Zambia travel guide
Zambia is a landlocked country of rivers, wetlands and wild national parks, home to Victoria Falls, the birthplace of the walking safari and some of Africa's least crowded game areas. It suits travellers who want a more remote, hands-on safari, from canoeing the Zambezi to tracking wildlife on foot.
Places worth the trip
Victoria Falls
Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders', the Zambezi plunges into a narrow gorge on the border with Zimbabwe. From Livingstone you can walk the rainforest paths, cross the Knife-Edge Bridge and, when the water is low, swim in pools at the edge of the falls on guided trips.
South Luangwa National Park
One of Africa's great wildlife parks, with leopards, lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos and Thornicroft's giraffe along the Luangwa River. It is famous for walking safaris and night drives.
Lower Zambezi National Park
A park along the Zambezi opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools, where canoe safaris drift past elephants, hippos and buffalo, and tiger fishing is popular.
Kafue National Park
One of the largest national parks in Africa, with varied landscapes. In the north, the Busanga Plains flood in the rainy season and then dry into grassland with lions, cheetahs and red lechwe antelope.
Liuwa Plain National Park
Remote grassland in the far west where blue wildebeest gather in large numbers around the start of the rains, with spotted hyenas, lions and abundant birds.
Kasanka bat migration
From roughly October to December, millions of straw-coloured fruit bats arrive in a small patch of swamp forest in Kasanka National Park, one of the largest mammal migrations on Earth, best seen at dusk and dawn.
Bangweulu Wetlands
A vast area of swamps and floodplains in the north, home to the shoebill, a large, prehistoric-looking bird, and huge herds of black lechwe antelope. Access is remote and seasonal.
Lake Kariba
One of the world's largest man-made lakes, shared with Zimbabwe, created by damming the Zambezi, with fishing, houseboats and sunsets over drowned trees.
Interesting facts about Zambia
- The walking safari is widely credited to South Luangwa, where the conservationist Norman Carr pioneered it in the mid-20th century.
- Zambia takes its name from the Zambezi River, which forms much of its southern border.
- The Kuomboka ceremony of the Lozi people marks the king's move by royal barge from the Barotse floodplain to higher ground as the waters rise.
- Copper has long been central to Zambia's economy, and the Copperbelt in the north is one of the major copper-producing regions in the world.
- Zambia's flag shows an eagle in flight, symbolising freedom and the ability to rise above the nation's problems.
Best time to visit Zambia
The dry season from roughly May to October is the main safari season, when vegetation thins, animals concentrate near water and roads are passable; September and October are the hottest months but the best for game viewing. Victoria Falls is at its most powerful around March to May, when spray can hide the view, and lowest around October to November. The rainy season (about November to April) turns the country green and is excellent for birds, but many camps in remote parks close and some roads become impassable.
Getting around
Distances are long and many park roads are rough, so most visitors combine domestic or charter flights with transfers by lodge vehicles. Scheduled flights connect Lusaka with Livingstone and Mfuwe, the gateway to South Luangwa. Long-distance buses link the main towns. Self-drive safaris are possible with a well-equipped 4x4 and experience on gravel and sand. In Lusaka and Livingstone, taxis are widely available; agree a fare first or ask your accommodation to book one.
Practical details
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Currency
- Zambian kwacha (ZMW)
- Languages
- English (official), Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga and Lozi (widely spoken)
- Plug types
- C, D, G
- Voltage
- 230 V, 50 Hz
- Emergency
- 999 for emergencies; also 991 police, 992 ambulance, 993 fire (112 from mobiles)
- Driving side
- left
- Tipping
- Expected for safari guides, trackers and camp staff, usually through a shared tip box; appreciated in restaurants.
Staying online in Zambia
Mobile coverage is good in Lusaka, Livingstone, the Copperbelt and other towns, with 4G available in the main urban areas. In national parks and rural areas coverage is limited or absent, and many safari camps have Wi-Fi only in the main area, if at all. Power cuts have been common in recent years, which can affect Wi-Fi and mobile masts. Download offline maps for road journeys. Install an eSIM before you fly and switch it on when you land.
Zambia eSIM plans
1 GB
1GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Zambia, V2
無制限
Unlimited eSIM Data for 1 Day for Zambia, V2
無制限
Unlimited Plus eSIM Data for 1 Day for Zambia, V2
3 GB
3GB eSIM Data for 3 Days for Zambia, V2
Useful apps
- Google Maps: Road navigation between towns; download offline maps for the parks and long drives.
- WhatsApp: The usual way to contact lodges, guides and drivers.
- Merlin Bird ID: Identify Zambia's rich birdlife, from bee-eaters on the Luangwa to shoebills in Bangweulu.
- XE Currency: Converting kwacha; some lodges and activities quote prices in US dollars.
Zambia travel FAQs
Both sides are worth visiting. Zimbabwe has more of the front-facing views, while the Zambian side lets you get closer to the edge and, in low water, swim in the pools at the top. Many visitors see both.
In towns, yes, with 4G in the main urban areas. In national parks, expect little or no signal. A travel eSIM gives you local data in towns and at lodges with coverage.
A guided walk in the bush with an armed scout and an expert guide, focusing on tracks, plants, birds and smaller creatures as well as larger animals. South Luangwa is the best-known place to do one.
The dry season, from roughly June to October, offers the best game viewing. The green season, from about November to April, is quieter and good for birds, but some camps close.