Zambia holidays 2024 & 2025

In Zambia you can get close to nature on walking safaris in quiet parks, take tranquil boats trips on the Zambezi, and experience the sheer power and force of nature at Victoria Falls. A highlight of a trip is visiting quieter parks where wildlife sightings are often yours to enjoy alone.

Walking safaris were pioneered here and these are led by expert guides, giving you a whole new perspective on life in the bush. You can also take traditional 4x4 safaris, night drives, and boat trips to see hippo and crocodiles lurking in the waters, while lion, cheetah, buffalo, and elephant roam the plains.

Zambia is also home to one half of Victoria Falls. You can take a helicopter ride over the thundering falls, jump into a rock pool, or take a sunset cruise on the Zambezi to spot wildlife as you sip a cocktail on board.

In Zambia you can stay in intimate bush camps, luxurious safari lodges, and riverside hotels where you’ll wake to the sound of hippo grunting in the water and the rumbling calls of elephant. Most lodges and camps overlook waterholes or rivers where wildlife can wander past your room at any time of day.

While on safari, you could choose to stay in tented rooms in the heart of the bush, opt for a private, lodge-style retreat, or enjoy an unusual stay in characterful treehouse chalets. You’ll also find a great choice of places to stay at Victoria Falls including an indulgent river lodge overlooking the Zambezi and grand landmark hotels. Or, head to a private estate in the Great Rift Valley to stay in a historic manor house. To get some ideas, browse our collection of places to stay in Zambia.

In Zambia most visitors go to North and South Luangwa national parks, Kafue National Park, and Lower Zambezi National Park. These are the main wildlife areas and offer the best chance of spotting a wide variety of animals.

Each park has its own character and visiting more than one region gives an excellent overview of what Zambia has to offer. Herds of elephant and buffalo as well as basking crocodiles and hippo can be seen in South Luangwa National Park, impala, waterbuck, and zebra are preyed on by lion, leopard, and wild dog in Lower Zambezi National Park, while off-the-beaten-track Kafue National Park promises exploration and discovery in a region that’s little visited by others.

After time spent on safari, you could finish your trip with a visit to Victoria Falls to relax in a riverside hotel while you explore the Zambezi River by boat and visit this natural wonder.

You’re likely to see lion, elephant, zebra, hippo, and warthogs, and have a possibility of encountering leopard, wild dog, and spotted hyena, on safari in Zambia. The diversity of wildlife in Zambia’s national parks is highly impressive and large predators roam the plains in search of grazing cape buffalo, bushbuck, lechwe and kudu, while hippo wallow in rivers, and baboons and vervet monkeys chatter in the trees.

Herds of elephant congregate at waterholes and ramble through the bush, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see spotted hyena and packs of wild dog. In South Luangwa National Park, the large lion prides are a highlight, and elusive leopard are regularly spotted. Zambia’s wilderness areas are also home to more than 700 bird species, many of which are rare or endemic.

It takes around 13 hours to fly from the UK to Zambia.

The time zone in Zambia is UTC+2 hours. Daylight Savings Time is not observed in Zambia.

Flying between parks is the best way of getting around Zambia as the distances are large and the roads poor.

Your doctor can provide you with vaccine advice for Zambia, but you should also ensure you’re up to date with the recommended vaccinations for your home country. You can also check the suggested vaccinations on the Travel Health Pro website.

If you’ve been to (even if just in transit) a country with yellow fever in the 30 days prior to your arrival in Zambia, you’ll need a yellow fever vaccination certificate or exemption certificate. Speak to your doctor before booking your trip as yellow fever vaccination is not always advised if you’re over 60.

Malaria is a risk throughout Zambia. Please see your doctor for advice about which antimalarial medication you should take.

Your best defence against malaria is to avoid mosquito bites. Wear loose, long-sleeved clothing, long legs, or skirts, and put an insect repellent with 50% DEET on exposed skin. If your room is not screened use the mosquito net provided, and if you begin to feel unwell and develop a high fever or other symptoms either during or after you return home, seek prompt medical advice, and make sure to mention your travel history.

Check that your passport is valid for at least six months from the date of your arrival in Zambia and has two consecutive blank pages.