Why Zambia Should Be Your Next Safari Destination

Ask a group of safari specialists to pick an emerging destination for 2017, and you'll hear Zambia mentioned again and again. That's because the southern African country — home to Victoria Falls, 20 national parks, and some of the continent's best wildlife — is hitting its stride as a high-end option, thanks to improved access and some impressive lodge openings.

"Zambia has the greatest all-round wilderness experience in Africa, alongside Botswana," said Giles Trotter, director of the online safari portal Timbuktu. "You can see animals by canoe and on foot, so safaris are really varied."

The newly expanded airport in Livingstone, which reopened last year, has made journeys more comfortable, and the governments of Zimbabwe and Zambia agreed to a joint visa, allowing visitors to enter both countries on one permit. There are also plenty of appealing new places to stay, including King Lewanika Lodge (from $1,070), in the remote Liuwa Plain National Park, which offers access to the second-largest wildebeest migration after the Serengeti. At Victoria Falls, African Bush Camps has turned Thorntree River Lodge (from $600) into a contemporary eco-camp with private plunge pools, while the popular Tongabezi Lodge (from $775) has upgraded its living spaces along the banks of the Zambezi River.

The best news of all? The price, Trotter said. "A safari in Zambia will cost you about half as much as one in Botswana," and rates often include activities, meaning you get more Big Five bang for your buck.

New Frontiers

For next-level wildlife kicks, intrepid travelers are looking east.

India

AndBeyond's new 13-day expedition through the Ladakh region of the Himalayas offers serious adventurers the chance to track unique wildlife — including the endangered and highly evasive snow leopard — amid breathtaking scenery. 13 days from $6,495.

Sri Lanka

Opening this fall on the edge of Yala National Park, in southeastern Sri Lanka, Wild Coast Tented Lodge features 28 podlike tents set back from a deserted beach. The park has one of the world's highest leopard densities, as well as communities of elephants and sloth bears. from $470.

Siberia

Hard-core wildlife fans will love Natural World Safaris' trip to track Siberian tigers in Russia's far east. With only around 400 of the cats left, guests help collect data on population and other key indicators. seven days from $3,175.

Nepal

Though better known for towering peaks than big game, Nepal is home to a thriving population of Indian rhinos, as well as elephants and Bengal tigers. A stay at Taj Safaris' Meghauli Serai lodge, on the edge of Chitwan National Park, will get you up close to all of them. from $544.