Enquire
Why book with us?

What are you looking for?

Hello traveller!

It's in Cape Town now.

We're sorry. Our safari planners aren't available now. Our office hours are 08:00 - 19:00 (GMT+2).

Call us to speak to an experienced safari planner.


Alternatively, we recommend...

travel-form-icon

Complete our travel enquiry form to connect with a safari planner

ENQUIRE TODAY

Zambia vs Botswana

Africa's best authentic tailor-made safaris

When choosing between a safari in Zambia or Botswana, it’s clear that both are incredibly protected and have outstanding wildlife and national parks. Still, each is tailored to a very different style of traveler.

Botswana is possibly the best self-drive safari destination in Southern Africa, with decent connecting roads, plentiful wildlife, plenty of inexpensive campsites, and an effective bureaucracy that makes camp and national park bookings pretty simple with a bit of practice.

A Botswana Safari can also be considered one of the most luxurious safari destinations in Africa, with many first-rate luxury lodges, most especially in and around the Okavango Delta. Though a Botswana safari caters to both confident self-drive 4×4 explorers and well-heeled safari-goers, quality mid-range and more affordable luxury accommodation can be difficult to come by.

Safari-goers observe a juvenile lion, credit: Chiawa Camp | Zambia Vs Botswana
Safari-goers observe a juvenile lion, credit: Chiawa Camp | Zambia Vs Botswana

When comparing Zambia vs. Botswana in this category, a Zambia safari has much more to offer, with outstanding luxury experiences that are often half the price of comparable lodges in Botswana and private, exclusive-use houses and smaller eco-lodges that provide great value, especially for families and larger groups.

Zambia’s poorer-quality highways and more difficult-to-access wilderness areas make self-drive travelers’ lives much more difficult. Many who accept the conditions are rewarded with some of Africa’s finest nature and desert views, but self-drive visitors are few and far between.

When comparing Zambia vs. Botswana, this low-density exclusivity separates a Zambian safari as the perfect location for a luxury safari experience that won’t break the bank.

But it’s Zambia’s two ‘most unique’ attractions that are also its most famous. Both are shared along the border with Zimbabwe, and both are the biggest of their kind in the world. In full flood, Victoria Falls boasts Earth’s largest sheet of falling water, and downstream, Lake Kariba is the world’s largest man-made dam by volume.

Both offer superb adventurous and more sedate activities as well, from white water rafting, bungee jumping, and skydiving to canoe safaris, fishing, and houseboat cruises.

Ready to plan your tailor-made safari?

897 Reviews - 5/5 Stars

Craft your journey with the expertise of our dedicated Africa Safari Experts

Start Planning

What Our Guests Have to Say?

Read recent reviews from travellers who have planned and booked their trips with us

star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Safari Bookings review

"Our entire experience was magnificent. Everything was in place and perfectly reliable. We wanted for nothing and were taken care of every step of the way. To use the word "life changing" seems so cliché, but my husband and I both found the whole trip an ama..."

Julie Ferguson, United States03 May 2026

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon
Trustpilot review

"We had an amazing time at our safari place(Kapama Karula) organized by Susan from Discover Africa! She is very professional and gave us unforgettable time in South Africa! I highly recommend Susan and discover Africa!"

Luana, Brazil21 Apr 2026

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"Very professional; quick to respond. The trip itself was fantastic. The lodging and the game drives were great. Guide was great; he anticipated where hard-to-find animals would show up. Lodge staff were very friendly. Food was great. "

Akos Ledeczi, United States12 Nov 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"We travelled this summer with Discover Africa Safaris for the first time to Botswana, after spending 2 summers in Kenya and Tanzania. We got recommendations for this travel agency from friends and were really very satisfied with the service provided! We ..."

Nadja, Croatia11 Sep 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"We booked a safari with Susan and as it was something I have been eagerly anticipating most of my life, we opened the budget strings a little. If we were going to do it once, we really wanted to get it right and make sure to make the most of it. We were sti..."

Aaron, Cayman Islands08 Sep 2025

Read More
star-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-iconstar-icon

"I have just finished my Namibia trip, with help from Chrizaan. She’s very easy to communicate with and accommodating to our needs. Her personal experiences in the lodges and destinations also greatly assisted us in deciding where to go and stay. Thank you s..."

Ahmad, France23 Aug 2025

Read More
View All Testimonials

Our safari traveller reviews are independently verified and sourced from trusted third-party review platforms.