Budget Tours to Zambia
Lusaka is in the south-central region and is the capital city of Zambia. While English is the official language, Nyanja is spoken widely by locals. Livingstone is the Zambian gateway to the magnificent Victoria Falls also known as Mosi-oa-Tunya or ‘the smoke that thunders’. Victoria Falls is famous for being the largest waterfall in the world. Near Livingstone there are several museums and local craft markets to visit. Or rather spend your day enjoying adventurous activities including white water rafting, canoeing and bungee jumping.
South Luangwa National Park offers you an exclusive wildlife experience. This national park has a healthy leopard population along with a variety of game concentrated on the banks of the Luangwa River. This region of Zambia is the ideal Africa safari tour as it offers a rustic wilderness vacation.
Kafue National Park is in the west of Zambia and has the most diverse animal wildlife. The Zambian flooded grasslands eco-region supports large herds of herbivores which stay close to the swamps and marsh regions in the dry months of June to October.
Zambia Tours by length
Why go to Zambia?
- Visit Victoria Falls – the largest waterfall in the World
- Adrenalin activities such as white water river rafting, bungee jumping, horse riding, lion encounters etc.
- See the mighty Zambezi’s whirlpool called ‘the boiling pot’
- Visit the Munda Wanga Environment Park where animals are rehabilitated back into the wild
- * Botanical gardens with over 500 plant species where you can enjoy picnics
- * The Moto Moto Museum exhibiting the life and history of the Bemba folk
- South Luangwa National Park – the best park in Zambia filled with wildlife for a perfect African safari
- Kafue National Park the second largest park in the world – untouched with raw beauty and animals
- Glide through the skies on a microlight over the falls
11 reasons to travel to Zambia
South Luangwa National Park
Certainly one of Africa’s best parks for wildlife viewing. South Luangwa has animals in abundance within jaw-dropping landscapes of wide floodplains and groves of trees. Expect to see vast herds of buffalo, elephant, zebra, giraffe, lions and wild dogs. In addition spot leopards which are normally hard to see in other parks however they are frequently spotted here at night.
Victoria Falls
As the world’s largest waterfall, Victoria Falls is one of Africa’s greatest natural spectacles. Victoria Falls will quite literally take your breath away. It’s likely that you will get slightly wet from the spray as you stand at viewpoints along the cliff edge. Experience the powerful roar of the water thundering down the Zambezi gorge sending up a mist that can be seen more than 50 kilometers away.
Adrenaline fun in Livingstone
Set on the Zambezi River near to Victoria Falls, Livingstone is known as Africa’s adrenaline capital. Endless heart pumping activities on offer to excite even the most fearless adventure seekers. Either take your pick of bungee jumping off a bridge over the river or white water rafting on the Zambezi. Those without a fear of heights will relish in a microlight flight over the falls or abseiling down a cliff. Finish your adventure off by swinging across a deep gorge or taking part in a wildlife safari on horseback.
Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park is the second largest park in the world although it has few visitors leaving you with pristine wilderness practically all to yourself. It’s spectacular landscape ranges from open grasslands to dense woodlands and massive granite hills. The wildlife density is lower than in Zambia’s other parks however if you’re patient you will be rewarded. Sightings of 20 different antelope as well as lion, leopard, cheetah and wild dog.
Walking safaris
Walking safaris were pioneered in Zambia and it remains the best place to explore the bush on foot. A safari on foot is a totally different experience to driving through the bush. It offers you the chance to be completely immersed yourself in the natural environment while you notice smells, sounds and smaller animals usually missed when driving.
Your guide will show you how to track animals on foot and with their direction you might have the thrill of being close to lions, elephant or giraffe. The best reserve for a walking safari in Zambia is South Luangwa National Park as it has a number of specialist walking camps. However walking safaris are also offered in the Lower Zambezi National Park and Kafue National Park.
Canoeing the Zambezi
A canoeing safari along the Zambezi River is one of the best ways to appreciate Zambia’s magnificent wildlife and scenery. Trips range from a few hours to a week-long paddling excursion down the river. With Zambia on the one side of the river and Zimbabwe on the other. The highlight is the chance to get close to pods of hippos and crocodiles. Herds of elephants come down to the banks for a swim along with thirsty buffalo and lion. The trip will also allow you to see hundreds of species of birds while you spend your nights camping in the wild under a blanket of stars.
The Lower Zambezi National Park
The World Heritage Site of the Lower Zambezi National Park has so much to offer in terms of a great African safari adventure. As it is relatively under-developed, it also offers an authentic wildlife experience as you get relatively close to the animals.
Wildebeest of Liuwa Plain National Park
In November each year, tens of thousands of wildebeest, zebra and red lechwe move between the remote Liuwa Plain National Park. It’s the second biggest wildebeest migration in Africa after the Serengeti and the Masai Mara offering an incredible wildlife experience without the crowds. The area is perfect for photographic safaris with an array of wildlife such as spotted hyena, wild dog and cheetah.
White water rafting on the Zambezi
The Zambezi River offers some of the best white water rafting on the continent. Nearly half the rapids on the Zambezi have been categorized as Grade Five which is about as challenging as you can get! Be prepared for a wild and somewhat wet ride as you navigate the churning rapids on this fast-paced adventure.
Lake Kariba
While on your Zambia tour take a cruise around the largest man-made lake in the world, Lake Kariba. Here you can call a houseboat home for a few days and experience water-based game viewing at a your leisure. Relax on the deck with a book as you spot hippos, crocodiles and elephants, buffalo, water-buck and lion on the shore. Alternatively head out on a tender boat and try your luck with some fishing.
Bat migration
While not as famous as the wildebeest migration which takes place annually in Kenya and Tanzania, Zambia’s bat migration is still a wondrous sight. At the end of every year, 10 million fruit bats migrate to Kasanka National Park from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. Observe as they eat their way through the fruits of the forest which proves to be quite a spectacle and certainly an unusual safari experience.
Wildlife highlights
Zambia is one of Africa’s best safari destinations due to a wealth of national parks and reserves packed with wildlife while free of the safari traffic jams common in southern and east African reserves.
South Luangwa National Park is Zambia’s flagship park, and a perfect place for your first Safari. Its dense concentrations of wildlife such as elephant and buffalo herds along with leopard and lion sightings make for a memorable visit. The incredibly beautiful landscape of woodland, grassland savannah and riverine forest lend itself to walking safaris allowing you to explore the bush on foot.
With over 22 000 square kilometers, Kafue National Park is the largest park in Zambia and the second largest in the world. Often overlooked by visitors due to being remote, it remains raw and rather breathtaking. The park is known for its leopard sightings and a huge diversity of antelope species, including the rare roan antelope along with herds of red lechwe.
The Lower Zambezi National Park sits alongside the Zambezi River. While home to abundant game such as elephants, buffalo, leopard and lion the greatest highlight is going on a canoe safari down the river.
Zambia also offers rare species and migrations to entice seasoned safari goers. The migration of fruit bats in November and December from the Congo to Zambia’s Kasanka National Park provides an unusual spectacle. Also in this park you might be lucky enough to sight the elusive semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope.
In addition the remote and undeveloped Liuwa Plain National Park is home to the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa with thousands of antelope gathering on the vast plains every November. While in the north east of the country, the community-owned Bangweulu wetlands are where you’ll find the world’s only population of black lechwe antelope.
How to get to Zambia
The main airport in Zambia is Kenneth Kaunda International Airport about 14km from Lusaka. Once you are in Lusaka you can fly or drive to the various national parks. To reach the popular South Luangwa National Park you can fly to Mfuwe International Airport which is just outside the park. Alternatively if heading for Victoria Falls you will should fly to Livingstone Airport. Airport transfers will then take you to the Falls.
Facts on Zambia
- Zambia has a population of 11 million people with the official languages being English and Bemba
- Full name: Republic of Zambia
- Capital city: Lusaka
- Area: 752,600 sq km; 290,579 sq miles
- Population: 11,200,000
- Time Zone: GMT/UTC +2 ()
- Languages: English (official); Bemba (other)
- Religion: Christian (50-75%), indigenous beliefs (50-75%)
- Electricity: 230V 50HzHz
- Electric Plug Details: British-style plug: 2 flat blades & 1 flat grounding blade; European plug with two circular metal pins;
South African/Indian-style plug with two circular metal pins above a large circular grounding pin
- Country Dialling Code: 260
- Money matters: Currency: Zambia Kwacha (ZK)
- Medical matters: Cholera, Malaria, Typhoid, Yellow fever, HIV/AIDS
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