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Zambia✨ 10 best things to do in Zambia

Things to do in Zambia

1. Victoria FallsGet drenched by spray on the rainforest trail as the Zambezi plunges into a narrow gorge with a deafening roar.
2. Walking safari in South LuangwaTrack lions, leopards and elephants on foot with an expert guide in the park that pioneered walking safaris.
3. Devil's PoolIn low water, swim to a natural rock pool right on the lip of Victoria Falls on a guided trip.
4. Canoe the Lower ZambeziPaddle past hippos and elephants drinking at the river's edge beneath the escarpment.
5. Raft the ZambeziTackle some of the world's most famous big-water rapids in the gorges below the falls.
6. Bat migration at KasankaWatch millions of straw-coloured fruit bats fill the dusk sky in one of Africa's great wildlife spectacles.
7. Liuwa Plain wildebeestSee vast herds of wildebeest and hunting hyenas on remote grasslands in the far west.
8. Kuomboka ceremonyWitness the Lozi king's royal barge move to higher ground as the Zambezi floods.
9. Taste nshimaEat the beloved maize staple with your hands alongside relishes of greens, beans or kapenta fish.
10. Lake Kariba sunsetsRelax on a houseboat or lakeside lodge as the sun sinks behind drowned trees.

Zambia🗺️ Where to visit in Zambia

Where to go in Zambia

• 📍
  Livingstone & Victoria FallsSouth · falls & adventureZambia's adventure capital, with direct access to the falls, river cruises and adrenaline activities.
• 
  South Luangwa National ParkEast · safariOne of Africa's finest parks for leopards and walking safaris along the Luangwa River.
• 
  Lower Zambezi National ParkSoutheast · river safariCanoe, fish and spot wildlife on the Zambezi opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools.
• 
  Kafue National ParkWest · wildernessA huge, little-visited park with the Busanga Plains and a wide variety of antelope.
• 📍
  Kasanka National ParkCentral · bat migrationA small park famous for its spectacular annual fruit bat migration.
• 📍
  Liuwa Plain National ParkWestern · grasslandsRemote plains hosting Africa's second-largest wildebeest migration.
• 📍
  Lake KaribaSouth · lakeA vast man-made lake on the Zimbabwe border, known for sunsets and tiger fishing.
• 
  LusakaCapital · cityThe fast-growing capital with markets, galleries and a convenient base for onward travel.

Zambia🌦️ Weather & best time to visit Zambia

Best time to visit Zambia

Zambia has a warm subtropical climate shaped by altitude, with a dry, cool season from May to August, a hot dry spell in September-October and a rainy season from November to April. Valleys such as the Luangwa and Zambezi are noticeably hotter than the central plateau.

Typical daytime highs and rain in Lusaka (approximate averages).

Zambia🎉 Festivals & events in Zambia

• March-April
  KuombokaThe Lozi king travels by royal barge from the flooded plains to higher ground, accompanied by drums and paddlers.
• July
  Lwiindi GondeA Tonga thanksgiving ceremony honouring ancestors and asking for good rains.
• February
  N'cwalaThe Ngoni celebrate the first fruits of the harvest with dance and ceremony near Chipata.
• October
  Independence DayZambia celebrates its 1964 independence on 24 October.
• August
  Likumbi Lya MizeA Luvale festival in the northwest known for its makishi masked dancers.

Zambia🧭 Zambia itinerary ideas

How many days in Zambia?

Zambia🎒 Backpacking Zambia – tips & hacks

Backpacker budget: about $35–60 a day

• Livingstone has the country's main cluster of backpacker hostels, with campsites and tours to the falls.
• Long-distance buses connect Lusaka with Livingstone, Chipata and the Copperbelt; book a reputable company and travel by day.
• Mfuwe village near South Luangwa has campsites and budget lodges where you can join game drives.
• Local eateries serving nshima with relish are the cheapest and most authentic meals.
• Consider a combined visa for Zambia and Zimbabwe if your passport is eligible – check the official rules before you travel.

Zambia🛡️ Safety & money in Zambia

Emergency: 999 police · 991 ambulance · 993 fire

Zambia🛬 Getting to Zambia

Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone are the main gateways; land borders connect with Zimbabwe, Botswana, Tanzania, Malawi and others.

✈️ Cheap flights to Zambia: airports, flight times & best time to fly →

Zambia💡 Did you know? 5 facts about Zambia

• Victoria Falls is called Mosi-oa-Tunya locally, meaning 'the smoke that thunders'.
• Zambia is one of Africa's largest copper producers.
• South Luangwa National Park is widely credited as the birthplace of the walking safari.
• Lake Kariba, shared with Zimbabwe, is one of the largest man-made lakes in the world by volume.
• Zambia has more than seventy ethnic groups and many languages, with English as the official language.

Zambia❓ Zambia travel FAQ

Zambia travel questions