Zambia's varied birdlife includes ostriches, hornbills, woodhoopoes and starlings. Most of Zambia is moist savanna woodland, where broadleaf deciduous trees grow far enough apart to allow grasses and other plants to grow on the woodland floor. In the wetter north you'll see sprawling branches of stout baobab trees, some thousands of years old. Bushveld covers much of the drier south-west. Along with much of Southern Africa, Zambia's altitude creates a temperate climate.
Rainfall is higher in the north of the country than in the south.
If you want cooler weather and greener landscapes, visit during the cool, dry months of May to August. Don't bother going during the November to April rainy season - many rural roads become impassable rivers of mud and most of the national parks are closed. That said, November to December is the best time for birdwatching, but there's pretty good birding year round. Most visitors need visas, which are good for three months, plus an International Health Certificate showing proof of a yellow fever vaccination within the past 10 years. Cash advances can be had in Lusaka, but don't expect to get cash for plastic in other towns.