Zambia Safari - Complete Travel Guide
Mesmerizing landscapes, lazy rivers and rushing rapids, with great wildlife to boot. With leopards feasting in treetops, warm valleys filled with lush scents and massive crocodiles lazing on the sandy banks of the Zambezi River, Zambia offers an amazing wilderness experience. Top it off with remote parks, diverse habitats and amazing guides, and you’re left with the perfect safari.
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Best Time To Go
May - October
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Average Safari Cost
$200 - $1,000 pp/day
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Highlights
Great viewing of lions and leopards, huge elephant and buffalo population, wild dog is present as well as unique endemic subspecies of zebra, giraffe and wildebeest. Amazing guides, great walking and canoeing safaris, and night drives are excellent.
Why Go on a Zambia Safari
This beautiful country, with its many rivers, rich valleys and mixed landscapes, offers a journey that will tug at your wild soul, and leave you breathless in wonder. The remote parks will bring forth your adventurous nature, and the animals will draw you in with their wild beauty, ensuring an experience you will never forget.
Zambia offers an amazing wildlife experience – from the easily seen big predators (lion, leopard and hyena), to the more elusive wild dog. These unfenced parks provides the perfect setting for a safari. The more adventurous souls will love the fast moving rapids, while those who want a less dramatic visit can canoe along the rivers.
There is something for everyone to enjoy in Zambia – game drives, walking safaris, night drives and canoeing all provide excellent wildlife watching. Night drives are the perfect time to view leopards and other nocturnal creatures such as the bushbaby. In fact, South Luangwa National Park has the best leopard sightings in Zambia.
Elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard and hyena are common throughout the country, and are safari staples. However, there is also the chance that you can catch a glimpse of the wild dog hunting impala – which is a rare sight for any safari. The country is home to endemic subspecies of giraffe, zebra and wildebeest, as well the rare sitatunga and roan antelopes.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Some of Africa’s best guides
- Great wildlife watching
- Victoria Falls
- Walking safari and night drives are excellent
- Low tourism hub – the parks aren’t usually full
- Beautiful scenery
Cons
- Malaria risk for the country is high
- Certain camps and parks are closed during the rainy season due to impassable roads
Best Time To Go
Zambia has a hot climate that characterized by distinctive wet and dry seasons. It is important to remember, however, that the rainy season is warm and humid, and part of the dry season is uncomfortably hot. Do not allow yourself to become dehydrated – carry plenty of water on you wherever you go.
The best time to visit all parks is between May and October. Most camps and remote parks close down during November to April (wet season) due to inaccessibility.
Wet season: November – April
Cool dry season: May – August
Hot dry season: September – October
Start your African Adventure
Popular Tours
3 Days Amazing Victoria Falls Safari in Zambia
This safari will take you to Victoria Falls, the largest sheet of falling water in the world, roughly twice the height of Niagara Falls. In the 1800s, it was described by the Kololo tribe living in the area as "Mosi-oa-Tunya" or "the smoke that thunders." It presents a spectacular sight of awe-inspiring beauty and grandeur on the Zambezi River, forming the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Zambia & Malawi Livingstone Trail - ZMa16
An exciting safari experience exploring the diversity of the lesser travelled South Eastern African countries. This tour is not for the faint hearted, and requires some patience; the travelling can be slow, some nights the accommodation is basic, however the journey offers amazing scenery and fantastic highlights, well worth the long travel days. We recommend malaria prophylactics. A safari for travellers with a sense of adventure.
Best of South Africa and Mozambique
From summiting Cape Town’s majestic Table Mountain, to staying at an exquisite winery in the heart of the Cape Winelands, whale-watching in the charming coastal town of Hermanus, experiencing incredible wildlife encounters in Makalali Private Conservancy in the Greater Kruger region and relaxing on Mozambique’s pristine beaches, this phenomenal holiday really does offer the Best of South Africa and Mozambique.
Wildlife and Birds
- Lion
- Elephant
- Leopard
- Hippo
- Buffalo
- Hyena
- Giraffe
- Black Rhino
- White Rhino
- Wildebeest
- Wild Dog
- Zebra
- Crocodile
Rare Animals
- Wild dog
- Black rhino
- White rhino
- Cheetah
- Sitatunga antelope
- Roan antelope
Infrequently Seen Animals
- Giraffe
- Wildebeest
- Oribi
Frequently Seen Animals
- Elephant
- Buffalo
- Hippo
- Zebra
- Lion
- Leopard
- Hyena
- Crocodile
- Impala
- Red lechwe
- Greater kudu
- Waterbuck
Large Predators
The best thing about wildlife viewing in Zambia, is how easy it is spot leopards. The fantastic night drives and excellent guides almost ensures that you’ll see a leopard or two. Another contributing factor to the easy sightings, are the hyenas. These scavengers are known to sit beneath the tree of a feasting leopard, hoping for scraps of food to fall. The guides know that hyenas betray a leopard’s hiding spot, and are sure to keep a look out for them. The lion prides throughout Zambia are large and easily seen on game drives.
Rare and Endangered Animals
The wild dog is present in Zambia and if your luck holds, you may be able to catch a rare glimpse of this predator stalking its preferred prey – the impala. This predator is more likely to be seen early in the morning, or during late afternoon. Other rare animals include: the sitatunga antelope, the roan antelope, and three subspecies unique to Zambia – the scarcely seen Cookson’s wildebeest, and the more commonly seen Crawshay’s zebra and Thornicroft giraffe.
Frequently Seen Animals
Zambia has an abundance of wildlife. The most commonly seen animals are: elephant, buffalo, zebra, lechwe antelope, waterbuck, impala, greater kudu and of course, the large predators – lion, leopard and hyena. Thousands of hippo live in the rivers throughout Zambia, and have no qualms about sharing their watery home with massive crocodiles.
With the vast terrain, and range of activities – game drives, canoeing, walking safaris and night drives – birdwatching in Zambia will never be a dull experience. It is especially good in Kafue National Park, with its array of habitats and over 480 species in this park alone. The Verreaux’s eagle can be seen on the cliffs in Lower Zambezi, while pelicans and yellow-billed storks are present in South Luangwa from July to August. The southern carmine bee-eater is present in migratory flocks from August to September, while other migratory birds can be seen from November to April.
Endemic Birds
- Chaplin’s Barbet
Near-Endemic Birds
- Black-cheeked Lovebird
Endangered Birds
- African White-backed Vulture
- African Skimmer
- Black-cheeked Lovebird
- Black-winged Pratincole
- Blue Swallow
- Cape Vulture
- Chestnut-banded Plover
- Corncrake
- Denham’s Bustard
- Eurasian Curlew
- Eurasian Peregrine Falcon
- Great Snipe
- Greater Spotted Eagle
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Lesser Flamingo
- Lesser Kestrel
- Lilian’s Lovebird
- Madagascar Pond-heron
- Olive-headed Weaver
- Pallid Harrier
- Papyrus Yellow Warbler
- Shoebill
- Slaty Egret
- Taita Falcon
- Wattled Crane
- White-headed Vulture
- Zambian Barbet
Special Birds
- Babbling Starling
- Blue Quail
- African Finfoot
- African Pitta
- Anchieta’s Barbet
- Anchieta’s Sunbird
- Angola Lark
- Bamboo Warbler
- Bar-tailed Trogon
- Bar-winged Weaver
- Bertram's Weaver
- Black-and-rufous Swallow
- Black-chinned Quailfinch
- Black-collared Bulbul
- Black-necked Eremomela
- Black-rumped Buttonquail
- Blue Swallow
- Bocage's Akalat
- Böhm's Bee-eater
- Böhm's Flycatcher
- Chestnut-headed Flufftail
- Collared Flycatcher
- Corncrake
- Fülleborn's Longclaw
- Great Snipe
- Grey-winged Robin-chat
- Grimwood's Longclaw
- Laura's Woodland Warbler
- Locust Finch
- Margaret’s Batis
- Miombo Pied Barbet
- Montane Marsh Widowbird
- Mountain Yellow Warbler
- Olive-flanked Robin-chat
- Olive-tree Warbler
- Papyrus Yellow Warbler
- Pel’s Fishing-owl
- Red-capped Crombec
- Ross's Turaco
- Rosy-throated Longclaw
- Rufous-bellied Tit
- Scarlet-tufted Malachite Sunbird
- Sharpe’s Akalat
- Sharp-tailed Starling
- Shelley's Sunbird
- Shoebill
- Slaty Eret
- Souza's Shrike
- Spotted Creeper
- Spotted Thrush-babbler
- Streaky-breasted Flufftail
- Striped Crake
- Thick-billed Cuckoo
- Thrush Nightingale
- Waller’s Starling
- Wattled Crane
- Western Banded Snake eagle
- White-chested Alethe
- White-spotted Flufftail
- White-winged Swamp Warbler
Popular Parks
From the Zambezi River, to the beautiful valley of South Luangwa and the remote Kafue National Park, Zambia has everything you need in a safari, and more. Tackling the rapids and a visit to Victoria Falls, turns a great safari into an unforgettable experience.
The absolute best place for wildlife viewing in all of Zambia, is South Luangwa National Park. This beautiful valley is home to large numbers of four of the Big Five (no rhino). It also happens to be the best place to view leopards in Zambia. Watching these mysterious predators during one the amazing night drives is an unforgettable experience. The park is home to three unique endemic subspecies as well – the Thornicroft giraffe and Crawshay’s zebra are common, while Cookson’s wildebeest in much more scarce and difficult to spot. Night drives are also a great time to view other nocturnal creatures such as, bushbaby, porcupine and genet.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Canoeing on the great Zambezi River offers a unique safari experience. Large herds of elephant and buffalo can constantly be seen wandering the riverbank and small sand islands, while huge populations of hippo mingle with massive crocodiles in the river’s depths. Lions, leopards and hyena are frequently seen, and you might be able to catch a glimpse of the elusive wild dog hunting impala at dusk or dawn. The rare roan antelope also claims Lower Zambezi as its home.
Like the previous two parks, Kafue National Park is home to four of the Big Five – elephant, buffalo lion and leopard. It is unfortunate to note however, that the animals in this park are skittish of humans due the many years of poaching. The elephants and buffalo in particular, are very shy. To compensate for this, the prides of lions are clearly visible, and leopards are occasionally seen. The swamp areas of the park are famous for the thousands of red lechwe antelope that can be seen there, while crocodile and hippo reign supreme in the rivers. The wild dog is present here as well, although it is ever elusive.
Kafue is an amazing surprise for those ready to venture off the beater path. With its lush, rolling landscapes and diverse habitats that boast an abundance of wildlife, Kafue National Park is an African jewel. Wildlife is excellent in Kafue, especially in the Busanga Plains. By May, the water that flooded the plains during the wet months, will have receded, and the plains will be rich and lush with vegetation, drawing herds of wildlife to the ready food source. There are herds of elephants and buffalo, although they can be skittish due to the years of poaching. Lions are easy to spot, and are prone to lounging in trees, while the enigmatic leopard can be seen walking along the Lufupa River. Kafue also happens to be the best place in <a href="https://www.safarireviews.com/country/zambia">Zambia</a> to see the wild dogs and cheetahs. Birdwatching is at its best here too, with over 480 species available.
Dominated by the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park is a stunning kaleidoscope of landscapes, making it one of southern Africa’s most beautiful parks. After the first rains have fallen, the valley blossoms into an exquisite jewel that overflows with vegetation, and the air is filled with the scents of acacia, mopane and miombo. The wildlife population in the park is great, with four of the Big Five present, and birdwatching is excellent. With game drives, walking tours and night drives, the park has something for everyone to enjoy – whether you are an experienced safari-goer, or booking your very first expedition.
On the northern bank of the mighty Zambezi River, lies the Lower Zambezi National Park. The Muchinga escarpment forms a striking background to the river, and mopane woodland and acacia shrubs add to the wild beauty that is Zambezi. Canoeing on the river is an experience not to be missed - huge herds of elephant and buffalo gather on the riverbanks, massive crocodiles laze on the sun-drenched sand, and thousands of hippos have claimed the river as their own. The big predators – lion, leopard and hyena – are easily seen, and even the rare wild dog is can be spotted in Lower Zambezi.
Getting There and Safety
Your health and safety is important to us. Please take some time to read the following information to ensure your continued health.
Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) ( is the main airport in Zambia and is located 14km (9miles) from Lusaka, the capital. Once in Lusaka, you can reach the national parks by road or air. If a visit to Victoria Falls is part of your tour, you will likely fly to Livingston Airport (LVI), as it is the closest to the falls. If you are visiting as part of an organized safari, your tour operator will likely see to all transportation for the duration of your stay.
For the flights to Zambia, it is advised to check Skyscanner (for multiple destination flights), to see which airlines can take you to Namibia and their various ticket costs.
If you are based in the UK and Europe, check out these flights to Zambia.
If you are based in the USA and Canada, check out these flights to Zambia.
It is recommended that you verify the following information with your local Zambia Embassy as the information below can change at any time.
- A passport that is valid for at least six months is required by all foreign citizens.
- The must be at least three empty pages in the passport.
- Most foreign visitor either don’t need a visa, or can obtain one on arrival. For more information on visitors who do not require a visa see here. There is also a list for those who can obtain a visa on arrival.
- You are require to have a yellow-fever vaccination certificate if you are arriving from a yellow-fever-infected country, such as Uganda.
The following information is a general guide and should in no way replace a professional medical opinion.
Malaria
There is a high malaria risk throughout the country – which increases during the rainy season from November to April. Appropriate preventative measures are advised. Please speak to your doctor or travel clinic before travelling.Vaccinations
Check your local travel health authority for more information:
Going on a safari in Africa comes with obvious risks. We recommend you get travel insurance for all safaris in Namibia. Make sure your insurance has full medical coverage, emergency air evacuation, repatriation and the standard travel insurance for cancellations, delays and luggage cover.
Check World Nomads’ travel insurance calculator to see the cost of your safari trip cover.