What to see in Zambia: 10 must-sees
Discover what to see in Zambia: 10 must-see destinations, from Victoria Falls to South Luangwa National Park. Predominantly national park and UNESCO heritage; each entry includes the best time to visit and the link to its official source.
National Park(5)
Look out over South Luangwa, in the Luangwa River valley near Mpika, and you'll see lions, leopards, and elephants moving between plains and meanders. Take a night safari to hear hyenas and search for big cats with a flashlight, camp on the savanna, and paddle a canoe along the banks where animals drink. Walk with an armed guide, watch birds at the seasonal lagoons, and see how the conservation program protects rhinos and antelopes in one of Africa's wildest parks.
Watch elephants bathing in the Zambezi as you canoe among hippos and crocodiles peering out of the current. Explore Lower Zambezi National Park on a river safari, with the valley escarpment in the background and acacia forests on the Zambian bank. Camp by the water under open skies, head out on a walk with an armed guide, and spot fish eagles and giant kingfishers. Across from Mana Pools in Zimbabwe, the river draws buffalo, lions, and antelopes during the dry season from May to October.
Wander the plains of Kafue, Zambia's largest national park, with 22,400 km² of savanna, miombo woodlands, and wetlands crossed by the Kafue River. Elephants, lions, hippos, roan antelopes, and more than 500 bird species inhabit its banks. Book a guided safari at dawn, watch wildlife from the lookout points, or camp by the river listening to the grunting of the hippos. Also try hiking and birdwatching in the Busanga floodplains.
Immerse yourself in Liuwa Plain National Park, in Zambia's Western Province near Mongu, where every year 40,000 wildebeest star in Africa's second-largest migration, crossing the open savanna. Explore the park on a guided safari, camp beneath the plain's open sky, and spot hyenas, zebras, and waterbirds from the viewpoints. Seasonal rains flood the grasslands, which then turn green again, dictating the movements of herbivores and their predators. Hiking and birdwatching round off a visit marked by the vastness of the horizon and the presence of local communities who manage the area alongside the park rangers.
Sail the rivers of West Lunga National Park, in northern Zambia, where rainforest still covers hills that hide chimpanzees, sitatunga antelopes, and waterfalls among the vegetation. Hike the trails of the virgin forest, camp in high areas surrounded by miombo woodland, and spot hundreds of birds in the clearings and along the riverbanks. Getting there from Kasama requires a 4x4 and planning: the tracks are rough and services scarce, but that solitude rewards the traveler with close encounters with primates and elephants far from the country's usual tourist routes.
UNESCO Heritage(2)
From Livingstone, discover the spot where the Zambezi plunges 108 meters, forming a curtain 1,708 meters wide, with spray visible for kilometers. Walk the edge trail, feel the constant rain in the gorge and, if you dare, bungee jump off the bridge or take a boat ride below the rapids. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is best visited between June and August, when the water flow allows you to see the full chasm.
Walk the trail that skirts the falls as the spray soaks your face and a rainbow appears amid the curtain of water. The roar explains the local name: Mosi-oa-Tunya, 'the smoke that thunders.' From the viewpoints in Livingstone you'll watch the Zambezi plunge into the gorge. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this is an exceptional testimony to cultural traditions and a vanished civilization, a place that has awed visitors for centuries.
City(2)
Immerse yourself in Lusaka, one of Africa's least visited capitals, and browse the main market, where vendors of chitenges, vegetables, and crafts set the rhythm of the day. Visit the National Museum to learn about Zambian history, and stop by the Cultural Center and the Arts Center, with exhibitions of local sculpture and painting. Walk its streets among colonial buildings and recent construction, observe daily life at the minibus stops, and try nshima at the street stalls.
Stroll through Livingstone, the gateway to Victoria Falls, and visit its museum to learn about the explorer who gave the city its name. At the local market, stalls selling chitenge fabric and wood carvings show the daily routine of its residents, while colonial buildings recall its past as the former capital of Northern Rhodesia. A few kilometers away, the Zambezi River sets the city's rhythm with sunset boat rides and the chance to feel the spray of the falls before you reach them, turning each day into a blend of culture and nature.
Natural(1)
Camp on the shores of the Bangweulu Wetlands, near Kasama, and glide through channels where birds, hippos, and local fishermen share the water. Follow the trails, watch wildlife at dawn, and chat with those who have fished these waters for generations. You'll understand why this marshy region has been a source of life for centuries for Zambia's communities, and one of the country's best corners to search for the rare shoebill among the reeds.
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