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

Flatdogs Crocodile Nest

South Luangwa

18 Rooms

From $890 per person/night

Family-&-budget-friendly home in one of Africa's greatest wildernesses, the South Luangwa.

This family-friendly tented home is the latest addition to Zambia's legendary Flatdogs Camp situated on the border of one of Africa's greatest game reserves: the South Luangwa National Park. Crocodile Nest is a private home, ideal for a party of 4, from where you can savor the African bushveld and embark on walking safaris, guided game drives and village tours. With nine thousand square kilometers of wilderness on your doorstep, you're guaranteed an unmatched game-viewing experience. Here you can choose to relax in the comfort of your private home or be social at the communal camp and restaurant area.

Nkonzi Camp

South Luangwa

4 Rooms

From $790 per person/night

An intimate and simple eco-bush camp in a remote patch of the central South Luangwa.

Tune into your surroundings with a digital detox at this teeny-tiny bushcamp in the heart of the South Luangwa. Simple but rustically stylish, the four tents are located in one of the least-visited and most game-rich regions of the park - simply open your tent flaps and you're in the heart of the wildlife-spotted wilderness. Explore on game drives, night drives and walking safaris (they're famously good in the South Luangwa and Nkonzi Camp is no exception) and then return to your bush home for dinner in the sandy river bed and whiskies around the camp fire.

Flatdogs Jackalberry Treehouse

South Luangwa

2 Rooms

From $550 per person/night

Romance in the trees at this time-tested camp on the edge of Zambia's premier wilderness

Lying on the border of the fabulously wild South Luangwa National Park, Flatdogs Camp is a constant for safari-goers who return time and again for its idyllic setting and its affordability. Jackalberry Treehouse, a private hideaway a short distance from the main camp, offers an even more peaceful refuge, one that's tucked beneath the treehouse's lattice of limbs. With unimpeded views across the dambo wetlands and lagoon system, this little slice of the bush is particularly precious. It's serviced by a dedicated team during the day – for the rest, you're left to enjoy the solitude of this natural sanctuary.

Sungani Lodge

South Luangwa

From $1.6K per person/night

A megawatt safari camp on the shores of the Luangwa River, where the show never stops.

Having opened its doors in 2022, Sungani is a stellar addition to the South Luangwa landscape. Translated to mean 'custodian' in the Chichewa language, Sungani was built to emulate the natural tones and textures of the wild, and prides itself on using mostly local ingredients. The main lodge is entirely open-sided so mealtimes are an added opportunity to watch the wildlife quench their thirst or wallow in the lagoon. The state-of-the-art tented suites enjoy panoramic views that will have you dreaming of the next day's adventures, whether that's boating down the Luangwa River or enjoying an iconic walking safari.

Kafunta Sunset House

South Luangwa

From $780 per person/night

Overlooking the Luangwa floodplains, Sunset House boasts magnificent views and once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Accommodating up to 9 guests, this newly built and beautifully designed house is the perfect spot for an exclusive inter-generational or multi-family getaway. With three en suite bedrooms and a private swimming, the house invites you to spread out and make yourself at home. Because your party will be the only guests at the Sunset House, the staff will cater to your specific interests and fancies. Spend your days on game drives, bush walks, swims in the pool, and meals by the fire.

KuKaya Lodge

South Luangwa

5 Rooms

From $820 per person/night

A unique lodge that redefines the safari experience, KuKaya gives you the freedom of choice to design your own timetable with flexible activites and dining options. KuKaya is set in pristine bush overlooking permanent water holes, only 2.5 kilometres from the main gate of the South Luangwa. The lodge has five beautiful and very spacious tented thatched chalets (4 doubles and one single). Each chalet has an outdoor shower, comfortable living and dining area, kitchen, and deck with a private plunge pool, firepit, pizza oven and barbecue area to make the most of the alfresco safari lifestyle. Embark on game drives and walking safaris, shared or private, visit the hide and brush up your photography skills, or simply choose to relax by your private pool, drink in hand, and watch the wildlife go by. Visit the Deli and choose from a selection of delicious ready-made meals, fresh salads and snacks for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Then, decide if you would like a private chef and waiter, or to prepare it yourself – the choice is yours!

Director's House

South Luangwa

From $630 per person/night

Located in the grounds of Mfuwe Lodge and with a focus on privacy, the house has two spacious, interconnecting bedrooms (both with ensuite bathrooms), an enclosed garden with a private pool and a firepit, pizza oven, and braai area. In the heat of the day, relax on the verandah with a book or take a dip in the pool – and watch out for the resident monkeys who sometimes wander through the garden.

Msandile River Lodge

South Luangwa

From $220 per person/night

Surrounded by untouched wilderness, Msandie River Lodge blends luxury and sustainability. This eco-friendly lodge leaves behind nothing but great memories whilst maintaining a high level of comfort and style. The tents and chalets all have excellent river views for uninterrupted wildlife viewing from the luxury of your own room.

Kayila Camp

Lower Zambezi

From $550 per person/night

Kayila Camp is a 4-suites camp that combines tradition with comfort. Situated on a ridge on the banks of the Zambezi, Kayila offers sweeping views of the Mana Pools National Park on the opposite bank.The camp has a beautiful outdoor lounge area that overlooks the fire-pit deck and swimming pool, providing an excellent vantage point to experience the magic of the Zambezi River. Although Kayila is very luxurious it also has a relaxed and informal feel. The culinary experience is characterized by no frills home cooking with the option of some local delicacies. By virtue of its location and layout, the camp offers a plethora of activities and experiences: from “River to Ridge” walks through the property to sunsets on the escarpment with panoramic views of the river as well as sleep outs over watering holes giving guests the opportunity to experience a close up look into the exhilarating nocturnal world of Kayila.

Kafue River Lodge

Kafue

From $630 per person/night

Kafue River Lodge is your reward at the end of your journey into the North-Eastern Kafue. The stretch of the Kafue River where the lodge is located is varied, gentle and favoured by wildlife. The 4 ensuite chalets overlook the river and the sounds of hippo carry clearly across the grounds with the miombo woodland behind camp also playing home to a steady stream of game and birds. Kafue River Lodge has 4 ensuite chalet and 2 central areas – an open, riverside “fire pit” for starlit dining and early morning coffee and the beautiful main lapa area which is built on a deck over the river offering cool shade and 180 degree river views.

Nanzhila Lake Camp

Kafue

4 Rooms

From $540 per person/night

Lake Camp is the new addition to Nanzhila Safaris and perfectly compliments the Plains Camp experience. The focus of Lake Camp is exploring the Southern Kafue wildlife that is found around Lake Itezhi-tezhi. Here, the mega herbivores like elephant, buffalo and hippo are more common than down on the Plains and so the incredible diversity and variety that Nanzhila is known for delivering simply gets broader with the addition of Lake Camp. In addition to the variety of species, the open floodplains and shorelines around the edges of Lake Itezhi-tezhi make for a stunning wildlife experience.

Chisa Busanga Camp

Kafue

4 Rooms

From $1.2K per person/night

Chisa is the Nyanja word for ‘birds nest’, and the rooms were inspired by the weaver bird nests that decorate the trees here. Sitting on a small tree-lined island, the camp uses only solar power as do the game drive vehicle and bicycles used to explore the watery dambos beyond. Chisa Busanga Camp celebrates the natural and cultural heritage of the Busanga Plains, a place that will leave an indelible imprint on your mind. The four Nests blend seamlessly into the wild outdoors, while paying attention to the creature comforts needed inside for a luxurious nesting and sleeping experience. The days in Busanga are blissful. Mornings begin gently navigating the plains in the electric Land Cruiser and stopping in the bush to enjoy a breakfast prepared over hot coals. After a late afternoon walking safari, evenings wind down with stargazing and storytelling around the campfire.

Kutandala Camp

North Luangwa

Opening in September 2025. Set on a stunning site on the banks of the Mwaleshi River in the heart of the North Luangwa National Park, Kutandala Camp offers the ultimate safari for those who seek truly remote wilderness. Not many experiences can match the thrill of finding lion on foot or standing face to face with a thousand head of buffalo. Whether you want to track large mammals from Elephant to the endemic Cookson's Wildebeest, or identify some of the three hundred and fifty bird species recorded - on safari at Kutandala you will be in the company of people who know and love this area

Kasikizi Bushcamp

Luambe

3 Rooms

From $480 per person/night

A feather-light little camp within the protected wilderness of the Luangwa Valley.

We know the word 'wild' is tossed around like confetti when it comes to safari camps, but when it's true, it's true. Enter, Kasikizi! The latest arrival to Luambe National Park embodies the essence of a nature-first and blissfully remote safari experience. Appearing to sprout from the ground, there are just three grass chalets overlooking the vast floodplains where crowds of puku, impala and bushbuck gather. And when the rains replenish the river, this very spot becomes a popular crossing point for elephant and giraffe. One of Zambia's real under-the-radar gems, you'll have the region all to yourself on walking safaris amid the wilderness.We know the word 'wild' is tossed around like confetti when it comes to safari camps, but when it's true, it's true. Enter, Kasikizi! The latest arrival to Luambe National Park embodies the essence of a nature-first and blissfully remote safari experience. Appearing to sprout from the ground, there are just three grass chalets overlooking the vast floodplains where crowds of puku, impala and bushbuck gather. And when the rains replenish the river, this very spot becomes a popular crossing point for elephant and giraffe. One of Zambia's real under-the-radar gems, you'll have the region all to yourself on walking safaris amid the wilderness.