By Alan Murphy
Alan is a renowned Africa expert and has authored many Lonely Planet guidebooks, including the guide to Zambia.
In Zambia, you’ll be looked after on safari by some of the best guides in Africa. They’ll happily share everything they know about the local wildlife and landscape, while safely leading you on game drives, walking safaris, even canoeing safaris along the Zambezi River.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
Across Zambia, you’ll find lots of safari favorites such as elephant, zebra, hippo and buffalo. Lions and leopards also keep a fairly high profile here. That said, it’ll be a challenge to find any rhino, either white or black, which are confined to a handful of parks. Similarly, cheetah and wild dogs aren’t easy to find. In marsh-dominated regions, keep your eyes peeled for the lechwe, a wetland antelope.
Weather & Climate
During the country’s Wet season (November to April), the rain can pelt down, bringing most outdoor activities to a standstill. Stifling humidity is also an issue at this time of year. In the Dry season (May to October), temperatures remain warm, building to hot just before the season changes. From June, mornings can get quite chilly and you’ll need to wrap yourself up in plenty of thick clothing to ward off the cold.
Best Time to Visit
The rainfall that can pour down during the Wet season (November to April) has a habit of cutting off road access, which makes getting around difficult. For this reason, and because of the generally soaked conditions, many of the country’s parks close – though a notable exception is South Luangwa. Wildlife watching is more pleasant in the Dry season (May to October), when there’s hardly any rain to be seen, and animals are easily found at local rivers and waterholes.
