Zambia, the warm heart of Africa, has something for everyone whether that be for a family, a honeymoon, a keen birder, photographer, wildlife enthusiast or simply someone who wants to enjoy an incredible African experience. It has breathtaking vistas, phenomenal wildlife viewing, some of the best guiding in Africa, exceptional walking safaris, warm and welcoming people and some outstanding accommodation. Although largely visited in the dry season there are good reasons to visit outside of these times.  Here’s a look at Zambia’s safari calendar year.

January
With the arrival of the early rains, Liuwa Plains is looking beautiful. Herds of thousands of wildebeest and their calves can often be found around Time + Tide’s King Lewanika camp. The central wildlife viewing areas of both the South Luangwa and the Kafue National Park are open, as are a couple of the Lower Zambezi options. The early rains have cleared the dust from the dry season making the air very clear, perfect for photography. There is also excellent birding in January as many of the migrants have arrived and are in breeding plumage and song.

Wildebeest on the Liuwa Plains close to King Lewanika Camp

February and March
In the South Luangwa, Time + Tide safaris begins its ‘Secret Season’ and Robin Pope safaris its ‘Emerald Season’. These safaris combine both a central lodge with time in a remote bush camp, which is now only accessible by boat. Ebony groves become tributaries, ox bow lakes flood and the bush becomes green and lush. It is an incredible time to see the Luangwa from a completely different perspective and the birding is excellent during this time. In the months of February and March vast quantities of water are flowing over the Victoria Falls and the plume of the spray can be seen for miles.

Pretty Nkwali Camp is a perfect spot to enjoy Zambia’s ’emerald season’.

April
With the rains being more and more sporadic, the beginning of April sees a number of camps open in The Lower Zambezi and Chongwe, Sausage Tree and Potato Bush Camp start to welcome visitors. The Secret Season and the Emerald Season Safaris close in the South Luangwa and just the central Mfuwe areas remain accessible. In the Liuwa Plains the flood waters recede leaving pools of water and the park is full of birdlife, predators, plains game and wildebeest.

Sublime views over the river and plains at Sausage Tree Camp

May
May is an exciting month as it marks the beginning of the dry season and everything starts to open up. The South Luangwa bush camps are re-built and typically most are open by around 20th May/ 1st June. The remaining Lower Zambezi camps open on 1st May so that the park is fully operational from this month onwards. The Victoria Falls is reaching its peak as vast amounts of water flow over the falls making it almost hard to see them from up close, but still hugely impressive.

Wonderful wildlife in the South Luangwa, close to Time + Tide Kakuli Camp

June
In June everything is now fully open in Zambia. The bush is still quite thick and green which does sometimes mean you have to work a bit harder for your wildlife viewing, but as it is not peak season you get the benefit of being able to enjoy sightings away from other visitors. In Bangweulu the early season months are good for shoebill sightings, as the waters are still high and the shoebill often come quite close to camp. Camps are open in the Busanga Plains in the Kafue National Park, which combine very well with the central Kafue camps. June is still a good month to visit the Liuwa Plains – although as the month progresses the plains are beginning to dry up and the game populations start to disperse.

Head to Shoebill Island Camp in the Bangweulu Wetland for a great chance of spotting the shoebill

July
The temperatures are surprisingly cool in the morning and evening, but the days are lovely and warm. The wildlife is starting to congregate in the South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi National Parks and it becomes more accustomed to safari vehicles making close up game encounters more likely. Shoebill sightings in the Bangweulu are still good and the Busanga Plains in northern Kafue is starting to come into its own and shine as the jewel in the crown of the park.

The South Luangwa is one of the best places in Africa to see leopard – these two were spotted close to Tena Tena

August and September
Temperatures start to increase and the bush becomes drier and drier. In August and September guests can enjoy excellent wildlife-viewing throughout the South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and the Kafue. These are peak season months in Zambia and a perfect time to visit. The carmine bee-eaters arrive in the Luangwa and start building nests in the vertical sand banks. As water levels over the Victoria Falls have reduced, Livingstone Island and the Devil’s Pool open again.

Colourful bee eaters nesting in the banks of the river close to Time + Tide Nsolo Camp

October
Day time temperatures can get up into the 40’s and the bush is at its driest before the rains break sometime in November. This leads to high concentrations of wildlife along the rivers and any water sources, which leads to exceptional sightings with predator action becoming dramatically prolific. All camps in the country are open and some regard this month the best for pure wildlife-viewing experiences.

With fan cooled sleeping areas and private plunge pools, Time + Tide Chinzombo Camp is a good choice in October

November and December
The rains could start at anytime in November or December. Typically, there will be a couple of big, dramatic storms to herald the new season, these in themselves are a wonderful spectacle and quite an experience. The largest mammal migration of fruit bats arrives in Kasanka in early November and are in residence through until mid-late December.  Liuwa Plains has another peak season as the wildebeest have their “mini-migration” across the plains and begin to calve.  In mid-November/December (December is the best month to witness this) the elephant start to walk through the reception at Mfuwe Lodge in the South Luangwa to reach the wild mango trees beyond. Fresh colours and new water make these months great for photography and migrant birds start to arrive and display song and plumage for breeding so also a great time for birders.

En-route through reception at Mfuwe Lodge to the fruit trees beyond

What next?
We would be delighted to help with planning your perfect safari holiday in Zambia, whenever you want to travel.  Our team of experts has travelled widely throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean and can offer expert advice.  Do get in touch – chatting to people by phone or email is what we do best. We listen, we explain, we answer all sorts of questions even those you didn’t know to ask, and finally we make suggestions. If this is your first time to Africa or your twenty first, we have a team standing by to help make the planning easy and the journey the best ever. Please get in touch whatever stage you’re at.

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