What are the most visited national parks from Lusaka on safari tours?

From Lusaka, you can easily reach three incredible parks - Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa, and Kafue National Park. Lower Zambezi is perfect if you want to see wildlife from a boat on the river. South Luangwa is the place to go for walking safaris and large groups of elephants. If you head to Kafue National Park, especially the Busanga Plains area, you'll have great chances to spot lions and leopards. Many visitors who stay at places like Kasaka River Lodge say these parks offer some of the best wildlife viewing in Africa.

What types of accommodation can I expect on safari tours from Lusaka?

You'll find everything from basic camping to high-end lodges. Most tours mix it up to give you different experiences. You might stay at places like StayEasy Hotel in Lusaka, Kasaka River Lodge in Lower Zambezi, or Wildlife Camp in South Luangwa. Many lodges have comfortable rooms with private bathrooms. If you're up for more adventure, some tours include nights camping in the wilderness. One TourRadar traveler told us the lodges were "much more comfortable than expected, with amazing views of the wildlife right from our room."

What's the best time of year for safari tours starting in Lusaka?

Plan your trip between May and October during the dry season. This is when animals gather around water holes and rivers, making them easier to spot. The very best months are July through September when temperatures are pleasant (68-77°F/20-25°C) and you'll see the most wildlife. Just keep in mind that some areas, like Busanga Plains in Kafue National Park, can only be visited during certain months because of seasonal flooding.

What wildlife can I expect to see on safari tours from Lusaka?

You've got good chances of seeing the Big Five - lions, leopards, elephants, buffalo, and rhinos. You'll also spot hippos lounging in the rivers, crocodiles sunbathing on banks, various types of antelope, and hundreds of bird species. Visitors often tell us they see lots of elephants and hippos in Lower Zambezi. South Luangwa is especially good for spotting leopards and large elephant herds. As one visitor at Wildlife Camp said, "We saw more animals than we ever expected, often right near our lodge."

What are the common starting points for safari tours in Lusaka?

Most tours start from one of three places: Pioneer Camp Lodge just outside the city, the InterContinental Hotel downtown, or Lusaka International Airport. Usually, you'll meet your group and guides around 4 PM at your starting lodge. One TourRadar traveler mentioned, "The pickup from Pioneer Camp was seamless, and it was a great place to rest before starting the adventure."

How long is the travel time from Lusaka to the first wildlife viewing locations?

It takes about 4-5 hours to drive from Lusaka to the Lower Zambezi area, covering about 180 miles (290 kilometers). You'll travel through beautiful Miombo forests and past the Kafue River, where you might start seeing your first animals. One TourRadar traveler shared, "The drive from Lusaka was fascinating, with local villages and changing landscapes making the journey interesting."

Safari Tours from Lusaka

See the best Lusaka safaris. We have 16 safari adventures from Lusaka, Zambia, that range from 1 days up to 16 days in length. The most popular time for tours leaving Lusaka is October.

10 best Safari tour packages from Lusaka

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Safari
Zambia - Walking Safari with Batmigration in October
Duration
15 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Kasanka National Park,North Luangwa National Park,South Luangwa National Park,Luambe National Park,Mfuwe+4 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English
Operator
Adventure Purists Ltd.
From
US$4,470per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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Safari
Safari Experience In Lusaka National Park - Half-Day
5.0 (1 traveler review)
"We saw giraffes, zebras, antilopes, 2 of only 12 white rhinos in Zambia and young elephants in the sanctuary."
Luca, traveled in October
Duration
1 day
Destinations
Lusaka
Age Range
Ages 7+
Operated in
English
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
15% Off
From $156
US$133per person
+$15 local payments
Price based on Shared Room
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Safari
6 Days Kafue National Park (Zambia) and Nyungwe National Park (Rwanda)
Duration
6 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Kafue National Park, Kigali, Nyanza,Nyungwe Forest,Butare+2 more
Age Range
Ages 7+
Operated in
English, German,Italian,French,Spanish+3 more
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
10% Off
From $2,220
US$1,998per person
+$150 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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$In Livingstone\'s Footsteps Tour$
$In Livingstone\'s Footsteps - 11 destinations$
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Safari
In Livingstone's Footsteps
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Kafue National Park, Zambezi, Petauke,South Luangwa National Park,Lilongwe,Mulanje,Liwonde National Park,Lake Malawi+5 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English, German
Operator
DIAMIR Erlebnisreisen
10% Off
From
US$4,432per person
Price based on Private Double Room
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$Zambia & Malawi \"Livingstone Trail\" Tour$
$Zambia & Malawi \"Livingstone Trail\" - 9 destinations$
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Safari
Zambia & Malawi "Livingstone Trail"
Duration
16 days
Destinations
Zambia Zimbabwe Malawi
Age Range
Ages 12+
Operated in
English, German
Operator
Sunway Safaris
10% Off
From
US$4,432per person
+$473 upfront costs
Price based on Shared Room
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Safari
Kanzwa short holiday break excursion - 2 Nights Safari Tour to Kafue National Park - Southern Region (Ngoma Area Management)
4.5 (6 traveler reviews)
"The park itself is enormous… Probably best combined with one of the other more 'animals on tap' parks."
Lynette, traveled in October
Duration
3 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Kafue National Park
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
National Park
Kafue
Operated in
English, French,Spanish+1 more
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
2% Off
From $750
US$735per person
+$20 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
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Safari
Zambezi Canoe Safari
4.6 (50 traveler reviews)
"The participation in setting up camp, food preparation and breaking camp added to the trip."
Stephen, traveled in September
Duration
8 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park
Age Range
Ages 16+
National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park
Operated in
English
Operator
Exodus Adventure Travels
2% Off
From
US$3,150per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Safari
Budget Lower Zambezi National Park wildlife-focused safari (4 Days).
5.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park
Age Range
Ages 8+
National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park
Operated in
English, French,Spanish+1 more
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
20% Off
From $895
US$716per person
+$30 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
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Safari
Wildlife Safari in Lower Zambezi National Park 4 Days
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
National Park
Lower Zambezi National Park
Operated in
English
Operator
Across Africa Tours & Travel
20% Off
From
US$922per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Safari
Luxury Northern Zambia Waterfalls & Wilderness Journey13-Day
Duration
14 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Mkushi, Kasanka National Park, Serenje
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
Operated in
English
Operator
Across Africa Tours & Travel
20% Off
From
US$3,399per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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$Zambia\'s Best Parks Tour$
$Zambia\'s Best Parks - 4 destinations$
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Safari
Zambia's Best Parks
Duration
9 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park,South Luangwa National Park,Mfuwe+2 more
Age Range
Ages 12+
National Park
South Luangwa National ParkLower Zambezi National Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Adventure Purists Ltd.
20% Off
From
US$4,300per person
Price based on Shared Room
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Safari
11- Days of Great Safari Expedition: Busanga Plains, Kafue, Mosi-oa-Tunya (Zambia), Chobe (Botswana) and Hwange National Parks (Zimbabwe).
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Zambia Botswana Zimbabwe
Age Range
Ages 13+
National Park
Chobe National ParkHwange National ParkKafue+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
20% Off
From $3,325
US$2,660per person
+$220 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Safari
4 Days: Exciting Itezhi Tezhi Nocturnal Stargazing and Safari Experience
5.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
4 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Kafue National Park, Livingstone
Age Range
Ages 13+
National Park
Kafue
Operated in
English
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
20% Off
From $1,230
US$984per person
+$40 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
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Safari
Nyati BIG-5 Classic “Best of Zambia” Safari Experience: Lower Zambezi, Kafue (Busanga Plains) and South Luangwa National Parks – 11 days
2.0 (1 traveler review)
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park, Kafue National Park,Mfuwe,South Luangwa National Park+2 more
Age Range
All Ages Welcome
National Park
South Luangwa National ParkKafueLower Zambezi National Park+2 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Lochinvar Safaris
20% Off
From $6,200
US$4,960per person
+$520 local payments
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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Safari
Highlights of Zambia - 11 days
Duration
11 days
Destinations
Lusaka, Lower Zambezi National Park, Kafue National Park
Age Range
Ages 12+
National Park
KafueLower Zambezi National Park+1 more
Operated in
English
Operator
Adventure Purists Ltd.
20% Off
From
US$4,860per person
Price based on Private Double Room
- Booking needs min. 2 travelers
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