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Zambia in January

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

January falls in the heart of the summer wet season, a period locally known as the Emerald Season. While it’s not the best time to visit Zambia for a traditional Zambia wildlife safari, the landscape undergoes a breathtaking transformation into a lush, verdant paradise.

This is a quiet, exclusive time for the seasoned traveller who appreciates dramatic skies and vibrant scenery over high mammal density.

The “Valley” (South Luangwa) and the “Plains” (Kafue) become largely inaccessible by vehicle as the cotton-soil tracks turn to mud. However, select lodges remain open, offering unique boat safaris on the swollen rivers.

This is the peak of the secret safari season: birdlife is at its most spectacular with migratory species in full breeding plumage, and the air is crisp and dust-free, perfect for high-end photography.

Weather in January

Boat safari on the Zambezi River, Zambia | Photo: Claudiovidri via Getty

When on a safari in Zambia during January, you can expect hot and humid conditions, with temperatures reaching a high of 27 °C/81 °F. This is accompanied by thunderstorms, so it’s best to pack a rain jacket for your Zambia holiday.

Average Weather in January

Temperature Celsius Fahrenheit Rainfall
Min 18℃64℉8 inches
Max 27℃81℉13 inches

National Park to Visit in Zambia During January

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is famous for two locations: Victoria Falls World Heritage Site and the Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park.

When visiting this location, you can expect to see unique game life since it’s home to Zambia’s only white rhinos, who remain under 24-hour armed guard protection.

A few lodges stay open to offer water-based safaris where you can watch elephants swimming and buffaloes grazing on the emerald islands

Activities to Do in Zambia in January

  • Birdwatching safaris
  • Photographic safaris
  • Victoria Falls tours
  • Boat safaris

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"Adelle and team had plan my Africa trip according to what we discuss. They are professional and plan in detail the itinerary. We had a very good time in Africa travelling from Johannesburg, Victoria Falls, Botswana and end at Cape Town. The transfers are ar..."

Suhardi Semuni, Singapore19 Jul 2026

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"My wife and I and two of our friends took this trip, which covered South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana. The trip was customized based on our needs and our Tour Manager/ Coordinator, Vihann, planned and executed with such ease and precision, I cannot think o..."

Ashesh, United States08 Jul 2026

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"Chrizaan arranged an amazing safari experience for six of us, who came from the UK and Australia. She secured our booking at a superb Lodge in the Kruger at relatively short notice, tied in the flight transfers and ensured that the whole experience ran smoo..."

Bethany Evans, United Kingdom10 Apr 2026

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"We just completed our second African safari planned by Megan Warrington, this one to Botswana, and we couldn't have been more pleased with our trip! Megan did a fantastic job of starting us out in the Kalahari (Tau Pan Camp) which was unique in its landscap..."

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"We booked our safari through Chrizaan and the whole experience was absolutely fantastic. From the very beginning, communication was smooth and easy – both via email and WhatsApp – which made the planning process stress-free. Despite our limited availabil..."

Alejandro Martínez Hernández, Spain03 Sep 2025

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"Susan took care of us from the planning to the experience itself. She was always available for us in answering questions and find best solutions. While on tour she kept in contact with us all the time. In terms of services, very well organized and reliable ..."

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