Zambia

Zambia is the essence of raw Africa with superb safari activities on land and on water.

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Overview

Zambia
A Zambia safari offers the essence of Africa with some of the finest wildlife experiences. What we love is the sheer contrast between its game reserves. It also offers you one of Africa's greatest rivers: the mighty Zambezi. Zambian game reserves are truly wild and remote. So it will appeal if you are hungry for an intimate safari experience in a pristine environment.

Highlights include:

  • The stunning ox-bow lakes and scenery of South Luangwa
  • Its eerily beautiful ebony trees, perfect for walking safaris
  • Serenely canoeing along the channels of the Zambezi river
  • Sheer quantity and diversity of predator sightings on the Busanga Plains

Access

The easiest option is to fly toĀ JohannesburgĀ and then connect to either Lusaka or Livingstone (forĀ Victoria Falls). However several airlines also fly direct to Lusaka.

Within Zambia, there is only one way to travel and thatā€™s by air. Victoria Falls and all of the major National Parks are connected by scheduled ā€œseat in charterā€ flights. So your safari all fits seamlessly together.

How to compare Zambia as a safari destination with its more famous neighbours? A Zambia safari has three distinct advantages.

  • First of all, the standard of guiding is uniformly high. The Zambia safari lodges are often run by visionary characters. They balance a passion for wild places with the fierce dedication of bush entrepreneurs. Every guide has to pass stringent guiding exams, especially the walking safari guides. Thus your guideā€™s all-round bush knowledge is notable.
  • Secondly, and somewhat unusually, you can enjoy both night drives and bush walks WITHIN the national parks of Zambia.
  • Finally there is a friendly service ethic which is pervasive throughout the Zambia safari industry.

Sunset boat cruise on a Zambia safari

Why We Love It

  • Finest wildlife esperiences in Africa.
  • Game reserves are wild and remote.
  • National parks allow both night drives and bush walks.

Where to go in Zambia

When to visit Zambia

Summer Rainy season

Much of Zambia is effectively closed for safari visitors during the summer rainy season. This is because many of the seasonal camps are cut off due to the high water levels. It is not an ideal time for Victoria Falls, especially in November and December, as the flow of water over the Falls is low. But as the summer rains continue, the flow increases dramatically. The wildlife tends to be more dispersed and harder to spot. But the vegetation is lush and green, animals are being born and birding is superb.
AVG RAINFALL 172 mm
MAX TEMP 29.4 ā„ƒ / 85 ā„‰
MIN TEMP 11 ā„ƒ / 52 ā„‰
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Summer in Zambia

Some of the camps start to open again in the Lower Zambezi but many of the remote bush camps in the Luangwa stay closed. The summer rains stop leaving behind a lush and green landscape. It is traditionally the time of more reasonable safari prices in Zambia. The flow of water over the Victoria Falls is at its maximum which means exciting viewing experiences but not great photos as your camera would get soaked!
AVG RAINFALL 129 mm
MAX TEMP 22 ā„ƒ / 72 ā„‰
MIN TEMP 11.5 ā„ƒ / 53 ā„‰
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Dry Season in Zambia

Traditionally this is the best time to visit as the dry season continues. During the dry season the bush is less dense and the animals flock to the rivers for water. Itā€™s also the best time to see the Falls. Note that June is often a time of slightly lower safari prices in Zambia so it could be a good option of you are on a budget.
AVG RAINFALL 26 mm
MAX TEMP 23 ā„ƒ / 74 ā„‰
MIN TEMP 10 ā„ƒ / 51 ā„‰
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End of the dry season Zambia

Temperatures heat up quickly in September and October prior to the start of the summer rains. The flow of water over the Victoria Falls starts becoming noticeably less. Somewhere in November, the summer rains start. This heralds the end of the safari season in Zambia with most camps closing at the end of October or mid-November. Depending on specific location, some camps remain open until the end of the year.
AVG RAINFALL 109 mm
MAX TEMP 22.5 ā„ƒ / 73 ā„‰
MIN TEMP 11 ā„ƒ / 52 ā„‰
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Download our Insiders Guide to Zambia Safaris

Major attractions, sample tours & camps, and the low-down on best areas to visit! Get our free guide here
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Lorna Trevelion

AFRICAN TRAVEL SPECIALIST

Hi I'm Lorna, I'm here to help you plan your ideal holiday experience GET IN TOUCH