Luxury Zambia Safari Tours

Most travelers from the U.S. fly into Lusaka (LUN), Zambia’s main international gateway, or Livingstone (LVI) if beginning or ending their journey at Victoria Falls. There are no direct flights from the United States, but convenient connections are available through major hubs such as Johannesburg, Doha and Addis Ababa.

For travelers routing through South Africa, Delta offers service from Atlanta to Johannesburg, with onward Airlink connections into Zambia. Qatar Airways also flies directly between Doha and Lusaka, creating another useful option from major U.S. cities.

Once in Zambia, domestic flights make it relatively easy to reach the main safari regions. From Lusaka, we can arrange onward flights to Mfuwe for South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and other remote safari areas, depending on the itinerary.

Zambia offers one of Africa’s most authentic and adventurous safari experiences. Exceptional guiding, legendary walking safaris and vast wilderness areas make it ideal for travelers who want to go deeper into the wild.

South Luangwa is renowned for its leopard viewing and walking safaris, while Kafue combines extraordinary scale with strong populations of lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog. On the Lower Zambezi, canoe safaris add a completely different perspective, with elephants, hippos and wildlife encountered along the river.

Add Victoria Falls, intimate luxury camps and some of Africa’s least crowded wilderness areas, and Zambia delivers a safari that feels both raw and refined.

The best time to visit Zambia is during the dry season from June to October, when wildlife viewing is at its strongest and access across the major safari regions improves. This is the prime period for walking safaris, canoeing and predator viewing.

• South Luangwa: Wildlife viewing is particularly strong from July to October, but May and June still offer beautiful green landscapes and excellent sightings with fewer travelers. We also know of a remote area in the southern sector that has become one of Co-founder Kyle Green’s favorite wilderness experiences in Zambia. Ask us about it if you’re curious.
• Lower Zambezi: Many seasonal camps reopen from May as conditions dry out, with canoe safaris, boat cruises and game drives becoming increasingly rewarding through June. Wildlife viewing is particularly strong from August to October. Kyle visited the Lower Zambezi in May and recorded exceptional sightings, including six leopards in a single day.
• Kafue National Park: July to October is our preferred period, particularly for the Busanga Plains, when seasonal floodwaters have receded and the open grasslands offer excellent opportunities to see lion, cheetah and African wild dog.

Zambia is best known for its walking safaris, but the range of experiences goes far beyond. Here are some of the highlights:

• Walking safaris in South Luangwa and North Luangwa — The modern walking safari was pioneered in South Luangwa. Our specialist walking safari itinerary allows you to move between remote bush camps on foot, accompanied by expert guides and armed scouts. For the more adventurous, we can also arrange fly camping and nights spent under the stars.
• Canoe safaris on the Lower Zambezi — Glide quietly along the Zambezi for a completely different perspective on elephants, hippos, crocodiles and riverine wildlife.
• Classic game drives in South Luangwa, Kafue and the Lower Zambezi — Excellent for covering more ground and searching for lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog.
• Sunset river cruises on the Zambezi — A slower way to experience the river, with excellent opportunities for photography, birding and sundowners.
• Tiger fishing on the Lower Zambezi — Try catch-and-release fishing for one of Africa’s most iconic freshwater game fish.
• Victoria Falls experiences — Explore the Falls on foot, take a helicopter or microlight flight above the gorge, or enjoy a quieter upstream cruise from Livingstone. Microlight flights remain one of the distinctive activities available from the Zambian side.
• Leopard viewing in South Luangwa — South Luangwa is one of Africa’s premier destinations for leopard sightings, particularly during afternoon and night drives.
• Birding Safaris — Zambia’s birdlife is exceptional year-round, with the summer rains from December to April bringing migratory species, breeding activity and vibrant landscapes.
• Wildebeest migration in Liuwa Plain — Experience Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration in one of Zambia’s most remote and remarkable landscapes.

The best time to visit Victoria Falls from Livingstone depends on what you want to experience:

• March to May: High water levels create the Falls at their most dramatic, with immense spray and thunderous views. March and April are typically the peak-flow months, so expect to get wet.
• June to August: Water levels begin to fall, creating a good balance between powerful flow and clearer views of the Falls. This is one of our favorite periods for photography and combining Victoria Falls with a Zambia safari.
• September to November: Water levels become progressively lower, particularly on the Zambian side, revealing more of the dramatic rock formations and gorge. Devil’s Pool is usually accessible from around August to January, depending on water levels.

For most travelers combining Victoria Falls with safari, June to August offers the best overall balance, with impressive water levels, better visibility and excellent wildlife viewing across Zambia.

Yes. Zambia is a malaria-risk destination, and we strongly recommend speaking with your travel doctor or a certified travel clinic about preventative medication before your trip.

We also advise using insect repellent, wearing long sleeves in the evening and sleeping under mosquito nets where provided. These are standard precautions at the safari lodges we recommend.

Please consult your doctor for up-to-date health advice based on your personal health history and travel itinerary.