Africa's Wild Heart
Zambia is blessed with an abundance of natural spectacles and its wild places offer a feeling of untamed Africa; raw and real in a way few places are today. You can experience legendary walking safaris, gaze in wonder at the mighty Victoria Falls, canoe the meandering Zambezi or stay in a luxurious safari camp amidst the most unspoilt wildlife areas left on the planet.
Zambia is known as one of the world's safest places to visit yet it is not yet on most tourists radar. Approximately 30% of Zambia’s land is set aside for wildlife in the form of a National Park or game management area. This means you can expect welcoming people, incredible wildlife encounters and vast spaces with relatively few visitors when you visit. At Hekaya we’re experts at maximising your time in Zambia and ensuring your holiday meets your unique requirements and interests. From family-friendly to luxurious honeymoon properties we know our product and can recommend the right fit for you.
Zambia has a pleasant climate year-round. However, the low lying areas of the Zambezi valley and Luangwa can feel oppressively hot in September and October. We highly recommend the cooler and dryer months from May through to August, but the warm, wet season also offers its own highlights. Northern Zambia receives rain earlier and for longer than areas further south.
DRY SEASON
April and May: As summer ends so does the rain and the temperature starts to fall in the evenings. Pleasant daytime temperatures accompany a still green landscape.
June to August: Cloudless, sunny days and cool to cold temperatures at night means the bush dries out and animals start to congregate around water sources. The thinner foliage and predictable gathering points make wildlife viewing easier and attracts higher rates as camps get busier. We recommend warm layers for early morning and late evening game drives.
September and October: Temperatures rise and the bush continues to dry with little surface water around. Animals gather in greater numbers near permanent water sources and visibility is great making game viewing spectacular. High temperatures can be uncomfortable in low lying areas and a hat and sunscreen are musts.
WET/GREEN SEASON
November: November usually sees the first rains bringing relief from very dry conditions and some afternoon showers with intermittent dry days. It’s an interesting month as clouds build and visibility is still good. It can be very hot and humid.
December to March: The long-awaited rains arrive in earnest with heavy downpours in the afternoon being usual. The wilderness revitalises and turns green earning the nickname the ‘emerald’ season. Animals disperse and thicker bush makes viewing them more difficult however birding is at its best with migrant species in attendance and many animals bear their young, making for many cute encounters.
Zambia separates nationalities into 2 categories, those that need to apply for a Zambia visa and those that are exempt from this process. If you are not a citizen of a country that is exempt, then you must buy a visa either at your port of entry or a Zambian Mission abroad. You can Apply online via the e-Visa facility, which can be accessed here. Processing time for e-visas generally takes between 3 and 5 working days.
The KAZA Uni-Visa: This visa available for a standard fee of US$50 allows access to Zimbabwe or Zambia and is valid for 30 days as long as you remain in Zimbabwe or Zambia. You can cross into Zimbabwe/Zambia as frequently as you like within the 30 day period.
Please note that the immigration laws do change and therefore we advise that you visit Zambia Immigration for up to date visa information. Alternatively, the World Travel Guide website can offer relevant information on visa requirements for Zambia.
