The best places for a luxury safari in Zambia
Be enchanted by the amazing scenery of Zambia, either on your private walking safari or from the comfort of your own infinity pool. Zambia’s exclusive camps can offer a great balance between luxurious accommodation and an authentic connection to nature.
Puku Safari
11 days • 3 locations
LUSAKA AIRPORT TO LIVINGSTONE AIRPORT
US$13,200 - US$18,440 per person
King Lewanika Lodge
The only camp in the remote Liuwa Plain National Park, King Lewanika delivers traditional luxury in a remarkable location. Six large, tented villas open up to the vast wilderness around, whilst the real luxury of Liuwa is its exclusivity; so few visitors ever reach this park.
Chinzombo
Certainly the most ‘designed’ camp in Zambia, Chinzombo’s architects created crisp lines and an uncluttered layout, catering to those seeking high levels of comfort and style. Indulge in the spa; relax in your private pool; and perhaps take in a game drive or walk whilst you’re here.
Tongabezi
Tongabezi set the standard for safari-lodge design when it opened in 1990, with a series of individual suites, all half-open to make the most of superb river vistas. Since then, successive upgrades have honed the original, but it remains one of the most luxurious lodges in Zambia.
Slender Mongoose Safari
5 days • 2 locations
LUSAKA AIRPORT TO LUSAKA AIRPORT
US$6,080 - US$8,070 per person
Chiawa Camp
With uninterrupted views across the Zambezi River, Chiawa’s classic tents are furnished to a high standard. Attention to detail and quality abound: this is a tightly-run ship! Expect food that would grace a top restaurant, and an impressive range of activities delivered by an attentive team.
Vervet Monkey Safari
7 days • 2 locations
LUSAKA AIRPORT TO LUSAKA AIRPORT
US$8,150 - US$11,200 per person
Chiawa Camp
With uninterrupted views across the Zambezi River, Chiawa’s classic tents are furnished to a high standard. Attention to detail and quality abound: this is a tightly-run ship! Expect food that would grace a top restaurant, and an impressive range of activities delivered by an attentive team.
Greater Bushbaby Safari
8 days • 2 locations
LUSAKA AIRPORT TO LUSAKA AIRPORT
US$9,400 - US$12,260 per person
Luangwa Safari House
The Luangwa Safari House’s four unique bedrooms all lead off a striking open-sided lounge, which itself opens onto a private pool and waterhole deck. It’s all splendid, but the real luxury here is uninterrupted time with your family or friends, and complete control over what you do and when you do it.
Crawshay's Zebra Safari
10 days • 4 locations
LUSAKA AIRPORT TO LUSAKA AIRPORT
US$9,570 - US$13,530 per person
Chiawa Camp
With uninterrupted views across the Zambezi River, Chiawa’s classic tents are furnished to a high standard. Attention to detail and quality abound: this is a tightly-run ship! Expect food that would grace a top restaurant, and an impressive range of activities delivered by an attentive team.
Hyena Safari
11 days • 4 locations
VICTORIA FALLS AIRPORT TO LILONGWE AIRPORT
US$7,680 - US$10,320 per person
Kaya Mawa
Kaya Mawa is a luxurious lakeside lodge with eleven rooms, all different in size and style. One room even occupies its own island. All are built out of local stone and furnished with locally crafted furniture and decorated with beautifully hand-made throws and cushions.
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Luxury elsewhere in Africa
Our top ideas and inspiration for Luxury in other countries.

Botswana
Botswana’s tourism policy aims for high value, low impact tourism. This results in high prices, ...

Kenya
Kenya is distinguished by the diversity of its landscapes, wildlife and culture – but there’s an ...

Malawi
There are only a small number of high-end lodges in Malawi, but these are small, intimate and very ...

Mozambique
Mozambique is off the beaten track. The tourism industry is currently still developing and many ...

Namibia
Wide-open spaces, seemingly endless wilderness and a sense of solitude almost guaranteed: Namibia ...

Rwanda
Rwanda offers striking scenery, diverse wildlife and great cultural experiences – but until recently, ...

Seychelles
With the sun reflecting on the deep blue Indian Ocean, palm-fringed beaches and lush forests, the ...

South Africa
South Africa is an amazing place to experience a luxury holiday. Here you can relax on incredible ...

Tanzania
When it comes to luxurious accommodation, Tanzania isn’t short of beautiful camps and lodges offering ...

Zanzibar
With endless palm-fringed beaches, turquoise waters and accommodation built with world-class comfort ...

Zimbabwe
With great game viewing, vast national parks and some stunning scenery, Zimbabwe is fantastic to ...
Where to see wildlife species in Africa
Maximise the chances of seeing your favourite African animals based on traveller sightings reports from the field.

Lion
Panthera leo
Lions are at the top of the food chain and also most safari wish-lists, but with their numbers falling fast, any encounter with these majestic apex predators always feels like a privilege.
81% SUCCESS
2,821 sightings from 3,469 observations

Leopard
Panthera pardus
The most numerous of Africa’s big cats, leopard occur across many habitats, from wild tracts to populated areas. Their grace and their elusive nature make them a unique safari drawcard.
47% SUCCESS
1,809 sightings from 3,852 observations

Wild dog
Lycaon pictus
African wild dogs are among the continent’s most compelling animals. Much misunderstood, these rare, tie-dyed canids are amazingly efficient hunters with a fascinating social life.
32% SUCCESS
821 sightings from 2,578 observations

Cheetah
Acinonyx jubatus
The cheetah is the fastest land animal and the only cat that hunts by pure speed. Found largely in open grasslands, its slim, elegant form is today an increasingly rare sight.
32% SUCCESS
939 sightings from 2,926 observations

Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
One of the ‘Big Five’, buffalo earned a fearsome reputation in hunters’ tales. By contrast, big herds of these sociable bovids are placid, but mount formidable defences against predators.
83% SUCCESS
2,368 sightings from 2,867 observations

Eland
Taurotragus oryx
Africa’s largest antelope, eland are culturally important from prehistoric rock art to modern game farms. Though widespread, they are also shy so sightings are uncommon and often fleeting.
48% SUCCESS
1,321 sightings from 2,765 observations

Elephant
Loxodonta africana
By far the biggest of the so-called Big Five – indeed, the largest land animal on the planet – the elephant shapes the very landscape it inhabits and is a defining presence on any safari.
91% SUCCESS
3,383 sightings from 3,723 observations

Giraffe
Giraffa camelopardalis
The world’s tallest land mammal, giraffes are herbivores which have evolved many unique adaptations. Their iconic outlines tower above the bush in many of Africa’s wildlife areas.
86% SUCCESS
3,237 sightings from 3,761 observations

Hippo
Hippopotamus amphibius
The territorial calls of the hippo create a signature soundtrack to Africa’s rivers & wetlands. Despite an endearing smile, this aquatic herbivore has a notoriously aggressive disposition.
89% SUCCESS
2,470 sightings from 2,764 observations

Roan antelope
Hippotragus equinus
Africa’s second largest antelope and one of its most handsome, with a powerful build and distinctive markings, roan are wary of people, but renowned for their bravery against predators.
23% SUCCESS
446 sightings from 1,928 observations

Sable antelope
Hippotragus niger
Perhaps Africa’s most beautiful antelope, sable are renowned for their combative nature, even holding off lions. Shy and restricted in range, sightings of sable are always special.
22% SUCCESS
423 sightings from 1,931 observations

Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
The spotted hyena may be thought of as ‘ugly’ and ‘cowardly’. In fact, this versatile and intelligent carnivore is one of Africa’s most fascinating and warrants attention on any safari.
55% SUCCESS
2,001 sightings from 3,669 observations

Wildebeest
Connochaetes sp.
Superficially bovine in appearance, wildebeests are known for their spectacular migrations sometimes in huge numbers. These resilient animals are some of Africa’s most successful herbivores.
67% SUCCESS
2,289 sightings from 3,413 observations

Zebra
Equus sp.
The zebra is a quintessential African animal: the horse in stripy pyjamas at the end of every child’s A–Z. There are three species, of which the plains zebra is much the most common.
84% SUCCESS
3,552 sightings from 4,218 observations

Aardvark
Orycteropus afer
The aardvark is one of Africa’s most bizarre and enigmatic animals. A shy, nocturnal termite-eater, signs of its presence may be scattered about the bush whilst sightings remain elusive.
2% SUCCESS
67 sightings from 3,114 observations

Pangolin
Smutsia sp.
Pangolins appear to be more pine cone than animal in their unique armoury of scales. These nocturnal, ant-eating oddities are not only highly elusive but also increasingly rare.
2% SUCCESS
50 sightings from 3,094 observations

Black Rhino
Diceros bicornis
The black rhino is the smaller and rarer of Africa’s two rhino species but has the more fearsome reputation. Shy and heavily persecuted, it tends to stick to cover.
30% SUCCESS
570 sightings from 1,871 observations

White Rhino
Ceratotherium simum
The white rhino is the largest and most numerous of the world’s five rhinoceros species. They are larger, easier to see and generally more approachable than the black rhino.
43% SUCCESS
448 sightings from 1,046 observations

Sitatunga
Tragelaphus spekii
The sitatunga is the most aquatic of Africa’s antelopes and specially adapted to its swampy habitats. Though widespread across Africa, only a handful of places offer reliable sightings.
18% SUCCESS
57 sightings from 313 observations
