How much does it cost to stay in Zambia?

Stays in Zambia start from around USD 325 per person per night and climb to USD 1,700 at the top safari camps. Lusaka is the best-value base in the country, while the Lower Zambezi's remote river camps sit at the priciest end. South Luangwa, with 52 properties, gives you the broadest choice across the middle and upper range.

Where should I stay for a safari in Zambia?

For a safari in Zambia, base yourself in one of four great national parks, as each earns its place on your trip. South Luangwa, the birthplace of the walking safari, pairs bush walks with night drives in leopard country. The Lower Zambezi swaps the vehicle for a canoe, gliding past elephants and hippos beneath the escarpment. Kafue, one of Africa’s largest parks, opens onto the vast Busanga Plains, whilst North Luangwa is raw wilderness, explored almost entirely on foot.

Where should I stay to see Victoria Falls in Zambia?

Livingstone, the town on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls, is the natural base, with 32 properties to choose from. Prices there typically range from USD 278 to USD 850 per person per night, making it one of the more affordable stops in Zambia. Two or three nights at the Falls is about right before you fly on to a safari such as South Luangwa or the Lower Zambezi.

What are the best hotels in Zambia?

Four camps stand out for us in Zambia, one for each of its headline areas. Time and Tide Chinzombo Safari Camp sits on the Luangwa River in South Luangwa, each villa with its own plunge pool. In the Lower Zambezi, owner-guided Kutali Camp has just five tents and canoes you past elephant and hippo. Ntemwa-Busanga overlooks Kafue’s Busanga Plains, home of the Papyrus Pride, whilst Thorntree River Lodge’s floating decks rise and fall with the Zambezi upstream of Victoria Falls.

Hotels in Zambia | Timbuktu Travel

Chamilandu Bushcamp

South Luangwa

3 Rooms

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From $890 per person/night

A tree-house treasure that’s small, intimate and offers authentic walking safaris.

Imagine waking up high in the trees, just as the sun peeps over the Chindeni Hills and the hippos snort their morning song below. This is Chamilandu, a collection of 3 stilted chalets in the heart of the South Luangwa’s best walking area. Shaded by a soaring ebony forest and surrounded by pretty oxbow lakes, open floodplains and lush riverine vegetation, the wildlife is as wonderful as the landscape. Head out on foot and watch baboon swinging through the trees and puku prance across the plains…. Or simply sink into your pillows and watch the wildlife come to you.

Nsolo Bush Camp

South Luangwa

4 Rooms

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From $840 per person/night

The original bush camp of the South Luangwa – and still one of the best!

A traditional bushcamp with a compelling history in the South Luangwa, Nsolo is beautifully rustic with a firm focus on walking safaris. Raised on stilts, the grass chalets are set on a sweeping bend of the dry Luwi River and offer magnificent 180-degree views of the surrounding landscape. A myriad of thirsty wildlife visits the waterhole in front of camp and game viewing is nothing short of exceptional, whether you are exploring the plains on foot or watching with a G&T from the veranda.

Chikunto Safaris

South Luangwa

5 Rooms

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From $1K per person/night

A new kind of lodge in Zambia's South Luangwa, a sanctuary bursting with wildlife

Set on an exposed sandbank on the edge of the Luangwa River, Chikunto Safari Lodge is one of the prettier-positioned places in the South Luangwa National Park. Not that good views are in short supply around here. With its tapestry of rolling plains and plateaus, the wide meandering river, miombo woodlands and riverine forests, the vegetation supports a thriving assortment of wildlife. And that makes the park one of the best all-around safari destinations in Africa. This eco-friendly camp has taken pains to blur the lines between itself and the environment, while keeping things simple and classy.

Chikoko Tree Camp

South Luangwa

3 Rooms

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From $780 per person/night

A walking enthusiast’s dream in the remote northern section of the South Luangwa.

Lace up your boots and prepare for the ultimate walking adventure at Chikoko Tree Camp. Set just upstream from Tafika, on the opposite side of the Luangwa River, the landscape is achingly beautiful and with no roads in the area, truly wild. It was here that David Livingstone proclaimed his love for the Luangwa and as you tread the pristine African bush alongside the resident wildlife, it’s easy to see why. This is untamed Africa for real walking enthusiasts with no frills attached.

Kuyenda Bushcamp

South Luangwa

6 Rooms

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From $690 per person/night

A simple cluster of grass huts offering authentic charm and fabulous walking safaris.

Possibly the simplest of the Bush Camp Company’s 6 camps in the southern sector of the South Luangwa, Kuyenda is a very special place where guests return again and again. And that’s largely down to Phil Berry, one of Africa’s top guides, and his wonderful wife Babette, who regularly call the little camp home. No one knows the bush like Phil and a walk with him is one of those enchanting experiences that you’ll want to repeat again and again....

Zungulila Bushcamp

South Luangwa

4 Rooms

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From $840 per person/night

Hemingway meets Zambia meets walking safari at this brilliantly remote bush camp.

Take a picturesque location, a whole lot of charm and some serious walking safaris and you have Zungulila, a classic four bedroom bush camp in the South Luangwa. The most remote of all the Bush Camp Company camps, its location, overlooking a floodplain of the Kapamba River and framed by the shimmering Muchinga Escarpment, is worthy of many superlatives. As for activities, walking safaris and game drives will take you over grassy plains, down meandering rivers and past sparkling springs with not another soul in sight. This is Africa, just like it should be.

Taita Falcon Lodge

Victoria Falls

7 Rooms

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From $270 per person/night

Welcome to Taita Falcon Lodge, a wilderness retreat situated on the edge of the Batoka Gorge, just 11km from Victoria Falls. Surrounded by stunning views, Taita Falcon Lodge offers guests a unique bush camp experience, blending modern comforts with natural charm. Whether guests are complete novices with a thirst for adventure or seasoned travelers in search of a unique experience, Taita Falcon Lodge is the perfect choice for your trip to Zambia.

Luangwa Safari House

South Luangwa

4 Rooms

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From $490 per person/night

A lush wilderness, animals everywhere, and a private mansion from which to view them.

Looking for a private piece of paradise for you and your nearest and dearest? Luangwa Safari House awaits. This stand-alone property, which sits gracefully on the edge of a lagoon system frequented all year by elephant, impala, giraffe, warthog and countless other species, lies in a game management area overlooking South Luangwa National Park. This grand, one-of-a-kind, four-bedroomed home is designed to cater for one group – family or friends – at a time. It's fully staffed with private chefs and a private guide, so you're free to explore South Luangwa, one of Africa's prettiest and most abundant national parks.

Protea Hotel Livingstone

Victoria Falls

80 Rooms

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From $130 per person/night

Walk to white rhino before breakfast, then throw yourself at Victoria Falls.

Livingstone is Zambia's adventure capital, and Protea Hotel Livingstone plays the part of dependable home base rather than riverside showpiece. You're in town here - a few minutes from the falls the locals call Mosi-oa-Tunya, "the smoke that thunders" — in a low cluster of buildings wrapped around a garden and pool. It's an unfussy, well-run sort of place: friendly staff, a generous breakfast, and rooms built for collapsing into after a day of rafting or game drives. There's even reliable backup power, which in this part of the world is no small mercy. .

Luangwa Bush Camping

South Luangwa

2 Rooms

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From $610 per person/night

A rustic yet totally magical fly camp in the South Luangwa’s game rich Nsefu region.

Dig a little deeper into the essence of the South Luangwa National Park and spend a couple of nights in the remote bush on a walking expedition with Robin Pope Safaris. The starting point of the safari is Nsefu Camp, and as you walk through the exclusive Nsefu Sector to sister camp Tena Tena, you’ll spend two nights (or three if you’re feeling really brave) in a small fly camp. Whilst you’re out exploring on foot, the staff will leap into action and move the entire camp to a new location, ready for your arrival – with a G&T in hand! The camp may be simple, yet the experience is anything but. Talk about something to remember for ever…

David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa

Victoria Falls

77 Rooms

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From $250 per person/night

The David Livingstone Safari Lodge & Spa is situated on the lush banks of the Zambezi River, seamlessly blending into its surroundings, and providing luxurious 4-star accommodation near the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls. With picturesque views of the river guests are treated to a serene and unforgettable experience. Additionally, the hotel offers Zambezi River cruises to enhance your stay.

Return to the Wild

South Luangwa

3 Rooms

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From $1.7K per person/night

A night in the dry Luwi riverbed, for the most adventurous of spirit…

Imagine falling asleep to the sound of lions roaring, counting the stars in the sky through the top of your mozzie net... Well, you can turn that dream into a reality with a 'Return to the Wild' sleep-out in the heart of the South Luangwa National Park. You’ll leave either Luwi or Nsolo camp on foot in the afternoon and walk along the spectacular bleached-sand Luwi River before reaching your fly camp for the night. After that, all that’s left to do is pour a G&T, watch the sun sink below the horizon and spend the night around the campfire.

Robin Pope Mobile Safari

South Luangwa

3 Rooms

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From $560 per person/night

A mobile walking trip with a difference in the northern reaches of the South Luangwa.

In the northernmost reaches of South Luangwa, a region so remote it's rarely visited, is the only mobile walking safari in the park. Run by expert operator Robin Pope Safaris, the five-night walking expedition leads you along the banks of the Mupamadzi River through an area that's renowned for its excellent, and totally undisturbed, quantities of game. Depending on exactly where the wildlife is, the camp will move up to three times, making sure you're always in the best spot for the most thrilling of experiences.

Puku Ridge Camp

South Luangwa

8 Rooms

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From $1.6K per person/night

A stunning safari lodge with luxe tented suites and safaris that tick every box.

Renovated to perfection, Puku Ridge is a gorgeous safari lodge in the land of walking safaris, South Luangwa. Rebuilt from scratch in 2019 (and given a fresh polish since), the lodge looks out over the Kakumbi floodplain and its very own waterhole. Enjoy the shimmering view from your sky bed or alfresco dinner table and scan the waterhole for wildlife that seems to appear out of nowhere. As for the tents, they take glamping to new heights with a multi-level veranda, plunge pool, and outdoor shower. Run by true safari masters, Puku Ridge invites you to experience South Luangwa in its full glory.

Kafunta Island Bush Camp

South Luangwa

5 Rooms

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From $720 per person/night

Simplicity and authentic charm in the heart of walking country in the South Luangwa.

Tucked into the terrain in the remote southern reaches of the South Luangwa National Park is Kafunta’s rugged little sister, the Island Bush Camp. With panoramic views stretching from the Chindeni Hills in the east to the Muchinga Escarpment in the west (and lots to look at in between) this is a wonderfully authentic little bush camp. With only 4 rooms, no electricity and whole lot of character a safari here is reminiscent of the old days and walking safaris are wild, private and truly eye-opening.

Three Rivers Camp

South Luangwa

10 Rooms

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From $820 per person/night

Venture deep into the heart of the bush at this beautiful spot where three rivers meet.

Set at the confluence of the Luangwa, Luzangazi and Kapamba rivers in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park, this lovely little bush camp plunges you into a pristine and otherwise hard-to-access wilderness. Only open during the dry season (from the end of May to early November), the area is best traversed on foot and you’ll enjoy a slower pace of life on walking safaris with the expert guides. Back at base, the camp is smart and stylish, with charming luxury tents on stilts built with their own viewing platforms and sleep-out decks. It's a sophisticated wilderness camp, worlds away from city life.

Zikomo Safari Camp

South Luangwa

From $850 per person/night

Affordable and rustic hospitality in Zambia's game-rich Luangwa Valley.

South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia is well-known for its potent game viewing and dense river-life. Drive along the Luangwa River, which forms the south-eastern border of the park, and see crowded pods of boulder-like hippos that practically stymie the river's flow. Zikomo Safaris is strung along the banks of the river, set behind a wide plain in an old-growth forest. The winsome hospitality of this family-owned lodge is deft but unfussy. With both chalets and campsites, Zikomo caters to a wide spectrum of travelers and their budgets. Good guiding and a lively restaurant atmosphere push this camp a notch above the rest.

Robin's House

South Luangwa

2 Rooms

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From $660 per person/night

A two-bedroom bush homestead on the banks of Zambia’s Luangwa River.

Robin's House is an exclusive home away from home on the banks of Zambia’s impressive Luangwa River, set beneath a canopy of Ebony and Sausage trees. Formerly the family home and base for the well-known Robin Pope Safaris, this small thatched homestead offers a sole-use bush retreat with a dedicated team of staff on hand; a fabulous and relaxing safari experience, perfect for a family or small group of friends. The property falls within a game management area opposite South Luangwa National Park with a private pontoon over the river, making access to the Park quick and easy.

The Woodlands at Waterberry Lodge

Victoria Falls

From $540 per person/night

This sweet woodland camp is the perfect oasis for those wanting that special wilderness feeling without sacrificing comfort and all-inclusive luxury. Set in lush gardens that boast an abundance of birdsong, your tent offers the seclusion of the wilderness and the conveniences like mosquito netting, WiFi, electricity, and an en suite bathroom. Your private verandah is a charming spot to enjoy this little corner of paradise. The Waterberry restaurant, sun decks and swimming pool, all used by Woodlanders, are a short walk down sandy paths. Sit around the fire in the evening, listening to the sounds of nature. And you won't want to leave your tent at night in case you inadvertently meet Mr Hippo grazing your personal lawn - just step outside in the morning and think 'was he really so close?' Imagine!

Chichele Lodge

South Luangwa

10 Rooms

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From $1.7K per person/night

Historic presidential retreat in Zambia's South Luangwa National Park

Built in the 1970s as a personal retreat for former Zambian President Kenneth Kaunda and redefined in 2025, Chichele Lodge defines sophistication in the bush - especially after being completely rebuilt and reimagined. From its forested hilltop position, the lodge overlooks wildlife-rich floodplains and the Central South Luangwa Valley, a region well known for its game viewing and good network of tarred roads (this is the only section of national park that is open year-round). This elegant, well-established lodge feels more like a hotel than a bush camp, so it's perfect if your idea of a safari includes a desire for creature comforts and personal attention.

Radisson Blu Mosi-Oa-Tunya

Victoria Falls

200 Rooms

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From $270 per person/night

Tune out from the rest of the world and connect to the natural beauty of Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park. This exceptional UNESCO site is home to one of the largest waterfalls in the world and a wildlife park. Relax in this magical setting or find an adventure – their hotel offers locally-inspired restaurants, a spa and fitness center, a river cruiser, and a sports pavilion. They also offer a conference center with five rooms. Host a unique event for up to 250 people with the spectacular Victoria Falls nearby.

Big Lagoon Camp

South Luangwa

3 Rooms

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From $780 per person/night

A rustic bush camp in Zambia’s remote northern South Luangwa, accessible only on foot.

Follow elephant and hippo trails into the heart of Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park, renowned for its untouched wilderness areas, abundant wildlife, and once-in-a-lifetime walking opportunities. Big Lagoon Camp is a seasonal bush camp which operates during the dry season (generally end of May to beginning of November), with just three rustic chalets overlooking a peaceful bend in the Luangwa River. Simple facilities provide the basics for a comfortable bush break, with excellent hospitality and outstanding guides. All game viewing and exploring is done on foot, accompanied by an experienced guide; a liberating and adventurous, back-to-nature experience. This camp used to be called Crocodile River Camp and has been renamed to Big Lagoon Camp

Tanyati Villa

Victoria Falls

4 Rooms

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From $3.5K per person/night

Sunlight dances on the Zambezi as your private retreat unfolds in unmatched luxury.

A fully exclusive villa offering unrivaled views of the mighty Zambezi river, exquisite cuisine and luxurious relaxation. With the grand piano, private cinema, spa, and gym, create a home-from-home that's unmatched for small groups seeking both elegance and comfort.