Lower Zambezi National Park, in the south central part of Zambia, lies on the banks of the Zambezi River some way down stream from Kariba Dam and well below the Victoria Falls
Lower Zambezi National Park, in the south central part of Zambia, lies on the banks of the Zambezi River some way down stream from Kariba Dam and well below the Victoria Falls. The river is more than a mile wide at places and the current is generally languid as the river makes its way gradually towards Mozambique.
The park lies between the dramatic escarpment to the north and Zimbabwe's Mana Pools to the south. Lower Zambezi is home to a bewildering quantity and variety of animals and offers a wide range of activities.
It is without doubt one of the best places to see animals from the water and taking to the water by canoe can be one of the most rewarding ways of game viewing especially after time spent in a vehicle. In the same vein, the Zambezi is one of the top spots for Tiger fishing, relative to their size thought to be one of the strongest fighting fish in the world, and this area attracts some hardened enthusiasts as well as happy amateurs.
Game driving is also good although the animals are still sometimes shy in places. In terms of gameviewing generally, large herds of buffalo tend to congregate close to the river as the dry season bites and attract plenty of predators particularly lion and hyena. Its a great area for Leopard and Wild dog are around and seen more and more nowadays. Interestingly there's no sign of giraffe in this area (apparently never have been) and no cheetah.
Mana Pools on the southern side of the river in Zimbabwe has always been known as an excellent walking area and the same applies to Lower Zambezi. Elephant are a feature here and the riverine forest, which is ideal habitat for them with its mix of huge figs, ebony and acacia trees, is literally teaming with herds. They are often seen coming to the river and tributaries to drink and wallow, but you are most likely to have the closest sightings in your camp. The camps are often located under the same shady fruit trees that the elephant love, so be prepared to take extra care when walking to and from your tent.
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