In Zambia, droughts and floods have increased both in frequency and intensity. The main objective of this study was to assess smallholder farmers adaptation to climate extremes and the determinants in Southern Zambia. A total of 270 smallholder farmers were sampled using Cochran’s single proportion method and primary data was collected using structured questionnaires. The study results showed that the majority of the farmers (43 %), adopted change crop variety as an adaptation strategy. Other adaptation strategies adopted were, soil conservation, crop diversification, change sow/harvest date and agricultural insurance. Further, the results showed that gender, age, farming experience, plough ownership, oxen ownership, radio ownership, education, distance and extension source, were statistically significant and positively correlated with the various adaptation strategies. These results imply that a 1% increase in age, farming experience, education and distance would increase the probability of a farmer to adapt an adaptation strategy, ceteris paribus. Equally, farm households who own a plough, an oxen and a radio had an increased probability in taking up adaptation strategies. The study recommends that policy formulation should consider asset formation, increase farmers education and awareness on climate extreme, and acknowledge indigenous knowledge in planning and implementation of adaptation strategies

Keywords: Smallholder farmers, Adaptation, Climate extreme, Zambia