Why Zambia
This is Victoria Falls from the east — the Zambian bank, at Livingstone — and some of the least-visited parks in southern Africa. South Luangwa is the birthplace of the walking safari; Kafue is vast and almost empty; the Lower Zambezi is travelled by canoe.
The season governs everything. From May to October it is the dry season: vegetation recedes, animals concentrate at waterholes, and it is the only period when park tracks are passable. From November to April, many camps simply close.
The falls follow the opposite cycle. Their flow peaks from March to May, after the rains; in October and November the Zambian bank can be almost dry, to the point where Devil's Pool becomes swimmable — and the spectacular view is then on the Zimbabwean side.
Entry and stay
Requirements depend on nationality and Zambia applies several regimes by country. Check yours with the Zambian authorities before booking.
One practical point applies to any cross-border itinerary: Victoria Falls is visited from both banks, and crossing to the Zimbabwean side means entering another country, with its own formalities. The KAZA UniVisa, a joint Zambia–Zimbabwe visa, exists for this but its availability varies: do not take it for granted without up-to-date confirmation.
No duration or fee is quoted here, for want of an official source verified at the time of writing — 22 September 2026.
Getting around
Distances are long and roads uneven. The main axes — Lusaka–Livingstone, Lusaka–Chipata — are tarred; everything else needs a four-wheel drive, and the rainy season cuts entire tracks.
Domestic flights link Lusaka to Livingstone and to Mfuwe, the gateway to South Luangwa. They are expensive but they transform an itinerary: the Lusaka–Mfuwe road takes a full day.
Long-distance coaches serve the main towns. In the parks, self-driving is allowed in some and forbidden in others — check park by park.
Money
The Zambian kwacha. Cash dominates outside Lusaka and Livingstone, and US dollars are widely accepted by lodges and safari operators.
Cash machines are reliable in the towns and absent from park areas. Drawing cash before heading into the bush is not a precaution, it is a necessity.
Health
Malaria is present throughout the country, all year. Prophylaxis should be discussed with a doctor before departure, and bite protection remains the first line of defence.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate may be required depending on where you travel from, particularly for travellers arriving from a risk country. Check against your actual itinerary, stopovers included.
Serious medical facilities are in Lusaka. From a park, the question is air evacuation: insurance covering it is essential.
Before you go
The walking safari, South Luangwa's speciality, is done only with an armed guide and a scout. That is not a tourist formality.
Photographing government installations, bridges or military personnel is frowned upon and can cause problems, including near border posts.
The electricity supply is subject to load shedding. Lodges run on generators, but in town the cuts are real and have to be planned around.