Zambia

Overview

Zambia’s parks are built around big rivers and strong guiding. Canoe past elephants on the Zambezi in Lower Zambezi, track leopards and wild dogs on foot in South Luangwa, or head to Kafue for quiet plains, cheetah, and hot-air balloon views. Camps are mostly small and owner-run, so activities stay flexible—walk at sunrise, drift the river at midday, and sit at a hide when the light fades.

When to visit

Dry-season months (June–October) bring clear tracks and animals crowding the water; South Luangwa and Kafue often go 4x4-only after storms in the green season. Birding and photography thrive once the rains arrive. Pair Lower Zambezi’s water safaris with Luangwa’s walking focus, and allow a buffer day between remote airstrips so you travel at the same easy pace as the parks.