A guide to
Zambia Safaris
The classic safari experience
Zambia is absolutely a country full of real colour, surprise and what we call safari zest. Here you can explore breathtaking scenery from dense forests, wild rivers, sweeping plains to impressive waterfalls. Home to the African safari, it would be a crime to go on a Zambia safari and not get out on foot.
With the very best river guides in all of Africa, you also must explore the Lower Zambezi on a canoeing safari. Activities are as diverse as the wildlife with walking safaris, canoeing safaris, tiger fishing trips and traditional 4×4 safari game drives. Kafue is king when it comes to being the largest national park in the country with vast landscapes and the unique opportunity of hot air balloon safari and the only spot to stumble upon cheetah.
Victoria Falls can be seen from Zambia if you visit a town called Livingstone. It’s best in the first part of the year if you want a Victoria Falls holiday with high water levels, spray and noise!
So why do we love Zambia safari holidays? It’s a small safari community in Zambia which means the experience is intimate and personal. Our favourite properties are owner run with exceptional guides, authentic accommodations and positioned in the very best wilderness areas meaning you get to experience Africa’s finest luxury safaris.
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Kasanka National Park
This tiny area just 450 square kilometres and yet it’s considered ‘well endowed’ with its river system, lakes, wetlands, forests, meadows and lagoons. Here there is a decent birding safari to be had. Whilst you won’t see the large herds of animals, it certainly is pretty and ideal for birding. Fishing safaris are also fantastic with tiger fish, bream and barbel in the Luwombwa River.
Kasanka is most famous for the enormous assembly of fruit bags every November and December (pictured thanks to Kasanka National Park) that come to roost in the Mushitu swamp forest. It is impressive, unusual and never forgotten if you’re lucky to see it. Game drives are also a highlight here, covering more ground and stopping at scenic places along the way. Open all year round, birding safaris are ideal in the wet season November to March when migrants arrive in huge numbers. Game viewing is the opposite, so dry months of May to October.
North Luangwa National Park
North Luangwa covers over 4,500 square kilometres of impressive wilderness. With few roads you won’t see others during your safari holiday. Mopane woodlands, riverine forests and open grasslands meet tributary rivers that run through the park. Mwaleshi River runs down the escarpment in a line up of little waterfalls that recede in the dry season leaving pools along the way.
Walking safaris are a highlight here and you can also game drive. Camps are only open June to October when animal sightings are at their peak and weather conditions mild because wet season makes access close to impossible.
Liuwa Plains
In the far west of Zambia sits this remote park boasting huge rewards for those who make the effort to explore it as part of a safari holiday. As the name indicates, expect never ending plains where wildlife wanders freely from blue wildebeest, African wild dog, lion to endless bird species.
Wildebeest migrate in October and November from Angola, arriving in their thousands just before the rains come which also bring in predators as they hunt the young. Landscape colours dance with the change of seasons and this has become a photography safari paradise.
With just a handful of properties in Liuwa Plains it really is a getaway off the beaten safari track.
Luambe National Park
Welcome to one of Zambia’s tiniest safari regions. It is just 254 square kilometres in size and open May to October again because rains make it impossible to access.
Here you will see the herbivores, carnivores and over 200 bird species. Elephants, lion and leopard call Luambe home.
Enjoy game drives, walking safaris through woodlands and plains with great guides. Watch massive hippo pods in the pools of Luangwa River and at night search for nocturnal species.
(Image courtesy of Luambe Camp)
Zambia Safari Top Five
- The Devils pool (pictured), located on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, is a natural rock pool perched on the very tip of the falls, a must for anyone seeking a bit of adventure.
- Take a walk on the wildsiden in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, the ultimate walking safari.
- Witness wildlife from a hot air balloon in Kafue National Park.
- Take in the enormity of Liuwa Plains and its annual migration.
- Canoeing safari is a highlight on the Lower Zambezi.
Best time to visit Zambia
Depending on what you are after, Zambia’s best time may alter.
The wet season usually runs from December to April, so this will not be ideal for game viewing. However if the rushing Falls is what you are after, then towards the end March/ April will be the best time to visit.
If the classical Zambia Safari is what you are after, we would recommend going between June to August, as the weather is a bit cooler, and the game viewing is exceptional.
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