BBC ‘Kingdom’ Documentary Puts Zambia’s South Luangwa on World Tourism Map

18

Zambian government is doubling down on its ambition to make the country Africa’s premier nature-based tourism destination, and a landmark BBC documentary is giving that ambition serious momentum. 

At a screening hosted by the British High Commission on the 24th of March, Minister of Tourism Rodney Sikumba declared that Kingdom, the new wildlife series narrated by Sir David Attenborough and produced by BBC Studios Natural History Unit, marks a defining moment in the country’s push for global recognition.

“This documentary does not just showcase Zambia; it introduces us to the world,” Sikumba said. A kingdom is no routine wildlife production. The BBC Natural History Unit spent five years filming exclusively in South Luangwa National Park, the longest the unit has committed to a single location for any one series. 

The cameras tracked lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas across one of the world’s most storied wildlife sanctuaries, capturing not just spectacular footage but also the raw rhythms of a living, breathing ecosystem. The result is a film that places Zambia, unmistakably, at the centre of international conservation storytelling.

RELATED NEWS

• Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia Shine as MICE 2026 Hotspot

• Ghana, Zambia Ink Visa-Free Deal to Ignite Intra-African Tourism

• Proflight Zambia Secures Prestigious IOSA Certification in Big Win for African Travel

More Than a Documentary: A Tourism Accelerant

Sikumba made clear that the government sees the series as far more than great television. Global exposure of this scale strengthens Zambia’s tourism profile, draws high-value visitors and sharpens the country’s edge in an increasingly competitive ecotourism market. That competitive advantage matters because the government has staked significant political capital on the sector.

Under President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration, tourism anchors the country’s broader economic transformation agenda. The Eighth National Development Plan identifies the sector as a primary engine of economic diversification, job creation and foreign exchange earnings. To accelerate growth, the government has rolled out visa liberalisation, expanded air connectivity and ramped up targeted international marketing, all aimed at making Zambia easier and more appealing to reach. Kingdom didn’t land in isolation; it landed in the middle of a coordinated national push to put Zambia on every serious traveller’s shortlist.

One detail from the screening deserves attention: more than 90 Zambians worked on the production. Rangers, conservationists, field guides and technical crew, citizens who live with this landscape and protect it every day, contributed directly to a film now bound for audiences in every corner of the world. Sikumba pointed to this as proof that the tourism sector’s growth can translate into real opportunities for local communities, not just foreign producers and international visitors.

The minister expressed direct appreciation to BBC Studios and its production team for choosing Zambia, a choice that, in his words, represents a long-term investment in the country and its people. ‘Kingdom’, he argued, is not just a record of Zambia’s wildlife. It is a celebration of the country’s people and their commitment to conservation.

British High Commissioner Rebecca Terzeon, also speaking at the event, echoed that framing. She credited the documentary as a powerful testament to the strength of the UK-Zambia partnership, specifically in conservation and sustainable development. The United Kingdom, she confirmed, remains committed to backing initiatives that advance both. The screening itself underscored the depth of bilateral relations between the two countries, relations that span community-led conservation, anti-poaching efforts and sustainable tourism development.

Conservation Is the Backbone

Strip away the television production, and what Kingdom ultimately documents is a conservation story. Zambia’s government recognises this, and Sikumba used the occasion to restate a central principle of the national tourism strategy: conservation is not a side agenda. It is the backbone.

Rangers patrol these landscapes at personal risk. Scientists study them to understand ecological change. Local communities manage them sustainably, often foregoing short-term economic gain to protect long-term natural heritage. Without that infrastructure of human commitment, there is no wildlife tourism, no BBC production deal and no global moment to celebrate. The government’s message to all those actors, park rangers, researchers, and community leaders was clear and direct: your work is seen, and it matters.

Sikumba closed by calling on stakeholders across the board – private-sector operators, conservation partners and the media – to keep the momentum going. The cameras may have stopped rolling in South Luangwa, but the work of protecting and promoting what they captured has not.

“Kingdom is more than a documentary. It is a celebration of Zambia’s wildlife, its people, and their commitment to conservation.” Minister Rodney Sikumba said.

Want more stories on Africa’s emerging tourism and conservation frontier? Explore our latest reports and features. We publish new stories every day.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the BBC’s Kingdom documentary about?

Kingdom is a BBC Studios Natural History Unit wildlife series narrated by Sir David Attenborough. Filmed over five years in South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, the series documents the lives of lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas in one of Africa’s most celebrated wildlife sanctuaries. It is the longest single-location shoot the BBC Natural History Unit has committed to for any one series.

2. How does Kingdom benefit Zambia’s tourism sector?

The documentary delivers international visibility on a scale that money cannot easily buy. By placing Zambia’s landscapes and wildlife in front of global BBC audiences, it strengthens the country’s tourism brand, attracts high-value eco-tourists and positions Zambia as a serious competitor in the global nature-based tourism market.

3. What is Zambia’s broader tourism development strategy?

Under President Hichilema’s administration, tourism sits at the heart of the Eighth National Development Plan (8NDP) as a driver of economic diversification and foreign exchange earnings. The government has introduced visa liberalisation, improved air connectivity and launched targeted international marketing campaigns to grow visitor numbers and tourism revenue.

4. Were Zambians involved in making the documentary?

Yes. More than 90 Zambian nationals worked on the production, including rangers, conservationists, guides and technical crew. The government cited this level of local participation as evidence of the sector’s potential to create skilled employment and support inclusive growth in communities near protected areas.

5. What role does conservation play in Zambia’s tourism strategy?

Conservation is central, not peripheral, to Zambia’s tourism model. The government explicitly recognises the contributions of rangers, scientists and local communities in maintaining the natural assets that make wildlife tourism viable. Without sustained conservation investment, the ecosystems that attract visitors — and productions like Kingdom — would not survive.