Your first safari comes with plenty of questions. Will you see elephants? What does a day in camp look like? Should you choose somewhere known for walking, even if you have never tried it?

Choosing the right park is a good place to start. For many first-time safari travellers, South Luangwa is our starting recommendation in Zambia, with rewarding game drives, experienced guides and the option to explore on foot. Lower Zambezi is another lovely choice if you would enjoy boating and canoeing alongside your wildlife drives. Kafue deserves consideration if quieter areas and a little more exploring appeal to you.

You do not need safari experience to enjoy any of them. What matters is choosing a camp, guide and pace that suit you.

Zambia: Quick Facts

South Luangwa: A Rewarding Place To Begin

If you picture your first safari as early game drives, wildlife around the river and a guide helping you make sense of it all, South Luangwa is an excellent fit.

The Luangwa River runs through a landscape of lagoons, woodland and open ground. Plenty will hold your attention, from elephants and giraffes to the leopards the park is known for. You can spend your stay enjoying game drives, or include a guided walk if you would like to try something different.

“South Luangwa has a larger focus on walking safaris and immersion into the bush.” - Jo Cooper, BHS Safari Guide

For a first visit, a comfortable camp with a choice of activities gives you room to discover what you enjoy. You may arrive most excited about the big cats and leave with a new interest in birds, tracks or the stories your guide shares.

Curious about exploring on foot? Our walking safari guide explains what to expect, from following tracks to noticing the smaller details along the way.

Lower Zambezi: For a First Safari With Time On The River

Lower Zambezi is worth a close look if the people travelling together have slightly different ideas about their holiday. Some may want every available game drive; others may be just as happy spending an afternoon on a boat.

Here, you can do both. Game drives explore the valley floor, while river outings bring a different view of elephants, hippos and life along the banks. Canoeing is an option at selected camps, rather than something you have to do.

That choice makes it appealing for a first safari. You can enjoy wildlife from a vehicle, try an activity that interests you and still leave time to sit overlooking the water.

Kafue: For Travellers Happy To Explore a Little Further

Kafue offers woodland, river scenery and broad open plains, with quite different experiences depending on where you stay. Its size makes choosing the right area particularly important.

In the north, the Busanga Plains are known for lions, antelope and open views. Elsewhere, river-based camps offer another side of Kafue, with activities shaped by their location.

Kafue can suit a first safari, especially if you enjoy birds, landscapes and spending time exploring. We would plan it carefully around your interests and dates, rather than treating the whole park as one destination.

What about Liuwa Plain?

Our broader guide to Zambia also includes Liuwa Plain, highlighting it alongside Kafue for returning travellers. For a first safari, we would begin with South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi and selected parts of Kafue, then discuss Liuwa if it particularly interests you.

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Wildlife and Experiences: What Should a First-timer Expect?

A safari day often includes an early outing, time back in camp, and another activity later in the afternoon. Exactly how that looks depends on where you stay: a game drive in South Luangwa, a boat trip in Lower Zambezi, or an afternoon exploring the plains in Kafue.

Give yourself time at sightings. Watching elephants feed or waiting for a resting lion to stir can be just as absorbing as finding something new. Your guide will help you notice behaviour and details you might otherwise miss.

It also helps to arrive with a few hopes rather than a fixed checklist. No park guarantees particular animals, and a good safari leaves room for surprises. Walking and canoeing are optional, with participation depending on camp rules, conditions, and your guide’s assessment.

When is the Best Time to Visit?

The dry season is generally the simplest starting point for a first Zambia safari, with easier access and wildlife becoming more concentrated around water.

• January-March: Green scenery and seasonal birdlife, but many bush camps close. Selected South Luangwa and Kafue properties remain open.
• April-May: Camps begin reopening as conditions dry. Check individual dates, particularly for remote areas.
• June-July: Cooler mornings make this appealing for first-timers who prefer to avoid intense heat. Busanga access depends on floodwaters receding.
• August-September: A strong period for wildlife viewing, with dry conditions and rising temperatures.
• October: Wildlife viewing can be rewarding, but the Luangwa and Zambezi valleys become very hot.
• November-December: Rains return and seasonal closures increase. Choose camps and activities specifically suited to this period.

Busanga’s season is shorter than that of some other Kafue areas, so confirm camp opening dates before building your trip around it.

Where Should You Stay?

For a first safari, start with good guiding, a suitable location and a camp where you will feel comfortable. A beautiful room is welcome, but so is a team that makes you feel at home and happily answers your questions.

• South Luangwa: A lodge or established tented camp makes a useful base for game drives and optional walks. Smaller bush camps suit those who want a stronger walking focus.
• Lower Zambezi: Look for a riverside camp offering the activities you are most interested in. Check how much travelling is involved in reaching game-viewing areas.
• Kafue: Choose the area first, then the camp. A river stay and a Busanga stay offer different settings, so allow enough time if you want both.

For families, the right camp can make all the difference. Our family safari guide looks at choosing accommodation and planning days around children’s ages and interests.

How Do You Get There?

Many fly-in journeys begin in Lusaka. South Luangwa is usually reached via Mfuwe Airport, followed by a road transfer. Lower Zambezi’s Jeki and Royal airstrips serve different camps, with onward transfers arranged accordingly.

Kafue can be reached by road or light aircraft, depending on the area and property. Remote camps may involve longer transfers, so it is worth looking at the complete journey when choosing where to stay.

Which Park Would Suit Your First Safari?

• You are most excited about game drives and seeing a variety of wildlife: Start with South Luangwa.
• You would love wildlife viewing with a choice of river activities: Consider Lower Zambezi.
• You enjoy birds, landscapes and exploring quieter areas: Look at a carefully planned Kafue stay.
• You are travelling with children: Let their ages, interests and the camp’s arrangements guide the choice.
• You have time for two parks: South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi make a rewarding introduction, with different ways to spend your days.

Prefer to hear from the people who have been? Join Geraldine and Jo for a conversation about Zambia, sharing favourite moments and advice from their travels.

Our Advice For Your First Zambia Safari

Permit yourself to do a little less. Three or four nights in one well-chosen camp gives you time to get to know your guide, enjoy the activities and find your favourite seat overlooking the river.

For families, that time together can be especially precious. As Brett puts it:

“My best experiences, my best memories on safari are with my personal family” - Brett Horley, BHS Safari Co

Tell us what you are excited about and anything you are unsure of. Whether that is small aircraft, walking or travelling with children, those details help us plan a trip you can look forward to.

If you would enjoy travelling with the BHS team, our 2027 Zambia: Predators, Plains & the Zambezi expedition brings together Kafue’s Busanga Plains and Lower Zambezi with Jo Cooper. We would love to help you decide whether it is the right fit for your first safari.

Let’s Plan Your First Zambia Safari

You do not need to know all the parks or have a list of camps ready. Tell us what has caught your imagination, who is coming along, and when you would like to travel.

We would love to help you put together a Zambia safari that feels right for you, with good people looking after you along the way.

Get in touch with our team to start planning.