Zambia
Republic of Zambia
Eastern Africa · ZMB
Editorial Snapshot
Why Go To Zambia
Zambia is a strong fit for travelers who want serious safari time and Victoria Falls without the busier feel of some neighboring circuits. It works best as Livingstone plus one or two major parks such as South Luangwa, Lower Zambezi, or Kafue, rather than as a broad national loop.
Popular For
Things To See
- Victoria Falls
- South Luangwa National Park
- Lower Zambezi National Park
- Kafue National Park
- Liuwa Plain National Park
- Livingstone
Best Months
Know Before You Go
- Zambia makes the most sense when you treat the trip as a park-and-lodge itinerary with one major Falls stop.
- Different parks suit different wildlife styles, so choosing the right pair matters more than simply adding more reserves.
- This is a better match for travelers who prioritize time in the bush over city sightseeing.
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Flights
Hotels & Accommodations
Compare stays across major booking options
Open hotel and accommodation options for Zambia.
Guidebooks
📚Browse Zambia Guidebooks on AmazonTours & Activities
Country Data
Stats At A Glance
Practical travel, safety, climate, and quality-of-life stats for Zambia.
Quick Facts
- Capital
- Lusaka
- Population
- 19,693,423
- Area
- 752,612 km²
- Region
- Eastern Africa
Languages
- English
Currency
Zambian kwacha (ZK)
ZMW
Exchange rate unavailable for USD.
Cost of Living (World Bank)
28.2
Price level index (US = 100)
- Groceries
- 30.7
- Restaurants
- 23.1
- Rent
- 12.2
Safety & Peace
lower score = more peaceful · 1.0–3.5 scale
Monthly Climate Averages
These weather averages are based on data for Lusaka (15.42°S, 28.28°E).
LGBTQ+ Friendly
15/100
Traveler LGBTQ score
- Legal protections
- 2/100
- Lived safety
- 52/100
This score blends legal protections with lived-safety context so strong laws alone do not automatically push a country to the top of the ranking.
- Homosexuality legal❌
- Relationship recognitionNone
- Adoption recognition❌
- Anti-discrimination laws❌
- Employment protections❌
- Legal gender recognition❌
- Conversion therapy ban❌
Human Development Index (UNDP)
0.595
Medium human development
- 5-year change
- +0.020
- 10-year change
- +0.038
- Trend
- improving
- Data year
- 2023
- Gender Dev. Index (GDI)
- 0.949
- Gender Inequality Index (GII)
- 0.524
- Planetary-adjusted HDI (PHDI)
- 0.585
UNESCO World Heritage Sites (1)
- 🌿
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls
Inscribed 1989
Natural Beauty (World Bank)
- Protected land area
- 41.3%
- Forest cover
- 59.5%
Source: World Bank.
Wildlife & Birdwatching
- Threatened mammal species (IUCN)
- 13
- Threatened bird species (IUCN)
- 22
Source: World Bank / IUCN Red List. Higher counts indicate richer biodiversity, typically in tropical rainforest, island, and savannah ecosystems.
Food & Cuisine
26/100
Food and dining score
Built from two layers: dining-scene breadth and open prestige signals. We combine restaurant density, cuisine diversity, distinguished restaurants, and gastronomy-city recognitions from open data sources.
Luxury Infrastructure
10/100
Luxury & premium accommodation score
Based on OpenStreetMap luxury hotel density and World Bank international tourism receipts.
US Travel Advisory
Reissued with obsolete COVID-19 page links removed. Exercise normal precautions in Zambia. Read the country information page for additional information about travel to Zambia. If you decide to travel to Zambia: Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. Follow the Department of State on Facebook and Twitter. Follow the U.S. Embassy in Zambia on Facebook and Twitter. Review the Country Security Report for Zambia. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Review the Traveler’s Checklist. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel.
Read full advisory →Data current as of May 2026 and subject to change. Travel advisory information is sourced from the U.S. State Department and reflects conditions at the time of data collection, not real-time conditions. Do not rely solely on this information for travel decisions. Always check current government advisories for your nationality. Terms of Use · About our data