Top Safari Destinations in Zambia

Zambia has been my home for over 30 years, and I’ve always been captivated by its wilderness, wildlife, and remarkable safari experiences. Despite boasting some of the continent’s finest reserves, its safari scene has long been overshadowed by its more famous neighbors. Although not as well-known as Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, or Botswana, Zambia offers pristine landscapes, rich wildlife, and outstanding conservation efforts, making it a top destination for those in the know. Free from the large crowds found in other wildlife spots, Zambia is a hidden gem. Let’s explore five of the country’s top safari destinations.

Lower Zambezi National Park – A Haven for Game Drives, Fishing, and Canoeing
Lower Zambezi National Park is a vast wilderness spreading over 4,092 square kilometers. With zero paved roads, you’ll rarely come across another safari vehicle. The Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth-longest, forms the park’s boundary, creating a sanctuary teeming with elephants, buffalos, lions, leopards, wild dogs, and over 400 bird species. The wildlife predominantly gathers along the river, making boat and canoe trips ideal for sightings. Keep an eye out for hippos and the stunning carmine bee-eaters nesting between September and November.

Where to Stay:
Sausage Tree Camp offers luxurious accommodations right on the Zambezi River, complete with private plunge pools and top-notch service.

South Luangwa National Park – Premier Spot for Game Drives
Covering 9,050 square kilometers, South Luangwa National Park is famed for its diverse wildlife. Known as ‘The Valley of the Leopards,’ it boasts one of the densest leopard populations in the world. You’ll also encounter lions, hyenas, wild dogs, and massive elephant herds. The park is home to unique species like Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest.

Game drives typically start early in the morning and late in the afternoon when animals are most active. The park also pioneered walking safaris in the 1960s, which remain a popular way to explore its unspoiled wilderness.

Where to Stay:
Shawa Luangwa is an eco-friendly bush camp that offers excellent year-round wildlife viewing and a serene setting.

North Luangwa National Park – Ideal for Walking Safaris
North Luangwa National Park spans 4,636 square kilometers and is synonymous with walking safaris. Venturing on foot with a guide and an armed ranger, you’ll encounter elephants, antelope, zebras, and occasionally predators, offering an intimate wildlife experience. This park is the only one in Zambia where you can see black rhinos in addition to other Big Five animals.

Where to Stay:
Remote Africa Safaris specializes in walking safari camps, with Samala and Ituba Community Camps providing self-catering options for the adventurous. The Amatololo Experience offers a self-drive camping route.

Kafue National Park – For Diverse Wildlife
Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest and largest, covering 22,400 square kilometers. Along with its surrounding Game Management Area, it offers a vast wildlife area representing 9% of Zambia’s landmass. Housing 161 mammal species, including six cat species and 22 types of antelope, Kafue’s diversity is unmatched. The Busanga swamps in the northwest are a highlight, especially during the dry season when the receding waters attract various wildlife.

Where to Stay:
Chisa Busanga offers innovative tree-house nests that blend comfort and luxury within the natural landscape.

Kasanka National Park – A Paradise for Bats and Birds
Though one of Zambia’s smallest parks, Kasanka features an impressive array of 480 bird species and 114 mammals. The park is renowned for hosting the largest bat migration in the world from October to December, with about 10 million Straw-Coloured Fruit Bats descending on a small forest patch. Kasanka also provides excellent opportunities to see the semi-aquatic sitatunga antelope and the elusive Blue monkey and Kinda baboon.

Where to Stay:
The Kasanka Trust operates two basic lodges, Wasa and Luombwa, and a seasonal self-catering tented camp.

Liuwa Plain National Park – Witness the Wildebeest Migration
Spanning 3,369 square kilometers in western Zambia, Liuwa Plain National Park hosts Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration annually. Starting in November, around 45,000 wildebeests migrate to Liuwa Plains. The park also harbors other antelope species and predators, offering incredible birdwatching opportunities, especially during the dramatic wet season storms.

Where to Stay:
Time + Tide King Lewanika offers luxurious safari tents, while African Parks provides basic campsites and the more rugged Sibika Camp.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park – Proximity to Victoria Falls
Home to the majestic Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, meaning ‘The Smoke that Thunders,’ is Zambia’s smallest park but the only one with white rhinos. Easily accessible from Livingstone, the park hosts giraffes, zebras, buffalos, and many antelope species. A guided walk here almost guarantees a close sighting of the rhinos.

Where to Stay:
Thorntree River Lodge is located conveniently on the Zambezi River, just a short distance from Victoria Falls.

Additional National Parks in Zambia
Other national parks like Luambe, Lukusuzi, West Lunga, Sioma Ngwezi, and Nyika Plateau offer wildlife but lack infrastructure. Newer parks like Lusaka National Park house the Game Rangers International Elephant Orphanage but remain largely undeveloped.

Zambia remains one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, rich in wildlife and unspoiled natural beauty, offering an authentic and untamed African safari experience.