Zambia

Zambia is a vast, friendly and peaceful country that offers superb wildlife and cultural encounters. Landlocked in central Africa, it has a population of approximately 12 million and is one of the least travelled and most rewarding wilderness destinations in Africa.

Zambia is situated mainly on a vast plateau and has three of Africa’s largest rivers - the Zambezi, Kafue and Luangwa - as well as one of the largest waterfalls in the world, the magnificent Victoria Falls, which it shares with neighbouring Zimbabwe. Most of the country enjoys a mild, pleasant climate, while the river valleys are hotter and more humid. The extreme north becomes tropical on the shores of Lake Tanganyika, one of Zambia’s ten large lakes. While Lusaka is the country’s capital, Livingstone is the destination for a Victoria Falls holiday. Just six miles from the Falls, it is known to travellers as the ’adventure capital’ offering adrenalin-packed activities.

When it comes to wildlife, what Zambia lacks in diversity, it makes up for in concentrations and numbers, offering some of the wildest and most remote game areas on the continent as well as a number of superb lodges and safari options. Using either air charter or a combination of air and road it is possible to build an itinerary that takes in the most rewarding areas at a relaxed and leisurely pace. You can see more than a thousand black lechwe on the floodplains of Bangweulu, catch some of the biggest tiger fish in Africa within sight of a large elephant herd on the Lower Zambezi, fly over the mighty Victoria Falls in spate, or view leopard on a kill at night in the South Luangwa. Zambia walking safaris originated in this lush land and today it offers some of the best traditional walking safaris in Africa.

The lodges and camps in Zambia’s National Parks offer a diverse choice of environments from bush to ’bush chic’ and represent some of the most exciting circuits in Africa.

Zambia has many treasures in store - some are suitable for both seasoned and new safari travellers, and some are more suitable for those who have been to Africa a number of times and are looking for something more specialist.

WHEN TO GO

• January to March - summer and the rainy season, the rivers are in flood and the ox bow lagoons fill up, hot weather with afternoon thunderstorms, bush is lush and green and game dispersed, beautiful photographic light, migratory birds, incredible sunsets.
• April to May - potential rain storms still around, warm to hot days, bush very green and the grass is long, excellent birding, good game viewing, Victoria Falls water levels extremely high and impressive.
• June to July - mid winter so it can be very cold at night and on early morning game drives, clear cool to warm days, game viewing very good.
• August - varies from cool to hot, bush dry with lagoons shrinking, game viewing excellent and numbers increasing.
• September - hot, dry and hazy, excellent game viewing, carmine bee-eaters nesting through to November.
• October - very dry with excellent game viewing, occasional rain will clear the air, can be very hot, new growth starts and newborns arrive, Victoria Falls extremely low.
• November to December - hot and humid, dramatic lightening showers, bush green and fresh, excellent bird watching, game viewing good.