Zambia is often referred to as the connoisseur’s safari destination. It is one of few places where you can still experience the Africa of old and much of it has remained pleasantly undeveloped.
Due to the very adventurous and immersive nature of safari here, Zambia is generally suited to more 'outdoorsy' travellers who may have been on a few safaris before. Having said this, the healthy dose of big game and flagship species will satisfy even those on their first safari. Zambia is also wonderfully rustic and has truly authentic bush camps. You can enjoy some of the finest walking safaris you will experience anywhere in Africa & boasts with the most consistent leopard sightings in the world. If you are in search of some more nocturnal creatures, then a real highlight are the night drives. Not to mention that you can also visit the iconic Victoria Falls – one of the Seven Natural Wonders from the Zambian side.
Zambia Safaris FAQs
Zambia tends to be overshadowed by its neighbours Botswana and South Africa, but in our opinion is still one of Africa's finest safari destinations. Safaris here still have that authentic safari adventure feel to them and you get to experience the big five. Of particular interest to seasoned wildlife enthusiasts is Kafue National Park, which is home to a large number of impressive species including the illusive leopard, lions and elephants, we well as endangered pangolins.
Zambia is best to visit during the dry season which is between June and December each year. The sky's are brilliant blue, the days are warm and the evenings cool. Make no mistake, there are still showers but temperatures remain good. Wildlife encounters are plentiful too, as animals tend to gather around the waterholes. We recommend the shoulder months as this is typically when visitor numbers are lower and it allows for an even greater wildlife experience.
Zambia offers quite a wide range of mid- to luxury accommodation and there is also the choice of full board, half board etc. But generally a luxury Zambia safari starts from around $900 to $1000 per person per night sharing. At Tailormade Africa we delight ourselves in creating a superd safari itinerary to suit both travel personality and budget.
Zambia is rich in diverse wildlife and there are a number of places we recommend, dependent on what you would like to see. North and South Luangwa are pristine wilderness areas that have plentiful numbers. Liuwa Plains is highly recommended as the remoteness just hightens the feeling of luxury in our opinion. We also recommend a visit to the iconic Victoria Falls.
North Luangwa
The iconic Luangwa Valley is home to North Luangwa National Park, with pristine wilderness landscape areas teeming with wildlife. The ecosystem is home to a unique and diverse species community and is one of the last large undisturbed regions in central Africa.
South Luangwa
Experience a blissful African safari in South Luangwa. There are few places in Africa that can offer the unique combination of South Luangwa's open grassy plains and mature, captivating woodlands adorned with the pristine and impressive Luangwa River.
Liuwa Plains
If remote luxury is what you are looking for, then Liuwa Plains is the perfect destination. Situated to the far west of Zambia this remote park is a pristine wilderness, which, to the ardent bush-lover, is its biggest attraction, and the rewards are great indeed.
Kafue
Covering a massive 22,400 km2, Kafue National Park is Zambia's oldest and largest national park. Thanks to its size and variety of habitat types Kafue holds a fantastic diversity of wildlife with much of its virgin bush still untouched.
Lusaka
Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia and has become something of a booming city of late with quite a bit of development and malls opening up. Lusaka is the starting point for most safari-goers and being centrally located is in good proximity to most parks.
Lower Zambezi
Lower Zambezi National Park is still very undeveloped which creates its wild state of beauty. The Park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the Zambezi River is a massive wildlife sanctuary.
Livingstone
Livingstone is a charming colonial town named after the famous Victorian missionary explorer, Dr David Livingstone. Its proximity to the Zambezi River and the spectacular Victoria Falls has led Livingstone to become a base for travellers wanting to explore this Wonder of the World.
Why Tailormade Africa?
Wildlife Specialists
With our well established, strong personal relationships with all of our ground operators, National Park Authorities and Conservation Management teams in Zambia, we are always kept up to date on the most recent information of wildlife & conservation projects, ensuring you get to see wildlife viewings like never before.
Zambia Safari Experts
Clyde & Rob are two of the most knowledgeable experts in the world on Zambia safaris and have travelled extensively to most of Zambia's National Parks, camps and lodges.
Bespoke Zambia Safaris
With Tailormade Africa, no two safari holiday itineraries are ever the same. The combination of our in-depth knowledge of the country and taking the time to get to know all of our clients' travel personalities ensures truly bespoke itineraries and a trip specifically tailored to you.
Experience Zambia
Zambia has become synonymous with walking safaris, especially in South and North Luangwa National Parks. Here the good visibility and concentrations of animals near the river mean that close encounters with lion, elephant, hippo and crocodile are almost guaranteed. Night drives in South Luangwa in search of the smaller nocturnal creatures are particularly successful and the density of leopards here is higher than anywhere else in the world.
Many will combine their time here with a few days in the spectacular Lower Zambezi. The boating and canoeing safaris here add a refreshing aquatic contrast to the dry activities. You could even try your hand at catching the ferocious tigerfish. Ask many safari experts around the world where they would choose to go on safari tomorrow and most of them would choose this park without a doubt.
Few travellers find their way to the North Luangwa or the remote Kafue region to the west, though for us at Tailormade Africa we would consider them to be absolute hidden gems. Many more will begin or end their journey at the alluring Victoria Falls. This massive sheet of falling water is the largest on the planet and is one the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Many areas become inaccessible during the rains, so game viewing is at its best in the dry season between May – November. The latter months are known for their very high temperatures so many will aim to avoid them. In the wet season, the bush becomes wonderfully lush and alive with baby animals and colourful migratory birds so it can be a worthwhile time to visit considering the lower cost of safari.
