Destination
Zambia safaris& Victoria Falls
The falls from the Livingstone side, and walking country behind them.
Victoria Falls has two banks, and Zambia’s is the one you can walk out into. From Livingstone the path crosses the Knife-Edge Bridge into the spray, and after the rains the spray is weather: it soaks you, it blows back up the gorge, and you see less of the falls the bigger they get. When the river drops, the same walk gets you to the lip. Whether the pool at the top is open depends entirely on the water, and we check before we promise it.
Beyond the falls, Zambia is walking country. South Luangwa is where the walking safari got its start, and it is still the way to see the valley: on foot, early, with a guide and a scout, at the pace of whatever you find. The Lower Zambezi does the same on water: canoes down the channels, camps under the escarpment, elephants crossing between islands.
Kafue is bigger and quieter than either, and the Busanga plains at its northern end flood and dry on their own schedule.
This is not a country to rush. Most trips we plan are two or three camps, joined by light aircraft, with Livingstone at one end of them.
Where you’ll go
Livingstone and the falls. The rainforest walk, the Knife-Edge Bridge, a Zambezi sunset cruise, and the gorge below for anyone who wants to raft it.
South Luangwa. Walking safaris, leopards after dark, and the river bends the camps are built along.
The Lower Zambezi. Canoeing, tiger fishing, and river camps looking across at the Zimbabwean escarpment.
Kafue and the Busanga Plains. Space, lion on the open plains, and far fewer vehicles than either.
The other side of the falls is Zimbabwe, and plenty of trips take both. The bridge between them is the border.
Practical notes
Draft: awaiting owner verification. Indicative only; confirmed in writing with your quote.
- The falls run high and low across the year. High water is loud and wet; low water shows the rock. Neither is the right one, and we tell you which you are booking into.
- Access to Livingstone Island and the pool at the lip is seasonal and controlled. It cannot be confirmed far ahead.
- Walking safaris carry a minimum age, and it varies by camp. We confirm the camp’s rule when we quote for a family.
- Crossing to Zimbabwe or Botswana for a day is normal here. Entry requirements differ per country and we confirm each for your passport.
At a glance
Practical facts
- Plug & voltage
- G/C/D
- 230V · 50Hz
- Currency
- ZMW
- Zambian kwacha
- Time zone
- UTC+2
- (CAT), no DST, 1 hour behind Nairobi
- Driving side
- Left
- Languages
- English
- Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga
- SIM & data
- A TravelNet eSIM, live on landing. Or MTN, Airtel or Zamtel with your passport once you are in Livingstone or Lusaka.
- Tipping
- Expected in the camps, never demanded. There is usually a communal box for the back-of-house team, and on a walking safari the guide and the scout who walks in front are looked after separately. Carry small notes. There is no card machine on the riverbank.
- Tap water
- Bottled or filtered. Camps and lodges provide it and most will refill your bottle. Ask your hotel before you drink from the tap.
Comparing countries? The full table puts every destination we plan side by side, and when to go does the same for the months.
Getting there
The flights for this trip are ticketed at the same desk as the rest of it: Ethiopian Airlines among the 66 airlines we ticket. Ask for the fare when you ask for the trip, and one person holds both.
Why go
Zambia in six lines
- Victoria Falls from the Zambian bank, with the rainforest walk and the Knife-Edge Bridge
- Livingstone as the base, and a Zambezi sunset cruise above the drop
- South Luangwa, and walking the valley on foot with a guide and a scout
- The Lower Zambezi, with canoes on the channels and camps under the escarpment
- Kafue and the Busanga plains, bigger and emptier than either
- Light-aircraft hops between two or three camps, with Livingstone at one end
Privately crafted
There's no set itinerary here
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