The 8 Best Zambia Tours For Unforgettable Adventures That Are Achievable & Affordable!

A giraffe stands in front of your open-top jeep. It doesn’t cause mayhem like the one in that animated movie, but it does make your jaw drop. Because this Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Africa, and that giraffe is literally larger-than-life.

Traffic congestion in Zambia’s wildlife sanctuaries means herds of elephants or pods of hippos getting in the way of your onward progress in camouflaged pursuit of big game. And nowhere is such traffic as congested as it is in the Zambezi Valley.

You can find the rest of the Big Five here (Elephant, buffalo, lion and leopard)  except for the rhino which you are likelier to find in the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park surrounding Victoria Falls, the “smoke that thunders” that started it all. 

It was that European discovery by David Livingstone in 1855 that made the falls a magnet for tourism to Zambia in the decades to come. From there, all manners of tourist activities sprang forth.

From the curious onlooker who just wants to gape at the massive curtain of water plunge more than 100 meters below to the daredevil who feed offs of righting after capsizing in Class V rapids (with colorful monikers like “oblivion” and “double trouble”), the falls and the Zambezi River below it remains the hub of visitors to Zambia before spreading out to other watering holes of safaris and adventures.

Being a landlocked country in southern Africa doesn’t mean Zambia lacks a transport network; the roads just don’t measure up to Western standards. The parks and reserves, naturally get flooded, making road transport impossible.

Even in the capital Lusaka, buses on fixed departures are infrequent if not non-existent. So doing it all independently, by yourself, without a network of local support, would be a logistical challenge of elephantine proportions.

The only way to do Zambia this time is through guided tours. Just simply launching a canoe into the water and hauling it up a riverbank would require bringing it there in the first place. Embarking on a walking safari on your own would still require a park guide simply because you are walking into “wild” life territory. 

Working with tour operators with well-established networks of local guides, accommodation options, and logistical expertise (to say nothing of their hard-won battle scars so you know to keep your distance from a lion) would make your Zambia safari much more affordable, less of a hassle, and truly unforgettable.

Start making safari memories with one of the tour packages below. You can always add optional activities as you go along, or stay longer for an adventure deeper into the heart of the African bush.

Full Day White Water Rafting & Swimming under the Victoria Falls

Adventure Purists Ltd.

Location: Middle Zambezi

Itinerary: Victoria Falls

Group Size: 12

Age Range: 15 to 75

Physical Activity:  Strenuous

Operator: Adventure Purists Ltd.

Length: 1 Day

What to Expect

Small group, hair-raising paddling adventure from Rapid 1 through Rapid 21 of the middle Zambezi River.

• Swimming under Victoria Falls
• Walks on the Batoka Gorge
• Class IV and V rapids

What the Experience is Like

Plunge into action as you swim under the Victoria Falls (water-level dependent) before navigating Rapid 1 to Rapid 21, the stretch of Zambezi River considered to be the best for commercial whitewater rafting. 

This stretch includes rapids with apt names like the “Devil’s toilet bowl” (Rapid 6), “the three ugly sisters” (Rapids 12A-C), “washing machine” (Rapid 15), and “oblivion” (Rapid 18).

Enjoy a well-deserved lunch and drinks afterward. Pick-up and drop-off from your accommodation in town, safety briefing, and walks up and down the Batoka Gorge are included. A river guide and all equipment are included.  You’ll also receive your photos for free (videos charged extra).

This full-day tour package is run by Adventure Purists Ltd. which specializes in offering active safaris and tours that take visitors far off the normal tourist routes and into the African bush.

In a nutshell

Do you just want to jump right into the action and experience the rush of paddling Class V rapids? Then go on an adventure tour for a Full Day of White Water Rafting & Swimming under Victoria Falls and you won’t be disappointed.

3 Days Whitewater Rafting on Zambezi River

Maano Adventures

Location: Middle Zambezi

Itinerary: Victoria Falls

Group Size: 20

Age Range: 15 to 99

Physical Activity:  Strenuous

Operator: Maano Adventures

Length: 3 Days

What to Expect

Big group, 3-day grueling paddle from Rapid 1 beyond Rapid 26 of the middle Zambezi River, camping by the riverbank at night under starry skies.

• Class III to Class V
• “Narrows” and “Open Season”

What the Experience is Like

Start paddling “right below the “smoke that thunders” at the “boiling pot” before Rapid 1. Enjoy a swim here before paddling on through the “washing machine” (Rapid 15).” Camp above Rapid 10 tonight under starry skies.

(There’s a rapid known as the “gnashing jaws of death.” Find out if you can raft it or portage in this 3 Days Whitewater Rafting on the Zambezi River.)

Fuel up with a full English breakfast for Class V paddling ahead. Tackle the “three ugly sisters” (Rapids 12A-C) and the “oblivion” (Rapid 18). Brace for another set of Class III to Class V rapids beyond Rapid 26 and through the “Open Season” and “Narrows.” Camp on the sandy riverbank tonight before heading back to Livingstone.

You get 2 nights of camping accommodation and all meals throughout the trip. Vegan and vegetarian food options are available on request. River guides and safety kayakers accompany passengers. All camping, rafting gear, and transfers to and from your accommodation in town are included. You will receive photos and a video of your trip for free.

This 3-day adrenaline-fueled adventure is run by Maano Adventures, a locally owned rafting company with a combined 18 years of experience as whitewater rafting guides and operators. 

In a nutshell

Hair-raising Class III to Class V rapids awaits you in this 3 Days Whitewater Rafting on Zambezi River from the ‘boiling point” right below Victoria Falls to the “Narrows” beyond Rapid 26.

3 Nights, 4 Days Victoria Falls Package

Sigo Adventures & Tours

Location: Livingstone

Itinerary: Victoria Falls

Group Size: 80

Age Range: 2 to 80

Physical Activity: Low  

Operator: Sigo Adventures & Tours

Length: 4 days

What to Expect

This partially guided, large group tour will take you to Victoria Falls for a tour and game drive, and to an African village for cultural interaction. 

• Victoria Falls tour
• African Village tour
• Game drive

What the Experience is Like

Arrive at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport and drive to the lodge. Enjoy a relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi aboard large watercraft. Embark on a guided tour of Victoria Falls the following morning and enjoy free time afterward. Drive to a village for a guided tour and community interaction. 

(This 3 Nights, 4 Days Victoria Falls Package is a little bit of everything: culture, wildlife and natural wonder.)

Venture out to the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park for a game drive. Keep your eyes peeled for year-round residents like warthogs, hippos, baboons, white rhinos, giraffes and zebras. Transfer to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport for an onward journey.

Enjoy three nights’ accommodation in a bed and breakfast with 3 breakfasts. The guide provided during a tour of the falls, African village and game drive.

Sigo Adventures & Tours is a Livingstone-based travel company that offers affordable yet comfortable holiday activities, tours, safaris, cultural experiences and destination management for all budgets, group sizes, and travel styles.

In a nutshell

This 3 Nights, 4 Days Victoria Falls Package is a compact yet diverse trip into the adventure capital of Zambia with a game drive and African village tour.

7 Days of Safari in Chobe, Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta

Little Roz Tours

Location: Southern Zambia

Itinerary: Victoria Falls, Chobe River, Okavango Delta 

Group Size: 6

Age Range: 2 to 95

Physical Activity:  Low to Medium

Operator: Little Roz Tours

Length: 7 Days

What to Expect

Small group, partially guided tour that will take you from Victoria Falls to the Chobe River and on to the Okavango Delta for a chance to spot wildlife through safari walks, game drives and ‘mokoro’ or dugout canoe excursions.

• Victoria Falls
• Chobe River
• Okavango Delta
• ‘Mokoro’ excursion
• Safari walks
• Game Drives

What the Experience is Like

Arrive at Victoria Falls Airport and transfer to the lodge located close to Victoria Falls. Enjoy a tour of the falls and nearby town at your own pace until Day 2. Marvel at Victoria Falls and understand why it was called “the smoke that thunders” by the Kololo.

(How does it feel to paddle past pods of hippos? Find out in this 7 Days of Safari in Chobe, Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta.)

Cross the border on a shared transfer to Kasane in Botswana and settle in at chalet lodge near Chobe River, a permanent water source for wildlife. Venture out on a game drive and boat safari for a chance to spot games such as elephants, sable antelope, and herds of buffalo. Soak up the riverine scenery and the changing moods of the Chobe from built-in daybeds and raised decks.

Fly into Maun which will be your camp base for a day trip to the Okavango Delta. The delta is the largest inland delta fed by rainwaters from its source in Angola. Slip into a ‘mokoro’ (dugout canoe) for an excursion into the delta, or lace up for bush walks to spy on large mammals like the lion, cheetah and rhinoceros. Fly out of your camp into Maun Airport in time for connecting flights to Johannesburg.

Accommodation for 2 nights in a 3-star hotel for Victoria Falls and 2-night accommodation in a lodge in Chobe River. Camp accommodation for 2 nights in Maun.

Little Roz Tours is a Zimbabwean tour operator and travel agency that offers day tours, transfers, and multi-day safari tours to budget, standard and luxury travelers. They have an office on the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls.

In a nutshell

If you’d like to see an eyeful of game and wildlife without putting in too much effort, this 7 Days of Safari in Chobe, Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta will take you to the safari of your dreams.

8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe) and Zimbabwe (Hwange) Wildlife Safari Tour

Lochinvar Safaris

Location: Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe

Itinerary: Mosi-oa-tunya, Chobe and Hwange National Parks 

Group Size: 15

Age Range: 2 to 99 

Physical Activity:  Low to Medium

Operator: Lochinvar Safaris

Length: 8 days

What to Expect

For the ambitious holder of a KAZA visa, this medium-sized group, partially guided 3-country jaunt will take you to the best of Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

• Mosi-oa-tunya
• Chobe 
• Hwange National Parks 

What the Experience is Like

Receive a short briefing after meeting the trip leader at the Lobby of StayEasy Lusaka Hotel. After the formalities, drive to Samu Lya Moomba national heritage with plenty of stops along the way. Continue on to Chome where you spend the night.

Journey to Livingstone passing by the Kalundu Mound believed to be the site of an Iron Age village. Continue on the Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park. Feel the rumble of the thundering falls on a guided tour of Victoria Falls. Hop on to an open 4×4 safari vehicle for a game drive and a rhino walk safari. Keep an eye out for abundant wildlife such as the wildebeest, buffalo, hippos and warthogs, zebra and giraffes.

(Did you know the endangered white rhino is found nowhere else in Zambia except in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park? Get a chance to see them in these 8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe) and Zimbabwe (Hwange) Wildlife Safari Tour.)

Venture out on a day trip to the Chobe National Park in Botswana. Ride in an open safari vehicle for a guided tour of the park and spy on leopards, lions and elephants that usually frequent the park. Cruise on the Chobe River for a chance to spot hippos, crocodiles, water buffalos and diverse birdlife.

Cross the border into Zimbabwe to view Victoria Falls from this side. After lunch, drive to Hwange National Park. Spy on elephants, lions, hyenas, hippos and birds on a game drive. Drive back to Victoria Falls on the way to Livingstone where the tour ends.

Expect accommodation in lodges and guest houses throughout the 8-day journey except in Lusaka. Meals are provided throughout the duration of the trip. Transport is in air-conditioned vehicles. All National Park entry fees are not included.

This weeklong safari is run by Lochinvar Safaris, a Zambian-owned multi-day tour operator offering activities to budget and mid-range travelers. They promote sustainable and eco-friendly travel practices and encourage their guests to “Take photos and leave your footprints only.”

In a nutshell

If you have a KAZA visa, squeeze mileage out of it and embark in these 8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe) and Zimbabwe (Hwange) Wildlife Safari Tour.

The Zambezi Valley

Exodus Travels

Location: Lower Zambezi National Park

Itinerary: Lusaka – Zambezi River – Chiawa Game Area

Group Size: 16 

Age Range: 16 to 99

Physical Activity:  Low to Medium

Operator: Exodus Travels

Length: 8 days

What to expect 

Medium-sized group, fully guided

What the Experience is Like

Arrive in Lusaka for an early afternoon flight to the Zambezi River. Road or motorboat transfer to camp depending on road conditions. Embark on canoeing and wildlife-watching safari for the next three days.

Glide past elephants feeding on the banks, crocodiles basking on riverbanks, and hippo pods wallowing in deeper waters. Spy on colorful birds including the African Fish eagle foraging for food. Keep an eye out for Vervet monkeys and baboons and even lions.

Paddle to the Chiawa Game Management Area opposite the Mana Pools. Aside from elephants which are abundant here, scope out the river for impala, warthog, kudu, waterbuck and even the rare Samango monkeys. Go on a game walk or game drive through the reserve for a chance to see nocturnal species like the hyena, aardvark, civet and porcupine, and even the elusive leopard.

(Find out if you can make it in the wild in this 8-day Zambezi Valley safari.)

Launching the canoe from the Chiawa Game Management Area, paddle into the Lower Zambezi National Park for a guided game walk. After lunch, venture out on a game drive on the way back to camp. Leaving your bush camp, transfer by road or boat to another camp for a final night before heading back to Lusaka.

Expect wild camping accommodation on most nights in either two-man dome tents or in set-up bush camps with showers and toilet facilities. Some nights you will be asked to help out with camp chores or to set up and take down your own tents. All camping equipment is supplied. You get all breakfasts, 7 lunches and 7 dinners. Except during wild camping, vegetarian food options are catered for.

National Geographic’s pick for Best Tour Operator of 2021, Exodus Travels specializes in offering activity and adventure holidays, which they began 45 years ago. As they are pioneers in this type of travel, Exodus champions travel that is eco-friendly and beneficial to local communities.

In a nutshell

If you love paddling and thrive in the bush – or at least don’t mind wild camping – embark on this 8-day Zambezi Valley safari for close encounters with some of Africa’s big game.

Zambia’s Best Parks

Agate Travel

Location: Eastern Zambia

Itinerary: Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa 

Group Size: 4

Age Range: 2 to 80

Physical Activity:  Low to Medium

Operator: Agate Travel

Length: 9 Days

What to Expect

Small group, fully guided tour of two of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world through a variety of safaris.

• Lower Zambezi National Park
• South Luangwa National Park
• Game drives
• Walking safaris
• Canoe safaris

What the Experience is Like

After arrival at the Livingstone Airport, settle in and enjoy a guided walking tour of Victoria Falls on Day 2 with optional fishing, canoeing and visits to the local village. Cap off the day with a relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi River.

Fly into Lower Zambezi and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Embark on a variety of safaris for a chance to spy on wild dogs, leopards, lions and big herds crossing the river. The Zambezi Valley is home to four of Africa’s Big Five, except the rhinos. 

Glide past hippos inhabiting river channels and large crocodiles basking on the banks. Enjoy a variety of wildlife encounters through walking and canoe safaris, game drives, tiger fishing and river cruises. 

(Leopards are shy creatures. See if you can catch sight of this elusive big cat in this 9-day safari into Zambia’s Best Parks.)

Fly into Mfuwe Airport for a road transfer to your accommodation near the South Luangwa National Park border. Choose between up-close wildlife encounters on foot or encounters from the comfort of an open vehicle. Scope out the park for birds, butterflies and insects, or spot leopards, lions and elephants as they move through the park. Breathe in the bush scenery one last time before flying to Lusaka the following day.

Expect 8 nights’ accommodation in 4-star hotels and lodges. You will get 8 breakfasts, 6 lunches and 7 dinners. Park fees, environmental levies, and entrance fees are included.

This tour is run by Agate Travel who’s been in the business for 25 years providing guided tour service, and flights and train booking. They focus on offering tailor-made tours to ensure their clients realize their dream holidays regardless of budget, group size or travel style.

In a nutshell

This 9-day tour to Zambia’s Best Parks takes you to abundant game viewing opportunities in Africa without crowds getting in the way of a good shot.

Djibouti Tajourah & Sable Blancs Day Tour

Across Africa Tours & Travel

Location: Eastern Zambia, Western Zambia

Itinerary: South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, Hwange

Group Size: 6

Age Range: 8 to 75

Physical Activity: Low to Medium

Operator: Across Africa Tours & Travel

Length: 11 Days

What to Expect

Small group, fully guided tour of Zambia’s national parks teeming with big game and other wildlife with a mix of camping and comfortable accommodation. Operated in various languages.

• South Luangwa
• Lower Zambezi
• Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls
• Zambezi cruise
• Hwange National Park

What the Experience is Like

Arrive at Lusaka Airport for a flight to South Luangwa the following day. From your campground near the park, venture on a guided game drive and walking safari to see park ecology and wildlife in more detail. Embark on a night drive if conditions allow. 

Fly from Mfuwe to Lower Zambezi for a boat transfer to your camp overlooking the iconic Zambezi River. Hop on a 4WD, launch a canoe or lace up for a game drive, paddling safari or walking safari for a chance to spy on aardvarks, elephants, hippos, hyenas, leopards and lions. If you’re up for it, go on tiger fishing before cruising on the river as night falls.

(The bulk of Victoria Falls flows from the Zimbabwe side. How does it look from there? Find out in this epic 11-day tour into Zambia’s parks.)

Fly to Lusaka Airport for transfer to the Zimbabwe side of Victoria Falls. Cruise on the Zambezi River and soak up the serenity as the sky blazes orange-red. Survey the riverbanks for a multitude of bird species with cold drinks in hand. Or witness the wildlife spectacle from the comfort of lounge chairs and sofas, enjoying a premium beverage.

Learn about the geology and legends of Victoria Falls on a guided tour. Enjoy a well-earned traditional dinner back in the hotel. To marvel at the colossal scale of the falls, the gorge and the rushing river below, consider taking an optional helicopter or ultra-light tour.

Fly to Hwange National Park. Hop on a vehicle for a guided game drive and an opportunity to see cheetahs, spotted hyenas, sables and leopards. Spy on big game for another day of guided game drives through the former hunting ground of a Zulu warrior king.

Bid the park farewell as you fly out of Hwange National Park for transfer to Victoria Falls and on to the Victoria Falls Airport. Fly back to Lusaka for your final night before departure the following day.

Expect a combination of hotel, camping and lodge accommodation. Meals on full board. International and domestic flights are included in this tour.

Across Africa Tours & Travel offers a range of tour packages at various price points, with a focus on offering comfort and luxury to travelers yearning to “live the dream” and willing to pay a premium. A local representative makes regular visits to ensure a smooth experience all throughout.

In a nutshell

This 11-day tour into Zambia’s parks is an African safari of epic proportions like the Big Five. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience you will never forget.

If none of these tours work for you in Zambia, please do not worry. There is a wide variety of tour options in the country, and we are confident that there will be something that fits your needs and interests.

Take a look at all the group tours in Zambia now, which you can sort by private or group, maximum sizing, budget, dates and much (much more). The team at TourRadar is also always more than happy to answer any questions, provide further information or assist in any way in finding the perfect tour for you.