Zambia is where the walking safari began and where the tradition is still strongest. Its parks remain wild and uncrowded, offering close encounters that feel unhurried and natural. The Zambezi River runs through it all, shaping landscapes and sustaining wildlife along its banks.

Victoria Falls is the country’s most famous landmark, known locally as Mosi-oa-Tunya — “the smoke that thunders.” Beyond the falls, South Luangwa is a stronghold for leopards, while the Lower Zambezi offers canoeing alongside hippos, elephants, and crocodiles in the channels.

Zambia is best suited to travellers who value remoteness and authenticity. Safaris here feel intimate, with a focus on experience rather than spectacle, and a sense of wildness that is becoming rare elsewhere.