Things to do in Zambia

25 things to do in Zambia

Listed in full below. The running order is set by votes and loads with the page.

• Witness the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls (Mosi-oa-Tunya)

  Stand before the world’s largest curtain of falling water, where mist rises so vigorously it can be seen kilometres away. The path along the cliff opposite the falls gives you a drenching yet unforgettable encounter with nature’s raw power.

  Livingstone

• Swim in Devil's Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls

  Take a short boat trip to Livingstone Island and, during dry-season low water, slip into a natural rock pool just centimetres from the 100-metre precipice. A guide holds your ankles as you peer over the thundering drop.

  Livingstone

• Embark on a walking safari in South Luangwa National Park

  Follow an armed scout and expert guide on foot through dense mopane woodlands and open savannah. You might encounter elephants up close or track the footprints of lions and leopards in this birthplace of the walking safari.

  Mfuwe

• Canoe the Zambezi River among elephants in Lower Zambezi National Park

  Paddle a Canadian canoe past pods of grunting hippos and elephants wading onto islands, with the escarpment rising in the distance. Overnight canoe safaris let you camp on riverbanks under immense starry skies.

  Lower Zambezi

• Spot rare antelope on the Busanga Plains of Kafue National Park

  Explore the seasonally flooded Busanga Plains, where red lechwe, puku, roan and sable antelope wander vast grasslands dotted with islands of trees. Early-morning game drives frequently reveal cheetahs and buffalo against golden sunrise light.

  Kafue National Park

• Cruise Lake Kariba at sunset on a houseboat

  Drift slowly across Africa’s largest man-made lake as the sun sinks behind the Matusadona Mountains, turning the water to silver and orange. Keep binoculars ready for elephants swimming between islands and fish eagles calling overhead.

  Siavonga

• Explore Livingstone Museum and David Livingstone's belongings

  Inside Zambia’s oldest and largest museum, examine original letters, personal effects and medicines that belonged to explorer David Livingstone. The archaeology gallery reveals the deep pre-colonial history of the region.

  Livingstone

• Visit Mukuni Village for an authentic cultural encounter

  Walk through a working Leya village with a local guide, greeted by singing children and drumming elders. Learn traditional woodcarving, witness a daily community ceremony and try your hand at pounding maize into mealie meal.

  Livingstone

• Meet rescued chimpanzees at Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage

  Observe semi-wild chimpanzees roaming enormous forested enclosures at this pioneering sanctuary. Hear their pant-hoot calls echo across the Kafue River as you learn about conservation and the heartbreaking stories of rescued apes.

  Chingola district

• Stay at the historic Shiwa Ng'andu manor house

  Spend a night in a colonial-style English manor built brick by brick by eccentric aristocrat Sir Stewart Gore-Browne in the 1920s. Roam the estate’s dairy, gardens and library, then look for rare birds on the lake.

  Mpika district

• Witness the spectacular fruit bat migration in Kasanka National Park

  Between October and December, up to ten million straw-coloured fruit bats cloak the musuku forest at dusk, blotting out the sky as they depart to feed. This is the largest mammal migration on Earth, and it happens in a tiny park.

  Kasanka

• Hike to the top of Kalambo Falls, Africa's second-highest single-drop waterfall

  Trek down a steep escarpment to the roar of a 235-metre waterfall plunging into a gorge. From the viewpoint you can feel the spray and see the Kalambo River vanish into the Rift Valley trench.

  Mbala district

• Relax on the sandy shores of Lake Tanganyika at Nsumbu National Park

  Lounge on uncrowded beaches where tropical fish flicker in the azure shallows and rainforest-clad mountains drop straight into the lake. Snorkelling, kayaking or simply dozing under a tree feel equally right here.

  Nsumbu

• Take a game drive and bush breakfast at Chaminuka Game Reserve near Lusaka

  Just 30 minutes from the capital, this private reserve offers sightings of giraffes, zebras and rare white lions. After the drive, enjoy a full English breakfast in the bush with the sounds of the savannah around you.

  Lusaka province

• Discover Zambian history at the Lusaka National Museum

  Wander through galleries chronicling Zambia’s journey from early hominid remains and kingdom-era trade to independence and contemporary art. A vivid display on the freedom struggle includes poignant personal objects of Kenneth Kaunda.

  Lusaka

• See rehabilitated animals at Munda Wanga Environmental Park in Lusaka

  Stroll through a botanical garden and wildlife sanctuary where rescued primates, lions and antelopes are cared for. The educational centre explains local biodiversity and the efforts to return animals to the wild where possible.

  Lusaka

• Search for the elusive shoebill stork in the Bangweulu Wetlands

  Pole a mokoro canoe through papyrus-lined channels to spot one of the continent’s most sought-after birds—the prehistoric-looking shoebill. Thousands of endemic black lechwe floodplains add to the surreal landscape.

  Bangweulu

• Witness the wildebeest migration in Liuwa Plain National Park

  Watch thousands of blue wildebeest trailing across a vast, flat grassland under infinite skies, often shadowed by hyenas and cheetahs. This remote park feels untouched, especially in November when the herds calve.

  Liuwa Plain

• Bungee jump from the Victoria Falls Bridge over the Batoka Gorge

  Leap 111 metres from the historic steel arch bridge with the roar of the Zambezi directly below you. The breathtaking freefall is followed by a swinging view of the gorge walls and the mist of the falls.

  Livingstone

• White-water rafting on the Zambezi River below Victoria Falls

  Tackle world-class rapids with names like ‘The Washing Machine’ and ‘Oblivion’ through a deep basalt gorge. Between the adrenaline-pumping drops, calm stretches let you drift beneath crags patrolled by rock pratincoles.

  Livingstone

• Discover the triple cascade of Chishimba Falls near Kasama

  Follow a forest path past three successive falls where the Luombe River tumbles over rocky ledges. The spray creates a cool microclimate, and a small sacred cave behind one of the falls is revered by local communities.

  Kasama district

• Marvel at the powerful Lumangwe Falls on the Kalungwishi River

  Feel the ground tremble under the cascade that spans a 160-metre-wide lip, often compared to Victoria Falls but seldom visited. Rainbows form constantly in the spray, and the surrounding miombo woodland is full of birdlife.

  Kawambwa district

• Enjoy golden sand at Samfya Beach on Lake Bangweulu

  Spread a towel on a long, sandy beach beside an immense freshwater lake that stretches to the horizon. Locals sell freshly fried bream and you can watch fishermen in dugout canoes hauling in their nets.

  Samfya

• Savor traditional nshima with ifisashi at Marlin Restaurant in Lusaka

  Dig into Zambia’s staple maize porridge accompanied by ifisashi—greens cooked in groundnut sauce—alongside grilled bream or village chicken. The buzzy, no-frills setting is a beloved lunch spot for locals and expats alike.

  Lusaka

• Experience the vibrant Nc’wala ceremony of the Ngoni people

  Join thousands of Ngoni dancers and warriors as they celebrate the first harvest with King Mpezeni at his Mtenguleni palace. The rhythmic stamping, chanting and colourful regalia create an electrifying atmosphere.

  Chipata district