Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya), ZambiaVideo: Mike, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Zambia
Zambia, made simple: the smoke that thunders, walking safaris and wild rivers
Zambia is where the walking safari was born, where you can swim at the edge of Victoria Falls and canoe past elephants on the Zambezi. It is friendly, peaceful and still uncrowded. This guide takes the guesswork out of entry, seasons, money and getting around so you can travel with confidence.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you flyEntry rules, malaria advice, seasons and park planning, answered
- LandingLusaka or Livingstone, cash, SIM cards and your first evening, explained
- Your days in ZambiaFalls, rivers and bush camps, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Plain answersClear, honest guidance on the questions first-timers actually ask.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain where safari costs come from and where the good value options are.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Zambia should feel like an adventure, not a puzzle of bush flights, park seasons and cash questions. We answer the worries before they start, so you arrive confident and ready to find your Bliss.
Heading home to family in Lusaka, Kitwe or Ndola, or dreaming of your first sunrise walk in South Luangwa? This guide was written with you in mind.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels easy.
- Choose your ZambiaVictoria Falls, the Luangwa Valley, the Lower Zambezi, Kafue or the capital: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Sort the essentialsEntry rules, malaria advice, cash, cards and seasons, checked against official sources.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for food, culture, nature and stays in each area.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to shape your days and how you move between them.
Everything your Zambia trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Lusaka, Livingstone, South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and Kafue, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred restaurants, lodges, markets and viewpoints, from classics to hidden corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Lusaka and Livingstone, plus stays across the country.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Zambia trip
The Falls, the Luangwa, then the Zambezi
Most first trips combine three or four nights in Livingstone for Victoria Falls with a week of safari: South Luangwa for walking safaris and leopards, and the Lower Zambezi for canoeing among elephants. Scheduled and light aircraft flights through Lusaka link them, saving long road days.
- Standing in the spray of Victoria Falls
- A morning walking safari with an armed scout
- Canoeing past hippos on the Zambezi
- Night drives in search of leopard
Start with the destinations
See how the Falls, the valleys and the rivers fit together.
Zambia destinationsPlan with confidence
Your route, without the worry
Zambia rewards early planning: many bush camps close in the rainy season, and the best months fill fast. Our free planner helps you choose a realistic route, pace and budget level.
- Realistic travel times
- The right season for the Falls and the parks
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Zambia
From a busy, friendly capital to the world's largest curtain of falling water and some of Africa's wildest river valleys.
Lusaka Province
Lusaka
Zambia's lively capital, a gateway to the parks with markets, art and a rhino park on its doorstep.
Read the guidePhoto: Matthew Grollnek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Southern Province
Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Victoria Falls from the Zambian side, with Devil's Pool, river cruises and Africa's adventure capital.
Read the guidePhoto: Saraessop, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Eastern Province
South Luangwa
Zambia's flagship park, the home of the walking safari and one of Africa's best places for leopard.
Read the guidePhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lusaka Province
Lower Zambezi
A river park where you canoe past elephants, with Zimbabwe's Mana Pools across the water.
Read the guidePhoto: Hanay, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Central, Southern and North Western Provinces
Kafue National Park
One of Africa's largest parks, with the Busanga Plains, rare antelope and few other visitors.
Read the guidePhoto: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract., CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is Zambia safe to visit?
Zambia is peaceful and politically stable, and most visits are trouble free. Petty theft, bag snatching and car break-ins happen in Lusaka, Livingstone and the Copperbelt towns, so keep valuables hidden and use registered taxis at night. In the parks, wildlife is the bigger risk: follow your guide's instructions.
Do I need a visa for Zambia?
Many nationalities can currently visit Zambia for tourism without a visa for a limited stay, and others can apply for an e-visa, but the rules depend on your passport and change from time to time. Confirm on the Zambia Department of Immigration's official site before you book.
Is Zambia expensive?
Remote bush camps are costly because everything is flown or trucked in, but Zambia has plenty of good value guesthouses, backpacker lodges and campsites in Lusaka, Livingstone and outside the park gates of South Luangwa. Local food and minibuses are cheap.
What is the capital of Zambia?
Lusaka, a fast growing city in the centre south of the country. It has the main international airport, good markets and restaurants, and makes a handy base before flying on to the parks.
When is the best time to visit Zambia?
The dry season from May to October is best for safaris, with June to August cool and pleasant. Victoria Falls is at its fullest from about February to May and lowest around October and November, when Devil's Pool on the Zambian side usually opens.
How many days do I need in Zambia?
Ten days covers Victoria Falls and one major park. Two weeks lets you add a second park such as the Lower Zambezi or Kafue, or a few days in Lusaka with family.
Ready to find your Bliss in Zambia?
Use the free trip planner to turn ideas into a route that fits your dates and budget.