Zambia

Africa's best-kept secret: Extraordinary walking safaris

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Highlights

Famous For

Victoria Falls: Understand why it’s called The Smoke that Thunders
Lower Zambezi: Paddle the channels of the life-giving waterway
South Luangwa: The birthplace of authentic walking safaris

When To Visit

Every time of year offers something different in Zambia – see whether peak, green or shoulder season suits you best

Travel Advice

We’ve put together all the information you need to prepare for your trip to Zambia

Why Visit Zambia

Going to Zambia is like stepping back in time, to the way safaris used to be. The emphasis is still very much on the game experience, with down-to-earth lodges and truly organic bush camps giving seasoned safari goers an authentic experience. If you’ve been to Africa before and are itching to go deeper and wilder, then Zambia is the answer. Much accommodation still closes for up to six months of the year during the Green Season as the black cotton soil is impassable for vehicles. This means that the animals may not see people for months at a time, making them much less habituated. The baby elephant you see here might be seeing humans for the very first time in its life!

From the Victoria Falls to South Luangwa and beyond, I love Zambia for being down to earth, authentic and offering excellent game viewing. My dream trip is to see shoebills in Bangweulu and the annual fruit bat migration in Kasanka. Biggestleaf Travel’s founder Robert lives in Lusaka with his family and oversees the Zambian office while making trips to Kafue, North Luangwa and Lower Zambezi among other top wildlife destinations.

Itineraries to inspire you

Here are our favourite Zambia Itineraries to inspire you. All of our itineraries can be tailored to meet your specific requirements.

Premium itineraries

Camps and lodges that surpass the bar when it comes to unusual activities, extra-special amenities and stand-out design.

Best of Zambia

Mosi-oa-Tunya | Lower Zambezi | South Luangwa
DURATION: 10 NIGHTS

Luxury itineraries

Exemplary accommodation that offers welcome touches that are a step up and provide an extra level of indulgence.

Cape Town and Zambia Highlights

Cape Town | Victoria Falls | South Luangwa National Park
DURATION: 11 NIGHTS

Wildlife on the Waterside

Lower Zambezi | South Luangwa
DURATION: 9 NIGHTS

Charming Zambia

South Luangwa | Lower Zambezi
DURATION: 10 NIGHTS

Falls & South Luangwa Classic

Victoria Falls | South Luangwa
DURATION: 9 NIGHTS

Comfortable itineraries

Very congenial surroundings with everything you need for an enjoyable safari grounded in tried-and-tested camps and lodges.

Walking with Wildlife

South Luangwa | North Luangwa
DURATION: 9 NIGHTS

Truly Wild Zambia

South Luangwa | Kafue | Victoria Falls
DURATION: 13 NIGHTS

Our Favourite Zambia Destinations

Lower Zambezi

A pretty park on the Zambezi River, downstream from the Victoria Falls, LZNP has exciting game viewing with one exception: you probably won’t see giraffes here. The unusual hilly topography as you venture away from the water means they haven’t established themselves here. But as much as we miss them, there are more than enough other sightings to make up for it. One to look out for is the flocks of scarlet carmine bee-eaters that tunnel into the muddy banks of the Zambezi’s channels, flying out in a flash of crimson! Paddle past and enjoy elephants, crocodiles, hippos and fish eagles all around.

Start Planning Your Lower Zambezi Holiday

South Luangwa

This is the place to ditch the game-drive vehicle and head out on foot: full days of traversing the bush on foot, crossing streams and stopping for lunch under sausage trees. Your guides are so attuned to the wildlife, they’ll keep you safe while showing you all the smaller details you miss on a vehicle. This is also the destination for true ‘bush camps’ built of grass every year from scratch by Zambian villagers. As the rainy season starts and the roads become impassable, these camps are left to return to the earth – it doesn’t get more eco-friendly than that.

Start Planning Your South Luangwa Holiday

Victoria Falls

If you fly into Livingstone, you might see the Victoria Falls from the air before you get to appreciate it from the ground (if your pilot is in a good mood and gives you a flypast, of course!). But however you first see and hear the world’s largest sheet of falling water, Mosi oa Tunya – or the Smoke that Thunders – will take your breath away. Surrounded by rainforest sustained by the near-perpetual mist, it’s best viewed by crossing the border from Zambia in Zimbabwe. This is easily done, even if you are staying at one of the many river lodges on the Zambezi.

Start Planning Your Victoria Falls Holiday

Kafue

The oldest and biggest national park in Zambia, Kafue is a true wilderness with few lodges and minimal vehicles, meaning you get to experience untrammeled Africa in all her pristine glory. A highlight is the Busanga Plains, a seasonal floodplain whose rich soil throws up nutritious grazing for herbivores. And where there are buffalo, zebra and antelope, predators are sure to follow. Prides of lion stalk Busanga and cheetahs are at their greatest advantage on the plains’ level earth, allowing them to run down prey. Kafue generally has an intense rainy season so speak to us about planning your trip for peak season.

Start Planning Your Kafue Holiday

Bangweulu Wetlands

‘Bangweulu’ means ‘the place where the water meets the sky’, a fitting home to one of the last remaining strongholds of one of the world’s most intriguing birds. Shoebills storks (also known as whaleheads) roam these pristine swamps and wetlands that are laced with colourful lilies. Very remote, Bangweulu is the ultimate goal for serious birders, keen wildlife photographers and nature lovers.

Start Planning Your Bangweulu Holiday

Options to extend your Zambia itinerary

Here are a few of our favourite options to add to your Zambia itinerary. These extensions are here for inspiration. We know that time is a precious commodity and we can tailor them to meet your requirements.

Big 5 and Beach

Cape Town | Timbavati | Sabi Sand
DURATION: 10 NIGHTS

Taste of Tanzania

Tarangire | Ngoriongoro Crater | Serengeti
DURATION: 10 NIGHTS

Explore Zambia

Why book with Biggestleaf Travel

We Sell What We Love: We are genuinely passionate about African travel and safaris. Every itinerary we design is shaped by first-hand knowledge, personal experience and a deep respect for the destinations we represent. It is company policy that our consultants experience the destinations and lodges they sell, giving them practical insight into the areas, logistics and overall journey.
Your Financial Security Comes First: We mitigate financial risk by being accredited members of ASATA, SATSA and ATTA, ensuring your funds are handled responsibly and in line with industry best practice. You book with confidence, knowing your investment is protected. For more detail, please visit our Why Book With Us page.
Transparent, Independent Reviews: Our reputation is verified through open, independent reviews on Trustpilot, Google and TripAdvisor — real feedback from real travellers, with nothing hidden. Please visit our Reviews page for more information.

Tailor-Made – Not Template – Trips: No two travellers are the same. Every journey we create is fully personalised and customised, designed around your interests, pace and expectations. This may take longer to organise but it means our clients get an unforgettable experience.
Established, Stable & Experienced: Founded in 2014, we are proud that we still have our first consultants working with us today. This continuity reflects the strength of our team culture, depth of experience and the long-term relationships we build with our staff, clients and safari partners.
Responsible Travel & Carbon Offsetting: We believe in protecting Africa’s wild places for generations to come. As part of our commitment to responsible travel, we offset our travellers’ carbon footprint through bed-night calculations, and fully offset all kilometres driven by our vehicles through verified carbon credits. Every journey therefore contributes to conservation, climate responsibility and the long-term sustainability of the destinations we love. Visit our Sustainable Travel page for more information.

Biggestleaf Travel consultants at their desks