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WHERE TO GO
Zambia
A stunning land of waterfalls, meandering rivers and stunning wildlife...
Referred to as the “wild” and “authentic” safari Africa, Zambia offers an incredible safari experience with, arguably, some of the best guiding on the continent! The main focus of safaris to this varied landscape revolves around walking safaris which combine seemlessly with the meandering waterways of the Lower Zambezi and the "smoke that thunders" of Victoria Falls. Combined with the azure waters of the Mozambiquan coastline it definitely ranks as one of the best safaris you can get.
The best parks & regions in Zambia
Where to start with this country that has it all!? Most famed for the “valley of the leopard” and the walking safaris of the South Luangwa, a safari to Zambia offers so much. Combined with the canoeing and boating activities in the Lower Zambezi, the open grasslands and swamplands of the Kafue National Park and the relaxed spectacle that is the Victoria Falls.
For those looking for something even more remote, the migration herds of the Liuwa Plains and the walking of North Luangwa will be sure to satisfy.
Do see Parks & Regions on this page.
Best time to visit Zambia
For those wanting to walk and drive in the game parks, the best time to travel to Zambia is in their dry season between June and October.
At the end of this period, as the temperatures spike to around 45 degrees, and on account of the “black cotton soil” (which is a type of clay soil), many areas of Zambia become impassable. This “wet season” runs from November through until April and only really offers boating safaris.
Please see our When to Go section for a more detailed breakdown of the areas and months below.
Safari & safari holidays
For many in the industry, Zambia holds a special place. This is safari as it was mean to be, walking through the bush, sleeping in seasonal bush camps and interacting with the animals as a fellow animal.
With plenty of different destinations and topographies, no safari here is ever the same but the chance to rub shoulders with some of the continent’s best and most experienced guides is a real treat.
With so many nuances to factor in, there is no substitute, in our experience, for having a talk through with someone but, to get you started we have also developed a Safari Finder that should allow you to get a few options initially.
Do see Best Safaris & Holidays on this page for more ideas of what is on offer.
Zambia Wildlife
As the name suggests the “valley of the leopard” (aka South Luangwa National Park) has very strong populations of leopard in particular but spending a week or so between a couple of parks will yield very good game sightings with lion, elephant, hippos and, on occasion, wild dog being amongst the list of regular sightings.
Don’t miss our Zambia Wildlife Guide on this page.
Get help with a Safari to Zambia
As much as AI has changed the way we all approach our lives, there is still no substitute for picking up the phone and having a chat through the options with one of us on +44 1525 840 149
This allows us to completely tailor the property choices, costs and itinerary length to your needs…but we also understand that this is not always possible with the busy lives we all lead.
With this in mind, we have also put together a safari finder tool that should help you to narrow down the initial stages at which point we can jump in to “round off the edges” as it were.
Alternatively please feel free to >send us an email with your timings, group size and rough likes and dislikes and we can get the ball rolling.
Where to Go in Zambia
Zambia
Do visit our full guide to Africa Destination Guide page to take in all that Southern and East Africa has to offer.
What are the best parks & regions in Zambia for 2026/27?
Take a look at the below links for more information about the best parks and regions in Zambia for 2026/27.
Do also see our full Africa Safari Finder to find the best parks, trips and activities.
What safari & adventure holiday types is Zambia recommended for in 2026/27?
With a range of activities on offer across Africa please see a selection of some of the more popular below:
Don't miss our full What to Do in Africa safari guides for full details and ideas.
What are your top safari trips & itineraries to Zambia for 2026/27?
1 The Best of Zambia
Africa, Zambia
Visits : Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park, Victoria Falls
This ‘best bits of Zambia’ itinerary combines the mighty Victoria Falls, the South Luangwa National Park and the exhilarating Lower Zambezi National Park. If you want to tick off Zambia with all… More…
2 The Greatest Walking Safari
Africa, Zambia
Visits : Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park
Zambia is famous for its walking safaris so this itinerary gives you a feel for the best bush walks and camps in the South Luangwa National Park. You will stay in three… More…
3 World Class Waterfall and Safari
Africa, Zambia
Visits : Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park, Victoria Falls
If you only have a week to travel Zambia, this itinerary will cover the essentials. Spend 2 nights at Victoria Falls to fit in all of the adrenaline activities the falls has… More…
4 Crocodiles and Leopards
Africa, Zambia
Visits : Lower Zambezi National Park, Lusaka, South Luangwa National Park
This itinerary combines fantastic camps in the Lower Zambezi National Park and then onto the South Luangwa National Park. You can enjoy safaris on the water, in open-sided vehicles and on foot… More…
5 The Magic of Kafue
Africa, Zambia
Visits : Kafue National Park, Lusaka
Located in the centre of Zambia is Kafue National Park, and at a size of 22,400 square kilometres (approximately the same size as Wales), Kafue is the country’s largest national park. Although… More…
Don't miss our new Africa Safari Finder to find safari ideas by destination, region and type...
What are the best hotels & lodges in Zambia for 2026/27?
We highly recommend the following hotels & lodges for Zambia for 2026/27. These are all tried and tested by The Africa Specialists™ so don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over them or to check availability for you to your schedule.
NB. All prices for properties exclude applicable park fees and are guide prices.
Do also see our full Top Five Hotels & Lodges in Africa guide to the best safari accomodation in Southern and East Africa.
What kind of wildlife highlights should you expect to find across Zambia in 2026/27?
For 2026/27, we expect you’ll be able to find the following wildlife in the Zambia bearing in mind the quality of guiding, budgets, time of year and duration of stay all affect your chances of finding or seeing any of the following outstanding animals that dwell in Zambia…
Please visit our full Africa Wildlife page for a full guide to Zambia’s wildlife in and where to go to find it!
Do visit our Best Time to Visit Africa page for a full guide
What to do in Zambia in 2026/27
Do visit our What to Do speciality guide pages for Zambia for 2026/27. These have all been put together by The Africa Specialists™ for you but don’t hesitate to call us with any queries over the options and ideas seen or to check availability for you to your schedule.
Please visit our What to Do in Africa for our full guides
FAQ’s for Zambia safaris in 2026/27
When is the best time to visit Zambia for safari?
When planning a safari in Zambia the key element to consider is the “black cotton” soil which runs throughout the country and becomes, essentially, unpassable during the rains.
With this in mind, for those looking to go on a famous walking safari, we would normally recommend any time between May and early October as, later in October, while still dry, can get very hot and, as such, not great for walking.
Outside of this period has been cleverly re-marketed as the “emerald” season where the county renews and flourishes but it is also a period when travel is at its hardest so be prepared for boats and limited safari activities.
Please see our best time to visit section for a more detailed run through.
What makes Zambia safaris different from other African safaris?
Where a safari to Zambia is different from other safaris across Africa is, without doubt, due to its long history of walking safaris, particularly in the South Luangwa river valley.
This region has, since Norman Carr in the 70s, been home to some of the best walking guides and walking safaris in Africa. With seasonal bush camps to walk between in the park and animals that have long gotten used to seeing humans on foot, it is possible to see as much if not more than driving in many of the other main safari areas of Africa.
On top of this main feature, many of the properties are still privately owned and so offer a sense of visiting family in what are still some of most remote areas of Africa.
Please see our section on walking safaris in Zambia for more information.
Which safari parks are best in Zambia?
Zambia has 4 main areas to consider for a safari, South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi National Park, Kafue National Park and the mighty Victoria Falls. Each of which offers something slightly different.
South Luangwa is far and away the most popular of the parks in the country and is famed for its walking safaris and seasonal “reed” bushcamps where some of the best guides in Africa will show you around.
The meadering waterways of the Lower Zambezi combine very well after the heat of the Luangwa valley and activities such as canoeing and driving give a different perspective again.
The final safari park, Kafue, is often seen as a cheaper option as it is located a 3 hour drive from Lusaka, but the Busanga Plains, in the north, provide some spectacular game viewing without the “noise” of the other two parks so can suit those looking for something more remote.
Please see our parks and regions section for more information.
Can you combine a safari with Victoria Falls?
Straddling the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, it is simple to start or end your safari in Zambia (or Botswana) with a few nights at the Victoria Falls, staying in or around the town of Livingstone.
Most clients will look to fly into or out of the town and then will look to stay in one of the many properties that are located either next to the falls, such as the Royal Livingstone Hotel, or further upstream in somewhere like Toka Leya or Waterberry, where you can relax with a sundowner as you float along with the stream.
Please see a few of our favourite itineraries to see how the falls can be included in a safari to Zambia.
Is Zambia safe for tourists?
Zambia has, since going back to a multi party political system in the 1990s, been considered to be one of the safest of the safari countries in Africa.
With some of the most established safari routes, knowledgeable safari guides and some of the continent’s most welcoming people it is definitely one of the top 3 destinations in Africa to head to.
As with any of the main safari destinations, it is a country that still has malaria from a medical standpoint.
Please see the British Foreign Office web site for further in depth information.
Why travel with The Africa Specialists™?
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Expert knowledge
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We have you covered!
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Please call us any time on USA +1-917-336-2937 or drop us a note via our contact us page.
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Please call us any time on USA +1-917-336-2937 or drop us a note via our contact us page.
