detail.
- Toka Leya Camp Part of the reliably fabulous Wilderness group of upmarket bush properties, Toka Leya Camp stands on the bank of the Zambezi River a short distance upstream of Victoria Falls. It is located in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, so there is usually plenty of wildlife in the area, most visibly hippos and elephants.
- Mfuwe Lodge is the perfect base for safaris in South Luangwa National Park. You don’t need to go far to see lots of animals when staying here. All 18 chalets, carefully positioned in the shade of ancient mahogany and ebony trees, have views over a large lagoon that attracts thirsty animals in the Dry season.
- Busanga Plains Camp As Zambia luxury safari camps go, it doesn’t get more ‘bush’ than Busanga Plains Camp. This small seasonal bush camp is located in the middle of the famous Busanga floodplains in Kafue National Park.
- Tongabezi Lodge is an award-winning ecolodge set in large leafy grounds that run down to the Zambezi River just 12km/7mi upstream of Victoria Falls. It comprises a dozen individually decorated cottages and houses, all of which ooze style and offer atmospheric views to the river.
- Time + Tide King Lewanika The remote Liuwa Plain National Park in the far west of Zambia is one of Africa’s last great wilderness areas. It is also home to Time + Tide King Lewanika, an alluring lodge named after the local monarch who first offered protection to the area back in the 1880s.
- Ila Safari Lodge offers luxury tented accommodations in Kafue National Park. The tents seamlessly blend into the wild surroundings while offering sweeping views of the Kafue River.
Additional Lodge Considerations
Zambia is home to some of the best quality safari experiences on the continent. The lodges are across the board more of a rustic barefoot luxury experience, than super glitzy. Of course though, there are very luxurious options out there if that is your style. The essence of a Zambia safari though, is not in the added creature comforts like private pools, spas and gyms, but luxury can be found in the quality of the overall safari experience - a high bar which has been set across the country.
Zambia is home to some of the most knowledgeable guides on the continent, and as such, it is a place for the seasoned safari goer who wants a wholly enriching wilderness experience. Even though some of the rustic lodges are not flashy, Zambia’s excellent dedication to phenomenal high-quality safari and truly world-class wildlife areas means that even in their shabby-chic glory, lodges here still can come with a price tag. Not to the extent that, say, safari-ing in Botswana does, but it is not the most economical option either. You can escape the crowds more than you could think possible on a Zambia safari.
One of the best lodges for this is Mwaleshi Camp - tucked away in the wilds of the remote North Luangwa National Park; this is a very open wilderness experience, like camping, but with an ever so Zambia twist. The structure is made up of reed, and so it leaves absolutely no footprint on the surrounding nature. It is a unique experience, and although the accommodation is fairly basic - nothing about the experience ordinary. It offers the very best of the walking safari purity Zambia is so heralded for.
A classic example of a company which is dedicated to safari, and not so fussed about the glitz and glam is the Norman Carr walking safari lodges - Nsolo, Mchenja and Luwi. Intrepid, authentic, and classic, this is a one of a kind barefoot luxury safari experience which is best done by those who are obsessed with untangling the mystery that is the African bush from a raw and authentic perspective - on two legs! The camp experience is all about immersing yourself in nature and an excellent guide to show you a safe way to navigate it on 7km walks, moving from lodge to lodge.
Although Zambia is all about getting back to the basics of safari magic, there are a few options for those who love the life of luxury too. Chinzombo is located not far from the gates to the South Luangwa National Park, and offers chic luxury in one of the best wildlife destinations in Africa. If you want the best of Zambia’s untouched and remote wilderness without compromising on every luxury under the sun, then Liuwa Plains and King Lewinika is one of the best experiences for this on the continent - truly fit for a king!
Spreading across a rift valley with the hills of the Muchinga Escarpment to the west and the winding Luangwa River to the east, South Luangwa National Park is Zambia's premier game viewing park. Although the focus of a walking safari is to learn about smaller creatures, you often step in to thrilling encounters with big game too along the way. On one walking safari, we rounded a bend to find a huge herd of buffalo in a waterhole right in front of us. It was such a vivid experience: the noises, the smells, the heat.
Walking safaris are available across the country, but South Luangwa is really the best place to try them as the short vegetation doesn’t restrict your view of the game. Most lodges in South Luangwa are built on the river's edge, in front of wildlife action such as hippo wallowing and elephant wading. The most luxurious lodge is Chinzombo Safari Camp, with six huge, indulgent villas featuring private plunge pools, spacious decks and roll top baths.
Kafue National Park is a huge, untamed wilderness with big herds of game. A memorable way to see Busanga is from a hot air balloon on a ride at sunrise. The vast plains are laid bare below you and the wildlife continues to graze or hunt undisturbed. Kafue is an hour’s light aircraft flight, or five hours’ drive, from Lusaka. Balloon flights are only available from August until October from either Shumba or Busanga Bush Camp.
The Busanga Plains host just three safari camps. The well-spaced rooms are linked by wooden walkways, often used as lookouts by lion, and feature sliding glass doors, gleaming copper washbasins and huge indoor and outdoor showers.
Getting Around Zambia
You’ll almost certainly arrive at Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city. Lusaka International Airport is 22 kilometres from the city centre, where there are plenty of hotels and guest houses to choose from. Lusaka is the central point of Zambia and all major roads heading north, south, east and west pass through the city.
Livingstone and Victoria Falls are 470 km away, so it is highly recommended flying. Kafue National Park is located 591 km from Lusaka, if you wish to fly here a charter flight will be needed. If you want to avoid too much domestic flying, it is highly recommended South Luangwa National Park which pretty much has everything you’d want to see.
Driving in Zambia is a challenge. The distances between the various safari areas and national parks are huge and the roads are often poor. While many of the roads are getting an upgrade, in most cases the easiest is still to fly between parks in light aircraft. Many routes offer fixed schedules, but if you intend to travel away from the main parks, you’ll need to fly on a charter plane.
When transferring from one camp to another, within the same national park, you’ll usually be transferred by 4WD (effectively like a bonus game drive). If you are intending to drive, avoid travelling after dark and be aware that potholes, pedestrians and animals occur at random and other drivers can be erratic.
If you’re booking a safari tour that’s longer than six or seven days, your itinerary will likely include multiple national parks with domestic flights between them. A good question to ask your operator is whether these are scheduled flights via Lusaka, or if they’re direct flights between the national parks.
First-time safari goers are often fixated on seeing the so-called Big Five (lion, elephant, buffalo, rhino and leopard). This might seem like strange advice coming from a safari operator, but to be honest I think there are better places to see the Big Five elsewhere in Africa. In my personal opinion, the real gems of a Zambia safari are the species and experiences that you can't easily find elsewhere on the continent.
Another unique aspect of a Zambia safari is the different range of safari types. In East Africa you can spend all day in a jeep chasing the Big Five, while in Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park you can see lions, elephants, buffalo and leopards, hippos and crocodiles on a canoe safari.
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