AUTHENTIC AND UNCROWDED
ZAMBIA
Along with the majestic splendour of the Victoria Falls, Zambia offers some of Africa’s most exceptional wildlife viewing yet it’s one of the region’s lesser visited safari destinations. With warm-hearted locals and unspoiled wilderness, it provides a truly authentic taste of wild Africa.
Image taken by Marko Moilanen
VICTORIA FALLS
Described by the local maKololo tribe in the 1800s as Mosi oa Tunya – “the Smoke that Thunders” – Victoria Falls is a World Heritage site straddling Zambia and Zimbabwe. This awe-inspiring natural wonder on the Zambezi River was first brought to European attention by Scottish explorer David Livingstone, who heard of it years before finally arriving on 17 November 1855. Guided by Chief Sekeletu of the maKololo, Livingstone was paddled to Goat Island, where he was struck with a “tremor of fear” as he approached the towering wall of spray and the churning abyss below. While it’s likely that Portuguese traders had seen the falls earlier, Livingstone’s account remains the first written description, famously stating, “Scenes so lovely must have been gazed upon by angels in their flight.”
Stretching over 1,700 metres wide and plunging 108 metres into deep gorges, Victoria Falls transforms the tranquil Zambezi into a powerful torrent. Columns of mist can be seen from miles away as millions of cubic feet of water crash over the basalt cliffs each minute. On the Zimbabwean side, a mist-soaked rainforest in Victoria Falls National Park offers numerous viewpoints, while the Zambian side provides fewer vantage points but features the thrilling Knife-Edge Bridge – the closest (and wettest) view of the falls.
WHAT TO EXPERIENCE
Image taken by Louise Villanti
MOSI-OA-TUNYA NATIONAL PARK
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, just upstream from the famous Victoria Falls, offers an extraordinary mix of natural beauty and wildlife. The park’s name, meaning “The Smoke that Thunders,” perfectly captures the awe-inspiring spectacle of the Falls, where the mighty Zambezi River plunges into a dramatic gorge, sending up clouds of mist. Beyond the Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is a sanctuary for a wide array of wildlife, including elephants, buffalo, giraffes, and the endangered white rhino. Visitors can explore the park on game drives, river cruises and walking safaris, providing an up-close experience of Zambia’s wilderness and iconic landscapes.
WHAT TO EXPERIENCE
WHERE TO STAY
Our preferred accommodations include:
Chundukwa River Lodge – Secluded on the banks of the Zambezi River, Chundukwa River Lodge offers five guest chalets set up on stilts directly above the river with one open-sided river view wall (with roll-down canvas blind if required). The spacious chalets offer large, mosquito net-draped beds, lovely seating areas and en-suite bathrooms. This family-friendly lodge also offers a Family chalet (with a king-sized bed plus two additional single beds) as well as Chundu Cottage, which is set back slightly from the river and can sleep up to six guests. Guests are provided with a complimentary sunset cruise on the lodge’s own river boat.
Zambezi Dusk – This camp’s 10 tented chalets are dotted alongside the river and offer spacious and tastefully furnished interiors with en-suite bathrooms and a private balcony with a small kitchenette. A single bed can be placed within each unit to accommodate a child under 12 years. The main lodge area includes a popular bar as well as a restaurant overlooking a large swimming pool and the river. Guests are provided with a complimentary sunset cruise on the camp’s own river boat.
SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK
South Luangwa is Zambia’s most iconic safari destination and remains evocative of safaris of old. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa and the park’s pioneering guides have long led guests on foot, tracking big game through the bush – a tradition that thrives in South Luangwa like nowhere else.
Known as the “Valley of the Leopard,” South Luangwa boasts one of Africa’s highest leopard populations, often spotted both by day in tree canopies and on thrilling night drives. Along the Luangwa River, herds of elephants gather to drink, and buffalo roam the open plains, raising clouds of dust against the stunning backdrop of the Muchinga escarpment. As the river recedes during the dry season, floodplains, lagoons, and oxbow pools emerge, drawing a rich array of wildlife to this beautiful valley year-round.
WHERE TO STAY
Our preferred accommodations include:
Sungani Lodge and Kulandila Camp – Located in the remote and wildlife-rich far southern reaches of South Luangwa National Park, family-run Sungani Lodge and its smaller sister, Kulandila Camp offer understated luxury and genuine hospitality. The lodge consists of seven custom-designed and air-conditioned tented suites set atop polished concrete floors, each with an adjoining deck and private plunge pool. The camp meanwhile offers four traditional safari-style en-suite tents set on a wooden platform with an adjoining veranda.
The Bushcamp Company – One of Zambia’s original safari lodge operators with six beautifully appointed camps to choose from within the lesser-visited southern section of South Luangwa National Park, along with the more accessible Mfuwe Lodge located just inside the main park gate. Some of the camps can be accessed between each other by a day’s walking safari.
Image taken by Baines’ River Camp
LOWER ZAMBEZI VALLEY
In the Lower Zambezi valley, the Zambezi River is protected by a beautiful escarpment that slopes down to the river’s surface. Over time, the river’s mineral-rich volcanic soils have created lush greenery and several channels and oxbow lakes that have attracted a wide variety of animals.
Because it was the president of Zambia’s private wildlife reserve until 1983, when it became the Lower Zambezi National Park, the region has been spared the effects of mass tourism and remains relatively pure. A number of private reserves and conservancies encircle the park and with no fences between them, the wildlife migrates freely and when combined with Zimbabwe‘s Mana Pools National Park on the other side of the river, the total area of more than 18,000km² / 7,000m² is an amazing wildlife refuge.
The charm of the Lower Zambezi is its remoteness and that it is so underdeveloped. The river, bush and mountains make for varied safari activities and while it’s a little less diverse than other major parks, it offers excellent close-up wildlife viewing. Elephants are a prominent part of the park’s wildlife, along with the other members of the Big 5 as well as African wild dog. Along the river, there are hippos, crocodile and an impressive array of birds.
WHERE TO STAY
Our preferred accommodations include:
Baines’ River Camp – A colonial-style lodge named after the British explorer and naturalist, Sir Thomas Baines. Offering sweeping panoramic views of the Zambezi River and Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National park on the opposite bank, the lodge is located within with a private conservancy, 10km west of the unfenced Lower Zambezi National Park. The eight bricks-and-mortar suites and 2-bedroom family unit are like mini-homes and offer a luxury alternative to the tented suites offerd at most other camps.
Journeys that include ZAMBIA
5-Day Zambezi-Okavango Safari
This 5-day journey takes you to the magnificent Victoria Falls, one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, followed by a 3-day excursion deep into the untouched wilderness of the Okavango Delta.
6-Day Zambezi-Chobe Safari
This 6-day safari adventure takes you to the breathtaking Victoria Falls, where you’ll enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi River. In Zambia, experience a unique rhino walking safari and an unforgettable ‘lunch with the elephants.’ Explore Botswana’s renowned Chobe National Park with private game drives and boat safaris, offering exceptional wildlife viewing, including elephants, lions, and hippos.
9-Day Kruger-Zambezi-Chobe Safari
Begin your safari in South Africa’s Lowveld, exploring the Greater Kruger National Park. Enjoy game drives and bush walks in Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, encountering the “Big Five.” Travel to Zambia’s Zambezi River for a sunset cruise and a close encounter with white rhinos. Visit Victoria Falls, exploring both Zambian and Zimbabwean sides. End in Botswana’s Chobe National Park with private boat safaris and game drives amid abundant wildlife and serene landscapes.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Zambia?
The seasons in Zambia are generally the same as in other southern hemisphere countries, with spring/summer from October to April and winter/autumn from May to September.
WET SEASON
November to March is what we term the “wet season” in Zambia. The weather is generally characterised by hot, humid days that are sometimes cooled down by afternoon thunderstorms and accompanying light-to-heavy showers. Due to the rain, the vegetation is at its highest and thickest during these months and this can impact on wildlife viewing because the thick foliage can obscure your view plus the wildlife is widely dispersed due to the amount of ground water available. However, this season of abundance can still be a great time to be on safari as it’s the time that many mammals give birth. These ‘nurseries’ are usually easy to locate/view and make for some wonderful memories and photographic opportunities. It’s also worth noting that there are always resident populations of predators that prey upon the newborn, and the guides at your camp/lodge will have a good idea of where to find them. The birding is also very good at this time due to the increase in insect activity. Perhaps best of all, there are far fewer visitors to during the wet season and the cost of accommodation is usually much more affordable. Note however that some camps in South Luangwa National Park are closed at some time during the wet season, due to the inaccessibility of the (dirt) road network.
DRY SEASON
Beng on safari in Zambia between April to September offers clear and warm days and generally no rain at all. Known as the “dry season”, this is regarded the best period for wildlife viewing as the permanent waterholes attract many animals and the thin vegetation offers unobstructed views. While the dry, brown landscape can be a bit underwhelming, the wildlife viewing can be exceptional. The temperature is mild to warm, however the evenings can get surprisingly cold from dusk to dawn. While the morning game drive initially requires warm clothing, the day has usually warmed up considerably even before the end of the drive and you are taking off layers by the time you return to your camp/lodge.
OCTOBER
It’s worth noting that the month of October can be very hot and uncomfortable in Zambia, especially in the Lower Zambezi Valley, as the rains have usually not arrived but the cool winter weather has usually ended. But your wildlife viewing will be tailored around this, with your game drives departing very early in the morning as well as later than usual in the afternoon.
For your visit to the Victoria Falls it is worth noting that the dry season is when the Zambezi River is at its lowest and the falls can subsequently be better described as a trickle, especially on the Zambian side. Conversely, the months of February to May can see the river at its highest level and the popular Livingstone Island/Devil’s Pool tour can be closed due to safety reasons.
What do I need to know about visas?
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your time in Zambia, and it is a good idea to bring a few photocopies in case you lose the original.
Although most visitors are not required to obtain a visa before entering Zambia, this is not applicable to all nationalities so please contact us for clarification and/or double-check with your nearest embassy.
What do I need to know about TRAVELLERS HEALTH?
No compulsory vaccinations are required to enter Zambia. A Yellow Fever vaccination certificate is not required unless you are coming from – or you are in airport transit for more than 12 hours within – a country deemed to be infected with Yellow Fever. The World Health Organisation lists the southern African countries of Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe as being free from Yellow Fever.
Malaria is present in most of Zambia.
Please speak to us regarding our recommended health precautions for travelling in Zambia.