ZAMBIA

Africa’s best-kept secret: extraordinary walking safaris

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

Dry Season⊕: July to October

Green Season⊕: November to April

Shoulder Season⊕: April to May

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

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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!

Zambia is home to multi-day walking safaris where, with armed guides and rangers, you hike from camp to camp, possibly even fly-camping along the way. It’s simply not possible to get closer to nature than this. But Zambia isn’t all just rugged bush camps: there are magnificent lodges along its many rivers that are perfect for honeymooners and those who yearn for pampering. After a day on the water and perhaps a massage on your deck, have dinner by candlelight under a canopy of trees and listen as the symphonic night sounds start up. Birders, too, flock here like the endemic and migrant species they want to tick off: Lillian’s lovebirds, little bee-eaters, hooded vultures and 854 others.

MEET JOANNE OUR ZAMBIA EXPERT

One of the few places that offers a true walking safari – between camps – rather than just a simple nature walk. I love Zambia because it is still very authentic: up on the Busanga Plains in Kafue, you’ll have a true picture of Africa at its most pristine and untouched.

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.

Luxury itineraries

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

Comfortable itineraries

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

OUR FAVOURITE ZAMBIA DESTINATIONS

BLT Zambia Map2

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.

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

EXPLORE ZAMBIA

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.

WHY BOOK WITH BIGGESTLEAF TRAVEL

  • We are passionate about what we sell

  • The most competitive and flexible rates

  • We offer personalised and customised experiences

  • We have consultants who are fluent in English, Portuguese, German and Swiss German
  • Our consultants specialise in different safari experiences
  • Founded in 2014 with years of experience in the travel industry

  • Our quick response and turnaround times

  • We are the trusted travel agent for clients of some of Africa’s sought-after photographic guides

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EXPERIENCE ZAMBIA

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