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Things to Do in Zambia

From the thunder of Victoria Falls to walking safaris in South Luangwa - the essential sights, and how to keep your own record of them.

Travel guide - last updated September 2026

Zambia shares Victoria Falls with Zimbabwe, but is generally considered to offer better views and a calmer, less commercialized experience on its own side of the border. Beyond the falls, Zambia is credited with pioneering the walking safari, and South Luangwa National Park remains one of the best places in Africa to do one. Here are 5 places worth building a trip around.

Top attractions

The sights most first-time visitors build an itinerary around.

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Victoria Falls (Zambia side)

One of the largest waterfalls in the world by combined width and height, viewable from multiple angles on the Zambian side - during high water season (roughly April-June), the Devil's Pool swim at the edge of the falls is a genuinely daring option.

📍 Livingstone, Zambia

🚉 Livingstone has an international airport 20 minutes from town, and shared taxis run the 11km to the Knife-Edge Bridge entrance - the Zimbabwean side is a walk across the border bridge with a day visa.

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South Luangwa National Park

Widely credited as the birthplace of the walking safari, still considered one of the best parks in Africa for the experience, with exceptional leopard sightings after dark.

📍 Eastern Zambia

🚉 Mfuwe airport, an hour from Lusaka by air, is 30 minutes from the park gate; the road from Lusaka takes 10 hours and is rough in the wet season, when many camps close entirely.

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Lower Zambezi National Park

A river-based safari destination along the Zambezi, with canoe safaris alongside the more traditional jeep game drives - a different, quieter way to see elephants and hippos from the water.

📍 Southern Zambia

🚉 Access is by light aircraft to Jeki or Royal airstrips, or by 4x4 from Chirundu, three hours from Lusaka - the last stretch is a rough track and the river crossing is by pontoon.

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Victoria Falls Bridge

A bridge spanning the Zambezi gorge between Zambia and Zimbabwe, with bungee jumping and a bridge swing offering close-up views of the falls' spray alongside the adrenaline.

📍 Livingstone, Zambia

🚉 The bridge sits between the Zambian and Zimbabwean border posts, a 15-minute walk from the Zambian entrance - you can walk out onto it without a visa if you get a bridge pass at the border.

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Kafue National Park

Zambia's largest national park and one of the largest in Africa, with far fewer visitors than South Luangwa despite comparable wildlife diversity, including large predator populations.

📍 Central Zambia

🚉 The park is two to four hours west of Lusaka on the Mongu road, which is tarred as far as the northern sector; the Busanga Plains beyond need a 4x4 and are only open from June to October.

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Planning questions

How many days do you need in Zambia?

A week suits Victoria Falls plus a South Luangwa safari well, connected by a short domestic flight.

What's the best time to visit Zambia?

May-October (dry season) is best for safari viewing, as animals concentrate around remaining water sources. Victoria Falls has the most water and dramatic spray roughly February-May, though visibility can be obscured by mist at peak flow.

Is Zambia good for a first-time visit?

Yes, particularly through an organized safari lodge, which is how most visitors experience South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi - Victoria Falls itself is straightforward to visit independently.

Do I need a visa to visit Zambia?

Most nationalities can get a visa on arrival or apply for an e-visa online in advance; a joint KAZA Univisa is also available covering both Zambia and Zimbabwe for visitors crossing between them. Check the official visa information for your nationality: zambiaimmigration.gov.zm.

What are some things to do in Zambia on a tight budget?

Viewing Victoria Falls from the Zambian side's walking trails is inexpensive relative to organized activities like the Devil's Pool, joining a shared-group safari costs considerably less than a private one, and self-driving Kafue or Lower Zambezi (where road conditions allow) cuts out lodge-transfer costs.

Can I rent a car in Zambia, and what licence do I need?

Yes, and a 4x4 is needed for everything except the Livingstone road. A foreign licence in English is valid for up to 90 days, and an International Driving Permit is recommended alongside it; the minimum age is generally 23 to 25. Traffic drives on the left. Park roads flood in the wet season from November to April, when several camps close and some tracks become impassable, and police checkpoints on the main highways are routine. Carry the vehicle's paperwork and reflective triangles, which are legally required. Official visitor information is published by the Zambia Tourism Agency at zambia.travel.