Zambia Overview
Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country bordered by DRC to the North, Malawi to the East, Zimbabwe to the South and Angola to the West. Situated on a plateau with great valleys and hills the Zambezi is the main river with its tributaries of Luangwa and Kafue. There are 3 great natural lakes in northern Zambia, Bangweulu, Mweru (shared with the DRC) and the southern section of Lake Tanganyika, one of the deepest natural lakes in the world. On the southern border is Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Zambia is renowned as a great destination for walking safari’s. Smaller eco-friendly lodges and camps are located primarily within the National Parks and make for an exclusive safari experience. There are more budget friendly options to be found outside the Parks.
Fast Facts
Capital City: Lusaka
Zambia is accessible by road and air with flights coming into Lusaka and Livingstone. Air charter and road transfers are popular for access to the National Park areas.
The local currency: the Zambian Kwacha (ZK) and US Dollar are widely used.
Languages: English is the official language and 7 official regional languages with Bemba being the most widely spoken.
People: With over 70 ethnic groups, Zambian people have diverse cultures. They are known for their colourful traditional art and brightly coloured chitenge fabrics.
When To Visit
Winter season is May through to October with little to no rainfall. Temperatures are comfortably warm during the day, typically being around the mid 25ºC mark, but colder in the early mornings and evenings. Temperatures start to rise by mid-August, peaking around September / October in the mid – high 30ºC mark. This is a good time for wildlife viewing, as there is less vegetation and animals concentrate around waterholes and rivers before the first rains.
The summer season between November to April can bring torrential rains and humidity is high. The rains can make many of the roads impassable and for this reason a number of Parks, camps and lodges will close during this wet period with the exception of South Luangwa National Park with its sandy soils and all weather roads.
Zambia is a landlocked Southern African country bordered by DRC to the North, Malawi to the East, Zimbabwe to the South and Angola to the West. Situated on a plateau with great valleys and hills the Zambezi is the main river with its tributaries of Luangwa and Kafue. There are 3 great natural lakes in northern Zambia, Bangweulu, Mweru (shared with the DRC) and the southern section of Lake Tanganyika, one of the deepest natural lakes in the world. On the southern border is Lake Kariba, the largest man-made lake in Africa and one of the largest in the world. Zambia is renowned as a great destination for walking safari’s. Smaller eco-friendly lodges and camps are located primarily within the National Parks and make for an exclusive safari experience. There are more budget friendly options to be found outside the Parks.
Capital City: Lusaka
Zambia is accessible by road and air with flights coming into Lusaka and Livingstone. Air charter and road transfers are popular for access to the National Park areas.
The local currency: the Zambian Kwacha (ZK) and US Dollar are widely used.
Languages: English is the official language and 7 official regional languages with Bemba being the most widely spoken.
People: With over 70 ethnic groups, Zambian people have diverse cultures. They are known for their colourful traditional art and brightly coloured chitenge fabrics.
Winter season is May through to October with little to no rainfall. Temperatures are comfortably warm during the day, typically being around the mid 25ºC mark, but colder in the early mornings and evenings. Temperatures start to rise by mid-August, peaking around September / October in the mid – high 30ºC mark. This is a good time for wildlife viewing, as there is less vegetation and animals concentrate around waterholes and rivers before the first rains.
The summer season between November to April can bring torrential rains and humidity is high. The rains can make many of the roads impassable and for this reason a number of Parks, camps and lodges will close during this wet period with the exception of South Luangwa National Park with its sandy soils and all weather roads.
Where To Go
