Plan a safari in Zambia: when to go and where to head

Here, safari is done on foot, by canoe or in a natural pool perched on the edge of Victoria Falls. Zambia offers vast, little-visited parks where leopards, lions and elephants are met far from convoys of vehicles.

Why go on safari in Zambia?

Zambia shares UNESCO-listed Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe and has some of the wildest parks in southern Africa. South Luangwa is regarded as the birthplace of the walking safari, and its leopard density is reputed to be among the highest on the continent.

What to discover in Zambia?

Livingstone and Victoria Falls

About 1.7 km wide, Mosi-oa-Tunya falls are visited from Livingstone, some ten kilometres away. Flow peaks from March to May, with a cloud of spray visible from afar, and is lowest in October and November, when the rock face is exposed on the Zambian side. Allow three nights for both banks, the 1905 bridge to Zimbabwe, a Zambezi cruise and a day trip to Chobe park in Botswana, an hour's drive away via the Kazungula bridge.

The Luangwa Valley

In the east, South Luangwa National Park is reached by a flight of about an hour and a quarter from Lusaka to Mfuwe, or by road from neighbouring Malawi. This is where walking safaris led by armed guides began, in the 1950s. Allow four nights to combine morning walks, night drives in search of leopards and sightings of Thornicroft's giraffe, endemic to the valley. Many camps close during the rains, from November to April.

The Lower Zambezi and Kafue

Facing Zimbabwe, Lower Zambezi park is explored by canoe along the river, among hippos and elephants coming to drink, often for three nights in a camp reached by light aircraft from Lusaka. To the west, Kafue, one of the largest parks in Africa, covers more than 22,000 km²; its Busanga Plains, in the north, are only accessible from roughly June to October. Both parks see few visitors but require a substantial budget for their remote camps.

Cities to visit in Zambia

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Must-sees in Zambia

Five experiences that set Zambia apart from its neighbours.

Devil's Pool

Natural pool on the lip of the falls, off Livingstone Island, where you swim above the drop when the river is low.

Walking Safari

Small-group walk behind a guide and an armed ranger in South Luangwa, reading tracks and approaching wildlife differently.

Zambezi Canoeing

Paddling down the river in the Lower Zambezi, close to elephants and hippos, led by specialist guides.

Kasanka Bats

From late October to December, several million straw-coloured fruit bats gather each evening in Kasanka forest, one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles.

Victoria Falls Bridge

Steel bridge built in 1905 linking Zambia and Zimbabwe above the gorges, the site of bungee jumping and a giant swing.

Frequently asked questions

Should you see Victoria Falls from Zambia or Zimbabwe?
The two banks complement each other. The Zimbabwean side offers the widest head-on view of most of the falls, while the Zambian side lets you get close to the edge, reach Livingstone Island and walk through the spray. The KAZA Univisa makes crossing back and forth easy.
When can you swim in Devil's Pool?
Only when the Zambezi is low, usually from mid-August to early January depending on the year. Access is only by a guided trip from Livingstone Island, in small groups and by reservation. The rest of the year, the current makes the pool unusable.
Why is South Luangwa famous for walking safaris?
Conservationist Norman Carr launched the first guided bush walks there in the 1950s. The tradition continues with trained guides and armed rangers, in the morning, from June to October. Walking reveals tracks, insects and plants that a vehicle never shows.
How do you get from Lusaka to Livingstone?
By road, allow about 480 km and six to seven hours by bus or car. Domestic flights link the two cities in just over an hour. Many travellers also fly straight into Livingstone on a regional flight from Johannesburg.
When can you see the Kasanka bat migration?
Between late October and December, peaking in November. The bats leave the forest at dusk and return at dawn: viewing is from raised platforms. Kasanka park is about six hours by road north of Lusaka.

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