Wildlife in Zambia

Explore the remarkable trio of the country’s top parks—South Luangwa, Kafue, and Lower Zambezi National Parks—and you’re likely to encounter four of the Big Five. Buffalo, elephants, and lions roam freely in abundance. Zambia is renowned for providing exceptional opportunities to encounter Africa’s most elusive feline, the leopard. Your greatest opportunity to encounter rhinos lies within Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, where you can embark on a thrilling journey to track these magnificent creatures on foot.

Exciting Encounters with Nature

Despite their endangered status, wild dogs are flourishing in Zambia; witnessing these masterful hunters at work is truly exhilarating. Among their favored targets is the lechwe, and Zambia boasts three distinct subspecies of this antelope that thrives in wetland habitats: the unique Kafue and black lechwe, along with the more commonly found red lechwe. Additionally, the unique subspecies of Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest capture attention.

Optimal Moments for Observing Wildlife

The prime time for observing wildlife aligns with the Dry season (May to October), when water becomes limited and animals congregate around waterholes and rivers. The bush is more open at this time, making it simpler to catch sight of the animals. From October until the rains, the heat can be quite intense. Certain paths turn untraversable during the rainy season (November to April), and numerous camps shut down during this period.