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Majestic Zambian Tourist Information

As far as African holidays are concerned, Zambia has it all. From serene savannahs and national parks, to the white sandy beaches along Lake Tanganyika, travellers are guaranteed unrivalled natural beauty.

If viewing Africa’s ‘Big 5’ game species is on your bucket list, then Zambia is perfect for you. In the heart of Africa, the country is the perfect safari destination, with 30% of the country protected by natural parks. The country’s savannah teams with life, and is world renowned for providing a tranquil safari experience, free from crowds.

On the other hand, you could opt for a pseudo-beach holiday at Lake Tanganyika or a dose of modern African culture in one of Zambia’s cities. The country is dotted with culturally rich cities and small towns, all filled with welcoming locals keen to help you make the most of your experience in their beautiful country.

Crystal clear lakes, a welcoming local culture, and the serene African wilderness – what more could you want from an African vacation?

Zambian vacations are synonymous with incredible natural beauty. With almost a third of the country covered by exquisit National Parks it is easy to see why. This untouched African landscape has everything to offer from great waterfalls, rivers and lakes, to pseudo-beach destinations, as well as some of the continent’s best safaris.

Although the country is best known for its awe-inspiring natural wonders, Zambian cities also provide travellers with the opportunity to experience authentic Zambian culture. Travellers are spoilt for choice between the urban jungles of Lusaka (Zambia’s Capital city), Kitwe and Ndola, as well as smaller market towns such as Choma on offer.

Victoria Falls

Widely regarded as one of Africa’s premier attractions, this epic natural wonder is Zambia’s crown jewel. Even from a distance, it is clear why locals refer to the largest sheet of flowing water as “Mosi-oa-Tunya”, The Smoke That Thunders. Up close, the waterfall’s roar is absolutely deafening and the ground shakes beneath your feet.

Furthermore, the area surrounding Victoria Falls is perfectly set up for a vacation, with cultural attractions such as the Livingston Museum and Victoria Falls Bridge, and activities such as Zambia river rafting on the Zambezi River.

Best Time to Visit Victoria Falls

Although you are guaranteed sensational natural beauty throughout the year, seasonal weather patterns determine the The Fall’s velocity and power. Before planning your trip to Victoria Falls, read up on the best time to visit Victoria Falls.

Kalambo Falls

Although Kalambo Falls is the lesser known Zambian Waterfall, it is a sight visitors never forget. Witness a vicious torrent drop 211 m (772 ft), crashing violently into the water below. At its greatest, The Falls reach 18 m (59 ft) wide, making for a powerful spectacle.

Zambezi River

This great river is born in Zambia, and makes its way into Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique before finally finding the Indian Ocean.

A great portion of this journey is made along Zambia’s Southern border with Namibia and Zimbabwe. This stretch of river is famous for Victoria Falls, big game safaris, tigerfishing, and whitewater rafting.

Lower Zambezi

The Lower Zambezi is the stretch of river below Lake Karibe, that runs through the Lower Zambezi National Park.

Ever-flowing rivers such as the Zambezi feed much of the areas big game, especially during the dry season. Such conditions are perfect for game viewing, as the wildlife’s movements become more predictable.

Zambezi River Map

A map of the river illustrates its great journey from Western Zambia, 1.5 km (4,921 ft) above sea level, through the middle of Mozambique and into the Indian Ocean.

Lake Tanganyika

The lake’s clear blue water provides two landlocked countries, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, with perfectly picturesque pseudo-beaches. Home to over 350 species of freshwater fish including lake tanganyika cichlids, the only real difference between Lake Tanganyika and a beach is its fresh water.

Visitors can enjoy all the typical beach holiday activities such as SCUBA diving, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and kitesurfing. Of course you could also choose to relax on the shore – cocktail in hand, feet in sand.

Lake Tanganyika Map

Lake Tanganyika is North of Lake Bangweulu and just East of Lake Mweru. Although much of the lake forms the border between Tanzania and the Republic of Congo, its Southern tip is in Zambia.

Lake Kariba

As the world’s largest manmade lake, Lake Kariba’s size makes it seem like an ocean, much like Lake Tanganyika. It is best known as a patch of untouched African wilderness, home to many big game species such as hippopotamus, Nile crocodile, lion, elephant, leopard, cape buffalo, and cheetah

This does, however, mean that you cannot swim, so scrap the idea of a pseudo-beach holiday, you are in for a proper African safari. Fishermen find themselves obsessing over catching a prized tigerfish, while bird watchers will be enthused by the local cormorants, water birds and fish eagles.

The best way to experience this wild lake is on a houseboat. Remove yourself from the crowd and escape to the water in order to truly soak up your absolutely tranquil surroundings.

Zambian National Parks

The country is a pristine African safari destination, with over 30% of land protected by a vast network of National Parks. Some of the most popular parks include Kafue National Park, Zambezi National Park, Lower Zambezi National Park and Mosi oa Tunya National Park, home to the Royal Livingstone Hotel.

This means vast untouched patches of African savannah, with many ever-flowing rivers creating a healthy ecosystem able to support all of the ‘Big Five’. This includes lion, the most infamous African carnivore. Interestingly, many flock to Zambia during lion mating season and during the dry season, when animals are forced to congregate around water sources.

Kafue National Park

Opened in the ‘50s and stretching over 20 000 km (12.5 miles), Kafue is Zambia’s largest and oldest National Park. Its size and age, allows for incredible diversity, and contribute to the park being one of the best places to spot unusual species such as caracal, otters, pangolin, civet, aardvark, and many others.

The park is not a ‘Big 5 in a day’ kind of experience, but does provide visitors with a relatively high chance of spotting a leopard. Walking safari tours, very popular in Zambia, are also offered. Abandon your vehicle and enjoy the exhilaration of walking in the African wilderness.

With regards to accommodation, the Park is home to a number of recently built safari lodges and camps. They provide modern safari options combining luxury with cultural authenticity, while accentuating the surrounding natural beauty.

Zambia Facts

Time in Zambia

Zambia follows Central African Time (CAT), which is 2 hours ahead of General Meridian Time (GMT+2).

Zambian Currency / Money

Zambia uses the Zambian Kwacha (ZK), which has traded between ZK9:$1 and ZK12:$1 between September 2017 and September 2018. This is illustrated in the graph below.

Zambian Airports

Airports are the most efficient way of travelling around Zambia. You miss the poorly maintained roads and head straight for your destination at speed. The country has 6 airports supporting commercial flights, four of which can handle international flights.

Livingstone Airport

Livingston International Airport has been renamed as Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport. Closest to Victoria Falls, this airport is used by travelers visiting the world’s largest sheet of falling water.

Lusaka Airport

Lusaka International Airport has been renamed the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport. This airstrip is centrally located less than 30 km (18.5 miles) from the heart of Lusaka, Zambia’s capital city.

In Summary