Unlike Botswana, its younger, more refined neighbor to the southwest, Zambia represents the power or raw Africa – from the rafting beneath the thundering Victoria Falls to tracking lion on foot in the South Luangwa, Zambia has a well deserved reputation with those looking for Africa unadorned – small personal safari camps and lodges, good food, cold drinks, comfortable accommodations, culture, great guides, excellent wildlife, an informal character, and adventurous activities around every corner.

Zambia is in many ways is like Zimbabwe in its wildlife and wilderness offerings with one very important difference – Zambia is a stable, democratic nation. Famous for its multi-day walking safaris through wildlife rich national parks (unlike in Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana where walking is not allowed within parks), visitors to Zambia may also enjoy day and night wildlife viewing drives in open 4x4 vehicles, boating safaris, canoeing safaris, white water rafting, and exciting cultural opportunities. In the hands of highly trained professional guides (in many cases equal in skill to Zimbabwean guides) Zambia offers the safari enthusiast true wilderness and abundant wildlife.

From the mighty Zambezi River where guests may canoe past hippo and crocodile, to South Luangwa renowned for it untouched wildness and abundant wildlife including exceptional leopard and over 15,000 elephant (hence the name “Last Kingdom of the Elephants”), from Kafue which is reputed to have the widest variety of antelope in southern and central Africa to the mighty Victoria Falls (the world’s largest waterfall), Zambia offers travelers an exceptionally real safari experience.

Zambia is not an easy place to run a tour company and many who try, fail. At Ultimate Africa we work very closely with several of Zambia’s tried and true tour operators - from Robin and Jo Pope of Robin Pope Safaris and the Cumings family of Chiawa. They may not offer the most luxurious accommodations but make up for this with a passion for Africa’s wildest areas and genuine hospitality. Please note that many Zambian safari camps close during the rainy season – November through May each year.

When to Visit: May through October
Big 5 Wildlife Species: Yes
Overall Quality of Safari Guides: 4.5
Overall Quality of Wilderness Experience: 4.5
Personal Safety: 3.0 (urban crime)
Health Concerns: 3.5
General Infrastructure (roads, telecommunications, water): 3.0
Medical Infrastructure: 2.5
Political Stability: 3.5
Overall Rating: 3.5
(ratings are based on a 5 point scale with 1 being the least desirable value and with 5 being the most desirable value)

Official Language: English
Currency: Zambian Kwacha
Time Difference: EST +7
Electricity: 220/240 50 cycles
Departure Tax: US $25
Embassy of the Republic of Zambia
2419 Massachusetts Avenue, NW Washington DC 20008
Telephone: (202) 265-9717
Entry Visa: Visa is required for American tourists - US $135 single entry. Visa paid upon arrival in Zambia. No paperwork.