Situated in South-Central Africa, Zambia is landlocked and shares borders with eight countries which include Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, the DR Congo, and Angola. As such, the country serves as a strategic regional tourism hub for those intending to explore Southern Africa safaris. Zambia is famous for her reputation as the ‘Birthplace of the Walking Safari’ in South Luangwa national park, however, the country’s tourism appeal goes far beyond the tracks. Zambia offers classic wildlife safari experiences that offer an opportunity to track rhinos on foot, search for the prehistoric Shoebill Stork in the Bangweulu Wetlands, or paddle a canoe past hippos in the Lower Zambezi river. Zambia’s protected areas cover almost 38% of the country’s total land area and include 21 national parks of which most are still remote and untamed including Liuwa Plains national park famous for harboring the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa. The world’s largest wildebeest migration is in Serengeti plains in Kenya and Tanzania. In addition to wildlife, Zambia hosts the legendary Victoria Falls, a UNESCO world heritage site offering adventure activities such as swimming in the Devil’s Pool, bungee jumping off the bridge, white-water rafting through the Batoka Gorge. Visitors can immerse themselves in Zambia’s rich cultural heritage through traditional festivals, local cuisine, and village tours that offer a glimpse into the authentic Zambian way of life.
Geography
Zambia is situated on a watershed between the mighty Congo to the northwest and Zambezi rivers. Zambezi river originates in Kalene Hills in Mwinilunga district and flows southwards through Angola and western part of Zambia to the border with Zimbabwe forming the natural wonder of Victoria Falls where its course turns eastwards through Mozambique and empties into the Indian Ocean. Zambezi forms the adventure capital of Zambia where visitors can enjoy white water, bungee jumping, and spot fishing activities. Among other major water bodies include Lake Bangweulu known for shoebill birds, Lake Mweru and the southern part of Lake Tanganyika for scuba diving and snorkeling of which all are found in the northern part. Water consists of 9,220 Sq. km of the country’s total land area at 752,000 Sq. km, much of which is dominated by a high plateau with an average elevation between 1,000 and 1,600 meters above sea level. The nature of terrain is relatively flat with alternating undulating hills, river valleys and steep escarpments. The highest altitude point in Zambia is Mafinga Hills in Muchinga Escarpment at 2,339 meters (7,674 feet) in Muchinga Province along the border with Malawi.
Zambia’s high plateau is responsible for a sub-tropical climate characterized by cooler nights and comfortable day-time temperatures. In addition to the climate, the undulating terrain offers gentle hiking trails and world-class walking safaris with spectacular views over the horizon. The Luangwa and Zambezi valleys, serve as wildlife hubs famous for harboring the highest concentrations of wildlife including leopards on the continent.
People and culture
Geography also influences how people live across the land. Zambia’s population of 19 million people is divided into 72 different ethnic groups including Lozi, Bemba, Leya, Tonga, each with their own unique traditions. The major cities which include Lusaka capital city, Livingston town, and Ndola are located along the “Line of Rail” in the mineral-rich Cobber Belt Province with rich deposits of copper, cobalt, limestone, among other gemstones such as emeralds and beryl. In addition to modern living in the cities, there are traditional rural villages where you can see agriculture and farm hospitality and traditional village life. Lozi known as river people live in the western province and their culture is centered around the Zambezi’s rising waters in the Barotse floodplain. They have a unique cultural ceremony, Kuomboka dating back to the 17th century, where the King moves from the floodplains to the higher ground. The Bemba people inhabit the north and eastern provinces of Zambia where the high forested plateau is arable for agriculture; they practice an ancient method of farming on the acidic soils of the high forested plateau “Chitemene” slash-and-burn agriculture. Kawaza community in South Luangwa offers an opportunity to stay in a traditional Kunda tribe village and experience living in mud hut and food nshima (maize porridge) by the fire, and visit the local school. Mukuni Village in Livingstone town is a 700-year-old village of the Leya people famous for their ancient craft of traditional hut construction with intricate wood-carving culture. The surrounding forests are a source of hardwood timber obtained from tree species such as Zambian teak (Baikiaea plurijuga) and African rosewood (Pterocarpus angolensis).
Key agricultural hubs in Zambia include Mkushi and Mazabuka districts due to fertile loam soils and average rainfall. Major cash crops include sugarcane plantations in Mazabuka and livestock farming in Mkushi. Another agricultural district is Chisamba town in the central province which is 97k (2-hour drive) north of Lusaka capital city. In these regions, there are several working cattle ranches and tobacco or maize farms that have converted historic farmhouses into guest cottages and lodges including the Protea Hotel Safari Lodge. Experience Zambia farm hospitality and participates in a wide range of activities including milkings, crop harvesting, horseback riding through the fields.
The Best Time to Visit
Dry season May to October includes the cool and hot season from May to August and the hot and dry season from September to October.
The cool and dry season from May to August, which is Zambia’s winter time, is cool with an average temperature range of 23°C-26°C during the day and between 6°C-10°C at night. In the Luangwa Valley temperatures may drop to zero degrees, making for chilly mornings which need layering. There’s little or no rainfall which offers ideal conditions for walking safaris, game drives, and conditions are ideal for a keen photographer.
The hot and dry season (Spring)
The driest months are September and October and it is the peak season for wildlife viewing safari in Zambia given that animals are concentrated at remaining waterholes in major parks including Kafue, Lower Zambezi, and South Luangwa national parks. This is also the best time for swimming in the Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls as the Zambezi river water levels are at their lowest. During these dry months, the bush thins and the short grass provides the perfect conditions for Zambia’s signature walking safaris. In the valleys like South Luangwa or the Lower Zambezi, temperatures can reach up to 40°C which requires wearing light weight clothing to stay cool.
The Wet and warm season
Happening between November to April, the wet season in Zambia is also known as emerald or summer season. It brings heavy rainfall amounts with 1,200mm in the north and 700 mm per annum in the southern regions. Average temperatures range between 26°C-30°C (79°F-89°F) during the day and 18°C-20°C (64°F-68°F). Rainfall tends to fall in short but intense tropical thunderstorms after which the sky becomes clear. The wet season in Zambia is best for birdwatching, the Liuwa Plain migration calving season in November to December, and seeing Victoria Falls in full spray in April and May.
National parks and destinations
Zambia is home to 21 national parks of which only a handful of them are best suited for African safaris and worth your time. The best parks are also apart from each and most of the safaris rely on charter flights
to get from destination to another. There are two major safari routes to consider. One of the best Zambia safari route is to start from Victoria Falls and fly to Lower Zambezi for water safaris and end with South Luangwa for the big cat sightings.
The second route combines Kafue’s Busanga Plains and Liuwa Plains in the west visited mostly in October and November during the peak of the wildebeest migration season.
South Luangwa national park
Zambia’s flagship destination South Luangwa national park known also as the “Valley of Leopards” is famous for having one of the highest concentrations of wildlife in the region including 10 to 12 leopards per 100 Sq. km, over 50 hippos per kilometer of river, and herds of up to 1,000 buffaloes. The protected area is home to over 60 mammal species including the Big Four which include lions, leopards, buffaloes and elephants and over 450 bird bpecies representing about 60% of all bird species in Zambia. There are three species found unique to the Luangwa river valley which include the Thornicroft’s Giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis thornicrofti) distinct from other giraffes, Cookson’s wildebeest, and crawshay’s Zebra. Among other wild animals that you might see in on a wildlife drive in the park include Impalas, Elands, bushbucks, worthogs, and Puku. Most of the wildlife tend to concentrate in the valleys and around permanent water which offers great wildlife viewing experience. The best time to visit South Luangwa is July to October when the bush is dry wildlife becomes easy to spot both on vehicles and on foot.
Kafue national park
The remote and wild Kafue national park is one of the biggest protected areas in Africa, making for a destination for those intending to enjoy seclusion. The vast park consists a variety of habitats from Miombo woodlands, open grasslands, riverine forests and the seasonal floodplains are famous for harboring tree-climbing lions and herds of red lechwe.
Lower Zambezi national park
Located between the Zambezi escarpment and the mighty Zambezi River, Lower Zambezi national park offers spectacular scenery, canoeing and riverside luxury accommodation.
Liuwa Plains national park
Liuwa Plains national park is famous for hosting the Liuwa Plain wildebeest and antelope migration which consists of over 45,000 blue wildebeests accompanied by various antelope species including zebras, red lechwe, and oribis. Seasonal rainfall between November and April create new fresh grasss in the Zambezi flood plains that the animals follow. The protected area is managed under a long partnership between African Parks and government of Zambia from 2003 and they have since undertaken rigorous conservation activities to restore Liuwa Plains ecosystem to its former glory through reintroduction of wildlife that had become extinct from the park including lions, African wild dogs among other herbivores including buffaloes and elands.
With effective law enforcement and community collaboration, the wildlife populations in Liuwa Plains national park are increasing, making for one of the successful conservation stories.
Culture and heritage
Zambia contains over 70 different ethnic groups including the Lozi, Nyanja-Chewa, Bemba, Nkoya, Tonga, Kaonde, Tumbuka, Luvale and Lunda of which some hold vibrant ceremonies to celebrate harvests, migrations, and history. Witnessing one of these events is the ultimate cultural immersion.
Traditional festivals
Cultural festivals offer travelers an opportunity to look at ancient traditions that are still alive today.
Kuomboka festival
The Kuomboka festival, which means to get out of the water, is celebrated by the Lozi people in the Western Province in April depending on the water levels. According to a legend, the festival is a royal migration influenced by the Zambezi River annual flooding of the Barotse Plains. The area turns into a temporary lake and the King named Litunga and his people must move from the flooding to the dry lands in Limulunga.The spectacle of the event is how they travel in a massive, black-and-white striped royal barge with a giant statue of an elephant sits atop paddled by over 100 men. The boat glides across the water to the sound of African ancient Maoma drums.
Nc’wala
Nc’wala cultural festival takes place in February held by the Ngoni people in Chipata as they celebrate their first-fruits harvest. Featuring powerful warrior dances and the Chief Mpezeni tasting the season’s first crops.
Umutomboko festival
The festival occurs around July among the Lunda people of Luapula celebrating their historic migration from the Congo. The highlight of this event is the “Dance of Victory” performed by the Chief Mwata Kazembe.
Likumbi Lya Mize ceremony
Likumbi Lya Mize festival in August takes place in the North-Western Province and is a UNESCO Intangible Heritage event famous for the Makishi masquerades elaborate, masked characters representing ancestral spirits who perform stunning dances and storytelling.
Those intending to attend these Zambian cultural festivals should plan their cultural tours through a tour operator. Given that the ceremonies follow seasons and dates are often announced only a few weeks to the event. Visitors should dress modestly and always follow the instructions of tour guides when taking photos. The Kuomboka can be easily combined with a trip to Liuwa Plain national park for a perfect mix of a cultural and wildlife experience.