8 Days • 7 Nights
Zambia Family Safari: Victoria Falls & the Luangwa
Tour Includes
About the Trip
Trip Highlights
- The thundering Victoria Falls is a breathtaking family highlight of this journey. One of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World, the falls are where the vast Zambezi plunges into a mile-wide chasm amid spray, rainbows and roar, an unforgettable spectacle for children and adults alike, who will never forget being drenched by the mist and framed in rainbows as the ground trembles beneath the astonishing sound. The whole family walks the rainforest paths together, and the sense of wonder is universal. The scale, power and beauty are utterly overwhelming, sparking a lifelong love of nature.
- A wildlife-filled safari in the family-friendly South Luangwa is a magnificent highlight of this journey. One of the finest safari parks in Africa, the South Luangwa offers abundant, easily seen wildlife that thrills children and adults alike. On game drives and gentle guided walks, the family encounters huge herds of elephant coming down to the river, towering giraffes, pods of hippo, zebra, antelope, and the park's celebrated predators, with an excellent chance of leopard, while thrilling night drives reveal a hidden nocturnal world. Seeing these magnificent animals in the wild is pure magic for young explorers.
- Fun and gentle adventure at Livingstone are a memorable family highlight of this journey. Livingstone offers a wealth of family-friendly fun beyond the falls. The whole family can enjoy a sunset cruise on the Zambezi, spotting elephants and hippos while children delight in the wildlife and the boat, meet the animals of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, including white rhino, and enjoy gentle river activities and refreshing dips in the pool. Older children and teens can try safe, supervised adventures, from a gorge swing to a helicopter flight over the falls. The variety and fun keep every age entertained.
- Junior-ranger activities and learning the bush are an enriching family highlight of this journey. At the family-friendly camp, children become junior rangers, learning to track animals, identify birds, read spoor and dung, make plaster casts of animal prints, and understand the fascinating web of life in the African bush, all guided by patient, expert guides who love sharing their knowledge with young explorers. These hands-on activities turn a safari into an unforgettable adventure of discovery and spark a lifelong love of nature and wildlife. The learning and fun are wonderful.
- A genuine village visit and Zambian warmth are a heartwarming family highlight of this journey. Near Livingstone, a visit to a local village offers a genuine, respectful window into Zambian life for the whole family. Guided by a local host, you meet villagers, and children meet local children, learn about daily life, farming, crafts and traditions, perhaps visit a school, and enjoy the music, drumming and dancing at the heart of Zambian culture. These warm human connections are among the most meaningful memories of any family journey, teaching children about the wider world. The warmth and authenticity are moving.
- Above all, this journey offers a safe, fun and unforgettable family adventure in wild Africa. Zambia is a wonderful place to introduce children to the magic of the wild, and this journey combines its greatest highlights in a safe, well-paced and endlessly exciting way. Over eight days the whole family shares the thundering Victoria Falls, the fun and culture of Livingstone, and a wildlife-filled safari in the family-friendly South Luangwa, with junior-ranger activities, gentle walks and thrilling game drives, all guided by patient, expert guides and warmed by genuine Zambian hospitality. The combination of a world wonder, superb wildlife.
Day by Day
A detailed day-by-day plan for this 8-day journey.
Your family adventure begins as your flight arrives at Livingstone's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport, close to the mighty Victoria Falls, where you are met and transferred to your family-friendly lodge on the banks of the Zambezi. Livingstone is Zambia's fun, welcoming gateway to one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. Spend the rest of the day settling in and relaxing after your journey, with the children perhaps cooling off in the pool, watching for elephants and hippos along the river, or hearing the distant thunder of the falls. This evening, the family enjoys a first taste of Zambian hospitality together and looks forward to the exciting journey ahead, the thundering falls, the fun of Livingstone, and a wildlife-filled safari in the South Luangwa. Rest well beside the great river, ready to meet the falls tomorrow as a family.
Today the whole family meets one of the greatest natural wonders on earth, the mighty Victoria Falls, Mosi-oa-Tunya, the smoke that thunders. With a friendly local guide, you walk the network of paths through the rainforest that faces the falls, where a wall of the Zambezi plunges into a mile-wide chasm, drenching everyone in mist and framing you in rainbows, an exhilarating, giggle-inducing experience for children, who will never forget the roar and the trembling ground. You take in the sheer scale and beauty of the falls together. In the late afternoon the family glides out on a sunset cruise along the upper Zambezi, spotting elephants and hippos at the banks as the great river turns to gold, a delight for young wildlife-spotters. As the day ends, you dine together beside the river. Rest well as a family.
Today the family enjoys Livingstone at a fun, gentle pace. In the morning you might visit Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park to see white rhino and other animals, enjoy a gentle river activity, or let older children and teens try a safe, supervised adventure such as a gorge swing or a helicopter flight over the falls, while younger ones relax by the pool. In the afternoon the family enjoys a genuine, respectful visit to a local village, where children meet local children, learn about daily life, farming and crafts, perhaps visit a school, and enjoy the music, drumming and dancing at the heart of Zambian culture, a warm and enriching encounter for all ages. As the day ends, you return to your lodge, full of stories. Rest well beside the Zambezi, ready to fly to the safari tomorrow.
This morning the family transfers to Livingstone airport and boards a light-aircraft flight, via Lusaka, to Mfuwe and the South Luangwa National Park, one of the finest and most family-friendly safari parks in Africa. On arrival you are met and driven to your welcoming camp along the meandering Luangwa River, with the children thrilled by their first sightings of elephant, giraffe, zebra and hippo on the game drive in. After settling into your spacious family rooms and enjoying lunch, you rest through the heat, perhaps with a dip in the pool, then head out on an afternoon game drive as the heat softens, meeting the park's abundant wildlife and rolling into an exciting night drive with a spotlight as darkness falls, when leopards and other nocturnal animals emerge. As the day ends, the family dines under the stars beside the river. Rest well in the wild Luangwa.
Today the family enjoys a wildlife-filled day in the South Luangwa. You rise early for a morning game drive in an open 4x4, the golden light perfect as the bush comes alive, encountering huge herds of elephant, towering giraffes, pods of hippo, zebra and antelope, and the park's celebrated predators, with an excellent chance of leopard, an endless thrill for young explorers. Back at camp, the children become junior rangers, learning to track animals, identify birds and spoor, and make plaster casts of animal prints with patient, expert guides who love sharing their knowledge. You rest through the heat with a dip in the pool, then head out again in the late afternoon for a game drive and sundowners, perhaps with a short night drive. As the day ends, the family dines together beneath the stars. Rest well in the wild Luangwa tonight.
Today the family explores more of the South Luangwa in fun and varied ways. Older children and adults might enjoy a gentle guided walking safari with an armed professional guide, experiencing the bush on foot in the very place walking safaris were born, learning to read tracks and signs and meeting the smaller wonders of the wild, while younger children enjoy camp-based activities and the pool. Alternatively, the family takes a game drive along the river, watching elephants coming down to drink and cross, hippos jostling in the pools, and superb birdlife along the banks. You return to camp through the heat of the day, then head out again in the late afternoon for sundowners and wildlife. As the day ends, the family dines under the stars, swapping stories of the day's adventures. Rest well in the wild Luangwa tonight.
Today the family enjoys a final full day of wildlife and adventure in the South Luangwa. You might set out on an early morning game drive in search of leopard, lion and the endless procession of elephants at the river, or enjoy a last junior-ranger activity, tracking and learning with your guide. You watch the river and its abundant wildlife, soak up the beauty of the bush, and cool off at the pool through the heat of the day. In the late afternoon, the family heads out for a final game drive, enjoying sundowners in a beautiful spot as the sun sinks over the bush, before a last night drive reveals the park's nocturnal creatures. As the day ends, the family gathers for a special farewell dinner under the vast starlit sky, reflecting on an unforgettable adventure. Rest well, cherishing your last night on safari together.
After a final morning in the South Luangwa, perhaps one last game drive or a relaxed breakfast watching the river as the bush wakes, the family bids farewell to your guides and camp and transfers to Mfuwe airport for your onward flight via Lusaka, connecting to your international departure. You leave having shared an unforgettable family adventure, the thundering Victoria Falls amid spray and rainbows, the fun and warm culture of Livingstone, and a wildlife-filled safari in the family-friendly South Luangwa, with junior-ranger activities, gentle walks and thrilling game drives, all guided by patient, expert guides and warmed by genuine Zambian hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the smoke that thunders, elephants at the river, a leopard in the golden light, and the children's faces full of wonder. Zambia offers wonder, wildlife and fun for all ages, and you depart already dreaming of a return as a family.
Where You Will Travel
What's inside the package?
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation, breakfasts in Livingstone and all meals and local drinks on safari
- Game drives, guided walks and activities as per itinerary with expert safari guides
- All national park and conservation fees as per itinerary
- Airport and land transfers, and internal light-aircraft flights where specified
- Bottled water on game drives and unlimited scheduled activities as per itinerary
- Family-friendly lodges and camps, a guided tour of Victoria Falls, a family sunset cruise and a village visit at Livingstone, internal light-aircraft flights to and from the South Luangwa, game drives, gentle guided walks, night drives and junior-ranger activities, and all park and conservation fees
Exclusions
- International airfare
- Visa or tourist card fees where applicable
- Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
- Optional Livingstone adventure activities such as helicopter flights and gorge swings
- Premium imported drinks, and tips for guides and camp staff
- Meals not mentioned in the itinerary or inclusions
- Drinks unless specifically stated
- Optional excursions and experiences
- Personal expenses and gratuities
- Anything not specifically mentioned under Package Inclusions
Know when to go.
- Visa & entry: Most visitors need a visa for Zambia, available online as an e-Visa before travel or on arrival for many nationalities, and a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages is required. The KAZA UNIVISA can cover both Zambia and Zimbabwe, ideal if you cross to see both sides of Victoria Falls. Requirements change, so we confirm the exact current process for your nationality and help you apply in good time
- Currency: The currency is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMW); US dollars are widely used at lodges, camps, for park fees and activities around Victoria Falls, and cards work at hotels and larger establishments in Lusaka and Livingstone, but carry some cash and small dollar notes for tips, curios and remote areas. ATMs are common in towns but scarce in the bush
- Best time to visit: The dry season from May to October is superb for wildlife, as animals gather at the shrinking rivers and lagoons and the bush thins out; September and October are hot but offer outstanding game viewing. Victoria Falls is at its thundering fullest from roughly February to May, while the low-water months of September to December are best for swimming at Devil's Pool and seeing the rock face
- Language & etiquette: English is the official language and is widely spoken, making travel easy, alongside Bemba, Nyanja, Tonga, Lozi and other local languages. Zambians are famously warm, gentle and welcoming; a friendly greeting is always appreciated. Ask permission before photographing people, dress modestly in towns and villages, and respect local customs, elders and community life throughout your journey
- Getting around: Zambia is a vast, wild country and its finest camps are remote, so light-aircraft flights link Livingstone, the Lower Zambezi, South Luangwa and Kafue quickly and scenically on fly-in safaris; road transfers are used where practical but can be long and bumpy. Activities include game drives, guided walks, canoeing and boat cruises, all led by some of Africa's best-trained guides
- Health & safety: A yellow fever certificate may be required depending on your route and onward travel; malaria prophylaxis is recommended for all safari areas, so consult a travel clinic well before departure, and bring insect repellent, sun protection and any personal medication. Zambia is a peaceful, stable and rewarding safari destination, and we use trusted guides and camps and follow official guidance
- Culture & tipping: Zambia is a warm, peaceful country of many peoples and rich traditions, and a village or community visit near Livingstone or the Luangwa is a genuine highlight. Tipping is customary and appreciated, for guides, camp staff and porters, and we advise on suggested amounts. Photography of airports, bridges and official buildings is best avoided out of caution
- Power & practicalities: Power is 230V with UK-style type G three-pin plugs, and type C and D are also found, so bring an adapter; remote camps often run on generators or solar with limited hours and charging points, so a power bank is useful. Pack neutral-coloured, lightweight clothing, warm layers for cool early morning game drives and canoe safaris, a hat, binoculars and a good camera with a zoom lens
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Zambia suitable for a family safari with children?
Yes, with the right planning it is wonderful. We choose welcoming, family-friendly lodges and camps with spacious rooms, pools and dedicated children's activities, and pair the safari with the endlessly exciting Victoria Falls. Many camps have minimum age guidelines for certain activities, especially walking safaris, so we tailor the itinerary and activities to your children's ages, offering junior-ranger programmes, gentle game drives and plenty of variety. With patient, expert guides, abundant easily seen wildlife and a good balance of adventure and downtime, it is a safe, fun and enriching adventure for all ages.
What are the best ages and activities for children on this trip?
This journey suits families with children of school age and above particularly well, though we can tailor it for younger children too. Around Livingstone, all ages enjoy the falls, sunset cruises, rhino encounters and the village visit, while older children and teens can try safe adventures like gorge swings and helicopter flights. On safari, game drives and junior-ranger activities suit all ages, while walking safaris usually have a minimum age of around twelve. We advise on age suitability throughout and design the pace and activities around your family for a safe, fun trip.
What meals are included?
Meals as specified in each itinerary are included; on safari, Zambia's lodges and camps almost always operate on a fully inclusive basis, so all meals, and often local drinks and scheduled activities too, are included while you are in the parks, along with bottled water on game drives. In Livingstone and Lusaka, breakfast is usually included and other meals may be free to explore. Camp cuisine is excellent, from hearty bush breakfasts and riverside lunches to candlelit dinners, and we detail exactly what is included at each stage of your journey.
Are the tours private or in a group?
Activities at Zambia's intimate camps are typically shared with a handful of other guests in a small vehicle or walking group, led by an expert professional guide, and private guiding and vehicles can be arranged at many camps if you prefer. Zambia is renowned for the calibre of its guides, the pioneers of the walking safari, and their deep knowledge of the bush, its animals, birds, trees and smaller wonders greatly enriches every drive, walk and river journey through this beautiful country.
Do I need a visa for Zambia?
Most visitors need a visa, available online as an e-Visa before travel or on arrival for many nationalities, and a passport valid for at least six months with blank pages is required. If you plan to cross to the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, the KAZA UNIVISA covers both countries. We confirm the exact, current requirements for your nationality, advise on the best option, and help you apply in good time so your entry is smooth and stress-free.
Is Zambia safe to visit?
Zambia is one of Africa's most peaceful, stable and welcoming countries, with a long and proud safari tradition, and travel on a well-planned itinerary is smooth and rewarding. We use trusted camps, lodges and professional guides, and follow official guidance at all times, taking sensible precautions in towns as anywhere. On safari, around Victoria Falls and on the rivers you are in expert, experienced hands, and the warmth of the Zambian welcome is one of the great joys of a visit.
When is the best time to visit?
The dry season from May to October is superb for wildlife, as animals gather at shrinking water sources and the bush opens up, with September and October offering outstanding, if hot, game viewing. Victoria Falls thunders at its fullest from around February to May, while the low-water months are best for Devil's Pool and seeing the rock face. The green emerald season (November to April) brings lush landscapes, newborn animals and wonderful birding. We advise on the best timing for your interests.
Can the itinerary be customised?
Absolutely. We can adjust the balance of Victoria Falls and the parks, combine South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and Kafue, add walking or canoe safaris, extend your time at Livingstone, include a Lake Kariba houseboat, switch between fly-in and driving, and tailor the standard of camps from authentic and rustic to ultra-luxurious. Every itinerary is a flexible starting point that we shape around your interests, pace, budget and dream safari through beautiful Zambia.
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