Before You Go
- Confirm passport validity and entry requirements.
- Check whether a tourist visa is required.
- Keep digital copies of important documents.
- Consider purchasing travel insurance.
Lusaka
Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)
English
MayβOct
CAT (UTC+2)
Welcome to Zambia, a Southern African country home to the thundering Victoria Falls and vast, wildlife-rich savanna. Victoria Falls, known locally as "The Smoke That Thunders," ranks among the most spectacular waterfalls on Earth. South Luangwa National Park offers exceptional walking safaris amid dense wildlife populations along the Luangwa River. Lusaka, the capital, provides a relaxed gateway to the country's renowned national parks and wilderness areas. Zambia's Lower Zambezi National Park offers canoe safaris past elephants and hippos along the scenic river. Traditional villages throughout the country preserve rich customs, music, and craftsmanship. Zambia's commitment to low-impact tourism has helped preserve genuinely wild, uncrowded safari experiences. Zambia invites travelers to experience dramatic waterfalls and authentic African wilderness.
Helpful information to consider before and during your visit.
Discover some of Zambia's most popular flavors, traditional dishes and memorable local treats during your visit.
Nshima is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Ifisashi is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Chikanda is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Kapenta is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Kalembula is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Village Chicken is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Delele is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Vitumbuwa is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Munkoyo Porridge is a well-known part of Zambia's cuisine and offers visitors a flavorful introduction to the country's food traditions.
Zambia is home to Victoria Falls, shared with neighboring Zimbabwe, one of the largest waterfalls in the world by combined width and height, known locally as "Mosi-oa-Tunya," or "The Smoke That Thunders," a reference to the massive spray cloud visible from miles away. The country takes its name from the Zambezi River, one of the largest rivers in Africa, which forms much of its southern border and supports the massive Kariba Dam, one of the largest man-made reservoirs in the world by volume.
Zambia is home to significant populations of African elephants and other large wildlife across parks like South Luangwa, often praised by safari guides for its particularly high concentration of leopards, among the most elusive of Africa's big cats. The country was formerly known as Northern Rhodesia under British colonial rule before gaining independence in 1964 and renaming itself after the Zambezi River.
Zambia is also one of the world's significant sources of copper, and the mineral has played a central role in the country's economy since the colonial era, historically making the industry both a major source of national wealth and a point of ongoing economic vulnerability tied to global copper price fluctuations.
