Zambia vs Botswana

So, should you go to Zambia or Botswana? The choice depends entirely on the type of holiday you prefer. Both countries are extremely safe and have excellent wildlife and national parks, but each is suited to a slightly different type of traveller.

Elephant frolic in Botswana

Botswana is perhaps the best self-drive safari destination in Southern Africa, with good connecting roads, abundant wildlife, plenty of affordable campsites and an efficient bureaucracy that – with a bit of practice – makes camp and national park bookings relatively easy. It can also be one of Africa’s most luxurious places to safari, with a number of first-rate luxury lodges, most notably in and around the Okavango Delta.

Leopard abound in Botswana, although still the most elusive of the Big Cats, credit: BBC One

While Botswana caters for confident, self-drive 4x4 adventurers and well-heeled safari-goers alike, quality mid-range and more affordable luxury accommodation can be harder to find. Zambia has much more to offer in this area, with exceptional luxury experiences sometimes half the price of similar lodges in Botswana and private, exclusive-use houses and smaller eco-lodges that offer great value, especially for families and larger groups.

Safari-goers observe a juvenile lion, credit: Chiawa Camp

Zambia’s poorer-quality roads and harder-to-access wilderness areas make it far more challenging for self-drive visitors. Those who embrace the conditions are rewarded with some of Africa’s best wildlife and wilderness experiences, but on the whole, self-drive visitor numbers are low. It’s this low-density exclusivity that makes a Zambian safari so special – the perfect place for a quality safari experience that won’t break the bank.

Birding safari in Zambia

Zambia is the ideal destination for a birding safari - one of the rarest birds in Africa, the Shoebill is found there. With over 700 species found throughout the diverse ecosystems, Zambia is a hot birding location and one of the best times for birding is just before the summer rains arrive…

Romantic holiday in Zambia

Zambia’s tented camps and lodges are growing in stature. They may not yet be as well-known as those in neighbouring Botswana and South Africa, but they offer excellent value and are ideal for couples and honeymooners looking for an all-inclusive romantic break. Zambia has a reputation for…

Wildlife in Zambia

Technically Zambia has all the Big Five, but rhino are extremely rare and confined to the Mosi-oa-Tunya (Victoria Falls) and North Luangwa National Parks. Elephant, buffalo and lion are common across multiple parks however, and Kafue, South Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi are all well-known…