Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
Known locally as "the smoke that thunders." Scenic flights, river cruises, white-water rafting and swimming in Devil's Pool when conditions allow.
01 · Key Facts
Zambia, at a glance.
A vast, landlocked wilderness named for the mighty Zambezi — home to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.
Official NameRepublic of Zambia
CapitalLusaka
Largest CityLusaka
Geographical Size~752,618 km²
Population~20.2 million
CurrencyZambian Kwacha (ZMW)
LanguagesEnglish & 7 regional languages
Time ZoneCAT (UTC+2)
DrivingLeft-hand side
Calling Code+260
Highest PointMafinga Hills, ~2,300 m
CoastlineLandlocked
National Parks20 national parks
Major AirportsLusaka · Livingstone · Mfuwe
02 · Why Zambia?
Wild Africa at its rawest and most authentic.
Walking Safaris · Rivers · Falls · Wilderness
Where the Walking Safari Was Born
Zambia is a destination where wild Africa feels raw, authentic and wonderfully untouched. Best known as home to Victoria Falls, one of the world's greatest natural wonders, it offers far more than spectacular waterfalls — vast floodplains, winding rivers, remote wilderness, and some of the continent's finest walking safaris.
South Luangwa is famous for exceptional leopard sightings and thriving wild dog populations; the Lower Zambezi pairs elephant and lion with a spectacular mountain backdrop; and the vast, remote Kafue offers an even greater sense of wilderness. Many camps are small and intimate, and lower visitor numbers than neighbouring destinations mean encounters often feel genuinely exclusive.
The Highlights
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Birthplace of the Walking Safari
Exploring on foot with an expert guide reveals tracks, calls and details a vehicle simply drives past.
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Exceptional Predator Sightings
South Luangwa's leopard density and thriving wild dog packs are among the finest in Africa.
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Victoria Falls & the Zambezi
Mosi-oa-Tunya — "the smoke that thunders" — anchors a country shaped by rivers, floodplains and lakes.
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Vast, Uncrowded Wilderness
Kafue and Liuwa Plain offer an even greater sense of remoteness than better-known destinations.
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Untouched & Exclusive
Small, intimate camps and lower visitor numbers mean encounters that feel genuinely your own.
03 · Where to Go?
Nine regions, one wild country.
Victoria Falls is Zambia's most famous attraction, but the country's greatest treasures are often found beyond the main tourist routes, in remote parks and intimate camps.
South Luangwa National Park
Widely regarded as Zambia's premier safari destination and the ultimate walking safari — elephant, hippo, buffalo, giraffe, lion, leopard and African wild dog along the Luangwa River.
North Luangwa National Park
Remote and lightly visited — untouched wilderness for travellers seeking real solitude, far from the main safari circuit.
Lower Zambezi National Park
Wildlife from the water — canoe safaris, boat cruises and fishing beneath the escarpment rising across the river in Zimbabwe.
Kafue National Park
One of Africa's largest national parks. The Busanga Plains offer exceptional seasonal game viewing, with fewer visitors than better-known destinations.
Liuwa Plain National Park
Vast, remote and lightly visited — home to one of Africa's great wildebeest migrations, for travellers seeking real solitude.
Lake Kariba
Fishing, boating and sunset cruises on one of the world's largest reservoirs — a huge stretch of Zambia's southern border.
Livingstone
Zambia's tourism capital and gateway to the Falls — scenic flights, river cruises and cultural markets set against the roar of the Zambezi.
Lusaka
Zambia's capital and main international gateway — a practical, lively stopover on the way to the country's wilder corners.
04 · When to Go?
The dry season shows Zambia at its best.
The best time to visit is generally June to October, when wildlife gathers around rivers and remaining water sources across South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and Kafue.
| Region / Activity | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Walking Safaris | 👀 | 👀 | 👀 | 👀 | 👀 | 👀 | ||||||
| Game Viewing | 🐾 | 🐾 | 🐾 | 🐾 | 🐾 | 🐾 | 🐾 | |||||
| Victoria Falls (peak flow) | 🌧 | 🌧 | 🌧 | 🌧 | 🌧 | 🌧 | ||||||
| Birdwatching & Green Season | 🦇 | 🦇 | 🦇 | 🦇 | 🦇 | |||||||
| Flying | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ | ✈️ |
Best for Walking Safaris
May – October
Best for Game Viewing
July – September
Best for Victoria Falls
February – May
Best for Birdwatching
November – April
Best for Photography
June – September
Best for Flying
All Year Round
05 · Flying in Zambia
One of southern Africa's great bush-flying destinations.
Freedom, With Preparation
Zambia is one of southern Africa's great bush-flying destinations — large wilderness areas, remote safari camps, extensive rivers and low population density create an extraordinary sense of freedom, alongside a real need for preparation.
Zambia borders eight countries, and the principal international gateways are Kenneth Kaunda International (Lusaka), Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International (Livingstone), Mfuwe Airport and Ndola Airport. A wider group of airports — including Chipata, Kasama, Mongu, Solwezi and others — can function as ports of entry under specified arrangements, though immigration may not be permanently staffed.
The KAZA UNIVISA covers Zambia and Zimbabwe jointly through selected entry points, but does not replace aircraft, customs or flight-clearance requirements.
All operational information is available on the Pilot Corner, accessible once you've booked your expedition with Aero Savannah.
What This Looks Like
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Spectacular Flying
The Luangwa Valley, the Barotse Floodplain, Lake Kariba and the Batoka Gorge at Victoria Falls provide remarkably varied scenery from the cockpit.
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Gateway to the Region
Zambia's eight land borders and the KAZA UNIVISA make it a natural link to Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi and beyond.
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Access to Remote Wilderness
Remote camps are typically connected by small gravel or natural-surface runways, bringing South Luangwa, Kafue and Liuwa Plain within easy reach.
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Protected Airspace
20 national parks and 36 game-management areas mean open landscape doesn't imply unrestricted low-level flying — checked and handled as part of every route we plan.
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A Country Shaped by Rivers
The Zambezi, Luangwa and Kafue rivers create some of southern Africa's finest low-level river flying, connecting camp to camp with ease.
06 · Geography
Why the country flies the way it does.
Zambia is a vast landlocked country bordered by Angola, the DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia. Much of it sits on a high plateau around 1,060–1,363 metres, dominated by woodland, grassland, wetlands and some of southern Africa's most important rivers.
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The Central African Plateau
A high interior tableland forming the geological backbone of the country and shaping temperature and flying conditions across the interior.
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The Zambezi & the Kafue
The Zambezi rises in the northwest and flows south and east to Victoria Falls, framing Lower Zambezi National Park. The Kafue River, Zambia's longest lying entirely within the country, creates the wetlands and floodplains of Kafue National Park.
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The Luangwa Valley
Eastern Zambia is dominated by the dramatic, lower-elevation Luangwa Valley, home to South and North Luangwa.
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The Barotse Floodplain
In the west, the floodplain transforms seasonally from dry grassland to vast flooded wetland — spectacular from the air.
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Lake Kariba
One of the world's largest reservoirs, stretching across a huge section of the Zambezi basin along Zambia's southern border.
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Lakes Tanganyika, Mweru & Bangweulu
Zambia also holds major lakes in the north, with Bangweulu particularly important for birdlife and wetlands.
07 · Weather & Climate
Three seasons, one dramatic river.
Zambia has three clearly defined seasons: warm and wet from December to April, cool and dry from May to August, and hot and dry from September to November — a cycle that significantly affects visibility, runway conditions and wildlife distribution.
Regional Climate at a Glance
| Season | General Climate | Months | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wet Season | Warm, wet | December – April | Majority of annual rainfall, frequent thunderstorms |
| Cool Dry Season | Mild, clear | May – August | Excellent flying conditions, principal safari season |
| Hot Season | Hot, dry | September – November | Peak game viewing, high density altitude |
The weather and climate system in Zambia can sound complex — but the team at Aero Savannah takes care of all of it. Every expedition includes full weather and route briefings, so you can take off with confidence, whatever the sky is doing.