Zambia Travel Guide

Yes, the mighty Victoria Falls is the headline attraction. But Zambia is also home to hidden gems—South Luangwa's leopard-rich valleys, Lower Zambezi's canoe safaris, Kafue's vast plains, and North Luangwa's remote walking trails. Add world-class guiding and intimate bush camps, and you have the recipe for a rich, unforgettable safari.

A Zambia safari is about immersion in the wild. With highly trained guides, you'll enjoy day and night drives, superb walking safaris, and—where rivers allow—boating or canoeing safaris. These varied activities set Zambia apart from other destinations.

Accommodation is usually in small, intimate camps, often with just a few rooms or tents. Standards are high, hospitality is warm, and the setting is always spectacular. Many camps are family-run and deeply connected to conservation, giving you a safari that feels personal and authentic.

South Luangwa National Park is Zambia's flagship safari destination. It offers open-vehicle day and night drives, guided walking safaris, and some of the best leopard sightings in Africa.

The floodplains of the Luangwa River provide rich game viewing. Expect to see Thornicroft's giraffe, Crawshay's zebra, endemic herds of puku antelope, elephants, and lions. Leopards are almost a guarantee here.

Bush camps are seasonal (May to mid-November), small, and personal, with superb guides. While cheetah and rhino are absent, the overall density of wildlife makes South Luangwa a quintessential safari park.

Set along the mighty Zambezi River, Lower Zambezi is wild, scenic, and best explored by canoe. Paddling along the channels brings you up close to elephants, buffalo, and antelope as they drink. Birding is superb, with nearly 380 species recorded.

Evening game drives reveal leopards, lions, and wild dogs, while boat safaris and fishing add variety to the experience. Accommodation is in intimate bush lodges with warm hospitality and expert guiding.

This is one of the best parks for travellers seeking variety beyond game drives, with canoeing and river-based safaris as a highlight.

Zambia's largest and oldest park, Kafue is a massive, untamed wilderness that feels truly off the beaten path. Its northern Busanga Plains teem with buffalo, red lechwe, and antelope, drawing predators like lion, cheetah, wild dog, and leopard.

Kafue is one of the few places in Zambia where you'll see cheetah. Its lions are famous for their tree-climbing behaviour.

Bush camps here are rustic yet comfortable, offering authentic safaris far from the crowds. For travellers looking for something raw and adventurous, Kafue is a gem.

North Luangwa is more remote than its southern sister and is best known for walking safaris. With only a handful of small camps (some sleeping just six guests), this is one of Africa's wildest, most exclusive safari experiences.

Expect unusual species like sable antelope, Cookson's wildebeest, bush pig, and Lichtenstein's hartebeest, alongside big buffalo herds and lions. Birding is excellent, and the escarpment creates varied terrain.

This is a park for the seasoned safari-goer who wants to step deeper into wilderness.

Mosi-oa-Tunya means "the smoke that thunders"—a reference to Victoria Falls. Livingstone, the nearby town, is Zambia's adventure hub, offering activities from helicopter flights to whitewater rafting.

The park itself is small, but its lodges enjoy frequent visits from elephants, hippos, and antelope. It's also one of the few places in Zambia to see rhino.

Best times to visit the falls:

• April–May: Peak high-water flow; the spray is so intense it obscures the falls.
• July–September: Lower water levels; excellent visibility and access to Livingstone Island and Devil’s Pool.
• October–November: The Zambian side can dry to a rock face, but the Zimbabwean side still flows.

A variety of accommodation lines the Zambezi, from luxury lodges to boutique hotels. Activities include river cruises, horse safaris, microlight flights, and cultural visits.

Distances are vast. The best way to travel between parks is via light aircraft transfers (scheduled or chartered). Within safari areas, 4x4 vehicles and even walking transfers between bush camps are common.

For Livingstone and Victoria Falls, we arrange ground transfers and all activity logistics.

Zambia offers safaris that are wild, authentic, and refreshingly uncrowded. From the thunder of Victoria Falls to canoe safaris on the Zambezi, leopard encounters in Luangwa, and tree-climbing lions in Kafue, it's a destination that feels like Africa before mass tourism.

Speak to us about the type of safari you'd enjoy, the parks you'd like to visit, and your budget. We'll gladly put together a detailed Zambia itinerary—complete with lodge recommendations, transfers, and expert guidance—at no obligation.