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Safaris in Zambia

Safari Camps and Lodges in Zambia: Wild, Remote, and Authentically African Zambia may be one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, offering an experience that feels raw, personal, and deeply connected to the landscape. While less commercial than some of its neighboring countries, Zambia's national parks and game reserves are among the most pristine on the continent. At the heart of this wild safari experience are the camps and lodges — intimate, often remote accommodations that blend into their surroundings and bring you closer to nature than you ever imagined. Whether perched on the banks of a mighty river, nestled beneath towering mahogany trees, or tucked into the bush along animal migration routes, Zambia’s safari camps and lodges deliver an atmosphere of adventure, tranquility, and authenticity that few destinations can match. A Safari Experience Rooted in Nature Zambia is known for pioneering the walking safari, and this immersive approach to exploring the wilderness carries over into the character of its camps and lodges. Many are deliberately small, off-grid, and designed to minimize environmental impact while maximizing the guest's connection to the natural world. Rather than polished luxury in the conventional sense, many camps here offer understated elegance — open-air dining areas, canvas-walled rooms with thatch roofs, and the kind of hospitality that feels like being welcomed into a home rather than a hotel. Types of Safari Camps and Lodges in Zambia 1. Bush Camps Found primarily in remote sections of Zambia’s parks, these camps are seasonal and often accessed by boat or foot. Built with natural materials like reed, thatch, and timber, bush camps are intentionally simple, designed to blend into the landscape. With just a handful of rooms, they offer solitude, attentive guiding, and a front-row seat to wildlife action. 2. Riverside Lodges Zambia is blessed with iconic rivers — the Zambezi, Luangwa, Kafue — and many lodges are built to take full advantage of the scenery and wildlife that congregate along their banks. These lodges typically offer more permanent infrastructure, and many include decks overlooking the water, perfect for sunset watching, birding, and spotting hippos and elephants. 3. Walking Safari Camps Designed for mobile or semi-permanent use, these minimalist camps cater specifically to walking safaris. They may move seasonally or be set up temporarily along walking routes, with a lightweight footprint and essential amenities. The focus here is on experience, not luxury — and that’s exactly the appeal. 4. Classic Safari Lodges Zambia also offers more traditional safari lodges with larger facilities, swimming pools, and family-friendly accommodations. These are often located near airstrips or park gates and serve as ideal bases for longer stays or first-time safari-goers. Though larger, they still prioritize intimacy and personal service over crowds and opulence. 5. Eco-Camps and Community-Run Lodges Several properties in Zambia are operated in partnership with local communities or conservation organizations. These places often emphasize sustainability, cultural exchange, and low-impact design, giving travelers the chance to contribute to local livelihoods while enjoying world-class wildlife experiences. Safari Regions and Camp Styles South Luangwa National Park Known as the birthplace of the walking safari, South Luangwa is home to some of Zambia’s most iconic bush camps. Seasonal and remote, these camps offer a rare level of immersion. Many are accessible only during the dry season and offer exceptional predator sightings, including leopards and wild dogs. Lower Zambezi National Park Set along the northern banks of the Zambezi River, this park offers dramatic landscapes of river channels, floodplains, and escarpments. Camps here are often riverside, offering canoe safaris, boat cruises, and fishing alongside traditional game drives. The style is rustic-luxury — elegant yet relaxed. Kafue National Park One of Africa’s largest and least explored parks, Kafue offers wild, uncrowded safaris with a diversity of habitats, from wetlands to miombo woodland. Camps here tend to be remote and low-impact, perfect for travelers seeking a truly off-the-beaten-path experience. Liuwa Plain and Other Remote Regions In western Zambia, a few adventurous camps operate in seasonal or hard-to-reach areas like Liuwa Plain, home to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration. These camps are often mobile or semi-permanent, appealing to serious wildlife lovers and repeat safari-goers looking for something different. What to Expect at a Zambian Safari Lodge or Camp Guided Walks and Game Drives: Most stays include morning and evening game drives, with the option for walking safaris in many areas. Small Guest Numbers: Many camps accommodate no more than 6–12 guests, ensuring personalized service and exclusive wildlife encounters. Candlelit Dinners and Campfires: Meals are often shared around communal tables or under the stars, with campfire storytelling a staple of the experience. No Fences, No Frills: Wildlife is free to roam through camp, and you may fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring or elephants feeding nearby. Expert Guiding: Zambia’s guides are among the best in Africa, known for their deep knowledge, fieldcraft, and passion for conservation. Choosing the Right Camp or Lodge When planning a safari in Zambia, consider: Seasonality: Many camps only operate during the dry season (roughly May to November). The green season offers different experiences but fewer camp options. Activity Preferences: Walking safaris, boat safaris, birding, or traditional game drives — some camps specialize in specific types of exploration. Level of Comfort: Zambia’s charm lies in its simplicity, but accommodations still range from very basic bush camps to high-end safari lodges with plunge pools and curated wine lists. Remoteness: Some camps require charter flights and long transfers. While these journeys are part of the adventure, they do require logistical planning. A Note on Sustainability and Community Involvement Zambia’s safari model is deeply rooted in conservation. Many camps work closely with surrounding communities to ensure that tourism directly benefits local people and protects wildlife habitats. When you stay in one of these lodges or camps, you're helping support anti-poaching efforts, education programs, and sustainable land management. Final Thoughts Zambia’s safari camps and lodges offer a return to what a safari is meant to be: wild, intimate, and deeply connected to the natural world. Whether you're following lion tracks on foot, drifting past elephants on a quiet river, or sipping coffee while watching giraffes cross the horizon, your accommodation is not just where you sleep — it's part of the story. For travelers seeking a more authentic, less commercialized African safari, Zambia delivers — quietly, beautifully, and with unforgettable depth.

Home of the Walking Safari

Zambia is diverse, it's remote and it's full of adrenaline-fuelled adventure. From the stunning South Luangwa to the rapids and roar of Victoria Falls, there is something for everyone. The understated hidden gem of Southern Africa.

National Parks & Private Reserves

Good to Know:

  • Spectacular & varied scenery with abundant wildlife & birdlife.

  • Adrenaline-fuelled activities including canoeing, kayaking, fishing, walking safaris and night-drives.

  • Great range of luxury safari camps & affordable mobile camps.

  • Peak Season is during the cool dry months of June to August. The shoulder season months of May and September to November are mostly dry when many camps offer much better deals. 

  • The hot, rainy season is from December to April when many lodges and roads are closed. 

  • Gateways to a Zambian safari is generally via Lusaka (London 13h 20m / New York 17h 40m) or Livingstone (London 16h 20m / New York 31h 30m). These flights include one stop flight connections. 

  • Malaria is a health risk across the whole of Zambia therefore antimalarials & precautions are necessary. 

  • The Mfuwe Lodge elephants visit between late October and mid-December to feast on the fallen fruits from the large Wild Mango tree.

Safari Camps and Lodges in Zambia: 

Wild, Remote, and Authentically African 


Zambia may be one of Africa’s best-kept safari secrets, offering an experience that feels raw, personal, and deeply connected to the landscape. While less commercial than some of its neighboring countries, Zambia's national parks and game reserves are among the most pristine on the continent. 


At the heart of this wild safari experience are the camps and lodges - intimate, often remote accommodations that blend into their surroundings and bring you closer to nature than you ever imagined. Whether perched on the banks of a mighty river, nestled beneath towering mahogany trees, or tucked into the bush along animal migration routes, Zambia’s safari camps and lodges deliver an atmosphere of adventure, tranquility, and authenticity that few destinations can match. 


A Safari Experience:

Rooted in Nature Zambia is known for pioneering the walking safari, and this immersive approach to exploring the wilderness carries over into the character of its camps and lodges. Many are deliberately small, off-grid, and designed to minimize environmental impact while maximizing the guest's connection to the natural world. Rather than polished luxury in the conventional sense, many camps here offer understated elegance - open-air dining areas, canvas-walled rooms with thatch roofs, and the kind of hospitality that feels like being welcomed into a home rather than a hotel. 


Types of Safari Camps and Lodges in Zambia 


1. Bush Camps Found primarily in remote sections of Zambia’s parks, these camps are seasonal and often accessed by boat or foot. Built with natural materials like reed, thatch, and timber, bush camps are intentionally simple, designed to blend into the landscape. With just a handful of rooms, they offer solitude, attentive guiding, and a front-row seat to wildlife action. 

2. Riverside Lodges Zambia is blessed with iconic rivers — the Zambezi, Luangwa, Kafue — and many lodges are built to take full advantage of the scenery and wildlife that congregate along their banks. These lodges typically offer more permanent infrastructure, and many include decks overlooking the water, perfect for sunset watching, birding, and spotting hippos and elephants. 

3. Walking Safari Camps Designed for mobile or semi-permanent use, these minimalist camps cater specifically to walking safaris. They may move seasonally or be set up temporarily along walking routes, with a lightweight footprint and essential amenities. The focus here is on experience, not luxury — and that’s exactly the appeal. 

4. Classic Safari Lodges Zambia also offers more traditional safari lodges with larger facilities, swimming pools, and family-friendly accommodations. These are often located near airstrips or park gates and serve as ideal bases for longer stays or first-time safari-goers. Though larger, they still prioritize intimacy and personal service over crowds and opulence. 

5. Eco-Camps and Community-Run Lodges Several properties in Zambia are operated in partnership with local communities or conservation organizations. These places often emphasize sustainability, cultural exchange, and low-impact design, giving travelers the chance to contribute to local livelihoods while enjoying world-class wildlife experiences. 


Safari Regions and Camp Styles 


South Luangwa National Park Known as the birthplace of the walking safari, South Luangwa is home to some of Zambia’s most iconic bush camps. Seasonal and remote, these camps offer a rare level of immersion. Many are accessible only during the dry season and offer exceptional predator sightings, including leopards and wild dogs. 


Lower Zambezi National Park Set along the northern banks of the Zambezi River, this park offers dramatic landscapes of river channels, floodplains, and escarpments. Camps here are often riverside, offering canoe safaris, boat cruises, and fishing alongside traditional game drives. The style is rustic-luxury - elegant yet relaxed. 


Kafue National Park One of Africa’s largest and least explored parks, Kafue offers wild, uncrowded safaris with a diversity of habitats, from wetlands to miombo woodland. Camps here tend to be remote and low-impact, perfect for travelers seeking a truly off-the-beaten-path experience. 


North Luangwa Safaris offers a truly wild and remote experience in northern Zambia. Known for its exclusive walking safaris, it immerses guests in untamed nature, far from crowds and vehicles. With expert guides and minimal infrastructure, visitors encounter elephants, lions, and even black rhinos in a pristine, off-the-beaten-path setting. It’s safari at its most raw and authentic.


On the Zambian side, Victoria Falls offers a thrilling and close-up experience of one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”), the falls roar with power, especially during peak flow. Visitors can explore scenic trails, brave the Knife-Edge Bridge, and during low water, swim in the famous Devil’s Pool right on the edge. It's an unforgettable blend of adventure and awe.


Liuwa Plain and Other Remote Regions In western Zambia A few adventurous camps operate in seasonal or hard-to-reach areas like Liuwa Plain, home to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration. These camps are often mobile or semi-permanent, appealing to serious wildlife lovers and repeat safari-goers looking for something different. 


What to Expect at a Zambian Safari Lodge or Camp 


Guided Walks and Game Drives: Most stays include morning and evening game drives, with the option for walking safaris in many areas. 

Small Guest Numbers: Many camps accommodate no more than 6–12 guests, ensuring personalized service and exclusive wildlife encounters. 

Candlelit Dinners and Campfires: Meals are often shared around communal tables or under the stars, with campfire storytelling a staple of the experience. No Fences, No Frills: Wildlife is free to roam through camp, and you may fall asleep to the sound of lions roaring or elephants feeding nearby. 

Expert Guiding: Zambia’s guides are among the best in Africa, known for their deep knowledge, fieldcraft, and passion for conservation. 


Choosing the Right Camp or Lodge 


When planning a safari in Zambia, consider: 

Seasonality: Many camps only operate during the dry season (roughly May to November). The green season offers different experiences but fewer camp options. 

Activity Preferences: Walking safaris, boat safaris, birding, or traditional game drives — some camps specialize in specific types of exploration. 

Level of Comfort: Zambia’s charm lies in its simplicity, but accommodations still range from very basic bush camps to high-end safari lodges with plunge pools and curated wine lists. 

Remoteness: Some camps require charter flights and long transfers. While these journeys are part of the adventure, they do require logistical planning. 


A Note on Sustainability and Community Involvement 


Zambia’s safari model is deeply rooted in conservation. Many camps work closely with surrounding communities to ensure that tourism directly benefits local people and protects wildlife habitats. When you stay in one of these lodges or camps, you're helping support anti-poaching efforts, education programs, and sustainable land management. 


Final Thoughts Zambia’s safari camps and lodges offer a return to what a safari is meant to be: wild, intimate, and deeply connected to the natural world. Whether you're following lion tracks on foot, drifting past elephants on a quiet river, or sipping coffee while watching giraffes cross the horizon, your accommodation is not just where you sleep - it's part of the story. For travellers seeking a more authentic, less commercialised African safari, Zambia delivers - quietly, beautifully, and with unforgettable depth.

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