Zambia Travel Guide
When it comes to planning an African adventure, most eyes fall on South Africa and Botswana
Which is good news for those savvy safari-goers who have long known that Zambia offers some of Africa’s most remarkable wild spaces. No wonder they’d rather keep it to themselves.
The South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of walking safaris, with no end of water-based wildlife watching on offer, while the vast open landscapes of Kafue National Park can be enjoyed with barely another vehicle in sight. Take that, Serengeti.
Of course, this wonderful wilderness comes with the added bonus of tagging on a visit to the mighty Victoria Falls, as the Zambezi River thunders down into the sheer Batoka Gorge. From wild safari to watery adventure, Africa doesn’t get much more exciting than Zambia.
Victoria Falls
Africa’s most famous waterfall is, simply, a must for your bucket list. In late-summer the Zambian side of the Falls offers the most spectacular vistas of what the local Tsonga have long known as Mosi-oa-Tunya: ‘the smoke that thunders’. When the Zambezi River is in flood that rising ‘smoke’ can be seen from 50 kilometres (31 miles) away, such is the volume of water plummeting into the Batoka Gorge, making this one of Africa’s unforgettable Seven Natural Wonders of the world, and a World Heritage Site.
Zambezi adventures
Aside from the roaring Falls, the Zambezi River offers a wealth of watery adventures. In the Batoka Gorge below the Victoria Falls you’ll find some of the world’s most exciting white-water rafting, while kayak trips on the wide river above deliver memorable wildlife sightings. Come evening, hop aboard for a leisurely river cruise and raise a sundowner toast to another incredible day in Africa.
3-2-1 BUNGEE!
The bridge linking Zimbabwe and Zambia across the Batoka Gorge is useful for another reason: leaping off it! The 111-metre bungee jump from this iconic railway bridge is one of the most impressive on the planet, but if that’s a little intimidating there is also a bridge-swing and a zip-line bridge-slide on offer.
Catch a tiger
The waters upstream of Victoria Falls are spoken of in hushed tones by avid fishermen (and women). For this is the realm of the ferocious tiger-fish, widely regarded as the toughest freshwater fighting fish in the world. If you’ve ever dreamt of hooking into Hydrocynus vittatus, this is the best place to cast for them.
Go wild on safari
Zambia’s national parks offer utterly unique safari adventures. In The vast South Luangwa National Park is arguably the country’s finest, with remarkable populations of large herbivores, while Kafue National Park offers under-canvas luxury overlooking the remarkable Busanga Plains.
Before deciding when to visit Zambia, first settle on your main reason for visiting.
For most travellers it’s the Victoria Falls, which is at its most spectacular at the end of the rainy season (March-May), when the Zambezi River is in full flood. At the end of the dry season (October-November) there is very little water flowing over the Zambian side of the cascade, and you’ll need to cross the border to Zimbabwe (a fairly quick process) to view the Falls.
The upside, however, is that these low-water months mark the best time for the Zambezi’s watery activities, including white-water rafting, canoeing and a dip in the Devil’s Pool, a natural rock pool where the adventurous can swim looking over the lip of the Falls.
The dry winter months (May to September) are also the best time for visiting the national parks on safari. Daytime temperatures are warm, rather than too hot, and the game viewing is excellent as animals flock to sources of permanent water.
When the rains arrive, from December to April, the landscape is transformed into a sea of green, although the dense vegetation can make game viewing difficult.
May and June are perhaps the ‘goldilocks’ months, combining good flows of water over the Victoria Falls with mild weather and relatively dry days in the bush.
Getting the most out of your Zambian adventure takes careful planning and local on-the-ground expertise. Our experienced travel consultants have put together a selection of bespoke packages that offer an authentic African experience. Get in touch to find out more.
Though Zambia’s tourism infrastructure isn’t as developed as most other countries in southern Africa, there is an impressive range of quality accommodation on offer.
Victoria Falls is the country’s most popular destination, and the area in and around the town of Livingstone – particularly upstream along the banks of the Zambezi – is brimming with excellent boutique hotels and romantic riverside lodges. For larger groups and corporate gatherings, The Royal Livingstone by Anantara and Avani Victoria Falls Resort are both excellent choices, with a wide range of accommodation options and superb riverfront setting within walking distance of the Falls.
Within the national parks – such as South Luangwa and Kafue – upscale safari lodges offer the last word in wilderness luxury.
Zambia’s currency is the ‘Kwacha’, with each Kwacha divided into 100 ‘Ngwee’.
ATMs are available in major towns and cities, and operate 24 hours a day. Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most upmarket hotels and lodges. However, American Express and Diners Club cards might not be accepted and, if so, may incur a significant surcharge.
As in most of southern Africa tipping in bars and restaurants is voluntary, but generally expected unless you have received particularly poor service. A gratuity of between 10-15% of the bill is acceptable.
At safari lodges gratuities for guides, trackers and housekeeping staff are paid separately. Guides and trackers are usually tipped directly, preferably in cash.
For incidental purchases, such as souvenirs in markets, US Dollars in small denominations are most convenient, and often preferred by traders.
Zambia operates on a 230V (50Hz) electrical system. For travellers from Europe, Australia and most of Asia this rarely poses a problem, but it is considerably higher voltage than the 110V used in the United States. Confirm that your appliances are multi-voltage before departure, or consider bringing an adapter/converter.
Zambia uses Type C 2-prong plugs, which have two round pins, as well as Plug Type D, which has three round pins in a triangular pattern. You may also find the UK-style plug type G, which has three rectangular pins in a triangular pattern. Most hotels will be able to provide plug adapters, if needed.
Zambia is one of the safest destinations in southern Africa. Particularly when staying at safari lodges in the national parks it is extremely unlikely that tourists will be affected by crime at all.
However, when visiting the bustling tourist hub of Livingstone – or possibly transiting through the capital Lusaka – it pays to be aware of your surroundings to avoid falling victim to petty theft.
In crowded areas such as airports and markets be particularly vigilant with your personal belongings – handbags, cameras etc – and avoid displaying large sums of cash. If you want to explore beyond your hotel, ask the concierge or manager to arrange a transfer and/or guide.
Zambia is a vast country, and travelling between key destinations can be time-consuming. Allow for at least 2-3 days in Livingstone to marvel at the remarkable Victoria Falls and enjoy the aquatic adventures on the mighty Zambezi River. If you are going on safari, allow 3-4 days for each of the national parks you hope to explore. We recommend a 6-day Zambian adventure, which will allow you to discover both the watery and wilderness wonders of this remarkable country.
While citizens of many countries may enter Zambia without a visa for tourism purposes, travellers from the United States, United Kingdom and most European countries must purchase a visa on arrival.
The KAZA Uni-Visa (US$50) is valid for 30 days, and allows for multiple border crossings between Zambia and Zimbabwe, which is useful for visiting both sides of the Victoria Falls.
Your passport or travel document should be valid for no less than six months after the expiry of your intended visit and must have at least two blank pages for entry/departure endorsements. Failure to comply may result in entry to the country being denied.
No inoculations are required to enter Zambia, although travellers arriving from a Yellow Fever region must produce a certificate of prior vaccination on arrival. Malaria is prevalent throughout Zambia, and anti-malarial medication is recommended year-round. Consult your travel doctor at least three weeks before departure.
Wi-Fi Internet access is available in nearly all hotels and lodges in Zambia, usually at no charge. Mobile connectivity is available in major towns and cities (such as Livingstone and Lusaka), but coverage will be limited or non-existent in the remote national park areas.
Zambia Travel Destinations
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