Though its camps have upped their game in recent years to cater for families and luxury travellers, Zambia remains a thoroughly authentic safari destination with an adventurous, unmanufactured spirit. This is the land of the walking safari, great explorations, campfires under starry skies, and friendly family-run camps and lodges. It retains a sense of remoteness and is relatively uncharted, aligned with the explorative safari sensibilities of yesteryear.
Family Safari Holidays in Zambia
Seasoned safari enthusiasts and families with older children will love Zambia’s adventurous spirit, outstanding wildlife, and owner-run camps and lodges.
From incredible walking opportunities and night drives to boating, bungee jumping, and fishing on the majestic Zambezi River, Zambia delivers diverse and action-packed safaris with plenty for families of all ages to uncover.
Why Choose Zambia for Your Family Safari Holiday?
Off the Beaten Track
Once considered a destination for experienced travellers who’d already safaried in South Africa, Tanzania, and Kenya and sought untrodden paths for their next adventure, Zambia has long upheld its off-the-beaten-track reputation. While its camps can now compete with the rest of the continent, Zambia remains a comparatively undiscovered gem.
Authenticity
Diverse Activities
Between day and night game drives, walking safaris, boating on permanent rivers, fishing, birding, cultural excursions, and the high action of Victoria Falls, Zambia offers a huge variety of adventurous activities suited to all ages and interests.
Family-Friendly Accommodation
Best suited to children aged 8 and above, Zambia has plenty of independent, family-friendly camps and lodges to accommodate those travelling with children. There are also some terrific exclusive-use options, some built specifically for families, typically including private vehicles, in-house staff, and child-friendly amenities.
Potential Add-Ons
Zambia is well located for some unmissable add-on destinations. Lake Malawi is a short hop from South Luangwa and provides the option of a post-safari beach trip, not quite as simple when travelling from Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa to an extent. Visitors can also easily combine Zambia with Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, and South Africa.
Where to Go
What is the Best Time to Visit Zambia?
Zambia’s climate is largely subtropical, with a distinct rainy season between December and April, when the roads are impassable, and many lodges closed. June, July, and August are excellent months to visit, with ideal conditions for walking safaris and excellent game viewing, albeit with a heftier price tag! Expect to wrap up warm, though, as mornings and evenings are cold during peak season. The climate starts to heat up again in September, though we still consider this a good month to visit on balance. By October, the soaring temperatures can make family travel uncomfortable, so we suggest avoiding it unless you’re prepared for potentially very hot days!
Family Activities
Game Drives
Night Drives
Walking Safaris
Boating
Catch-and-Release Fishing
Victoria Falls Activities
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Game drives in Zambia’s biodiverse national parks deliver sensational wildlife sightings, including lion, leopard, buffalo, giraffe, hippopotamus, wild dog, and massive elephant herds. The country’s permanent rivers provide a year-round water source, enticing animals to congregate on the banks and drink – a sight to behold from an open-top safari vehicle!
Unusually for national parks, both South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi allow night game drives. During prime hunting hours, guests can head out after dark with an infrared spotlight to search for leopards, prowling hyenas, and elusive species such as aardvarks, pangolins, and civet cats.
Zambia delivers an excellent standard of walking safari, led by some of the best, most qualified wildlife guides in Africa. South Luangwa National Park is widely referred to as the birthplace of the walking safari, the activity maintaining a highly accomplished reputation to this day with some superb operators at the helm.
Boating opportunities abound on the magnificent Zambezi River that flows year-round on the border of Lower Zambezi National Park. Canoe and motorboat excursions provide a front-row seat to life on the river – beady-eyed hippos peering from the water’s surface, a lone Nile crocodile gliding off the river bank, and elephant and buffalo congregating to drink.
With sustainability at the forefront, freshwater fishing on the Zambezi is offered on a strictly catch-and-release basis. Fishing for tigerfish is a particularly fun way to spend a few hours on a boat, as these fearless piranha relatives are tenacious and known for their dramatic leaps from the water.
Victoria Falls is positively brimming with exhilarating activities, giving Zambia the edge in terms of diversity and family-friendly appeal. The sight of the Falls is thrilling alone, but for adventure-seekers, adrenaline-pumped excursions such as rafting, abseiling, jet boating, and helicopter rides add to its appeal.
Wildlife You Can Expect to See on Safari in Zambia
Zambia supports astonishing wildlife densities in its national parks, with some of the best walking safaris in Africa. You’ll see plenty of big game in South Luangwa National Park, where the Luangwa River is a water source for huge herds of elephant and buffalo. The park is also well-reputed for its leopard sightings, with relaxed regulations around night drives allowing guests to venture out after dark during prime leopard hunting time. Bounded by the majestic Zambezi, Lower Zambezi National Park is populated by lion, leopard, African wild dog, spotted hyena, elephant, buffalo, and many antelope species. Highlights of unfrequented Kafue National Park include lion, cheetah, leopard, spotted hyena, hippo, and wild dog.
Best Lodges for Families
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Luangwa Safari House
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsDesigned by safari architect Neil Rocher, Luangwa Safari House is far from your average safari camp. It is a uniquely designed house made out of stone and thatch. One side of the house is very grand and castle-like, while the other side is totally open and…
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Nkwali Camp
From £483 – £602 ppNkwali is owned and run by Robin Pope Safaris. Founded by Robin, who has been guiding since 1975, the company is passionate about responsible tourism and operates a total of 11 properties across Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi. We suggest combining a stay here…
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Tena Tena Camp
From £728 – £891 ppTena Tena means ‘temporary home’. Owned and run by Robin Pope Safaris, this is certainly a homely little camp with a very friendly atmosphere. Robin Pope Safaris operates a number of authentic camps across Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi, and the company is…
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Nsefu Camp
From £728 – £891 ppNsefu is the oldest photographic safari lodge in Zambia. An intimate camp with fantastic guiding…its setting is one of the best in the park (maybe because they got there first!), with beautiful views and great game. The rondavel style is unique to South…
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Flatdogs Camp
Enquire for pricing Contact Us for pricing detailsFlatdogs Camp offers fantastic value and a convenient location close to South Luangwa’s Mfuwe main gate. A friendly, laidback camp with an enviable position on the Luangwa River, it has a wide range of accommodations that make it an excellent choice for…
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Waterberry Lodge
From £490 – £490 ppWaterberry is a Classic level lodge in the Victoria Falls region, and it receives consistently fantastic feedback. It is owner-run and also has one of the loveliest settings of any Victoria Falls property on either side of the river. The site includes The…
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The Royal Livingstone
From £372 – £438 ppThe polar opposite of the small safari camps we sell, The Royal Livingstone provides a contrasting accommodation option before or after your time in the bush! It’s also a very good standalone choice for travellers seeking sheer luxury. The Royal…
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Tongabezi
From £602 – £787 ppTongabezi is the perfect luxury hideaway, yet it’s close enough to Victoria Falls for travellers to enjoy a wide range of activities at the world’s largest waterfall. The accommodation includes options for honeymooners and families. Privately owned and…
Best Trips for Families
Talk to someone who’s been there
Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
