Scattered with ebony and fig trees, the lush Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia is home to diverse African wildlife, birds and vegetation. Located within the Zambezi River Valley – between the Zambezi escarpment and the Zambezi River – this unique ecosystem spans 4,092km2 and contains forests, mountains and savannas. As the river wends its way inland, it gives way to floodplains that are thick with mopane, winter-thorn and acacia trees.
Adjacent to Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools Reserve, this section of the Zambezi River is known for its relatively calm waters, making it is ideal for boating, canoeing and river cruises. A highly-prized playground for fishermen, it’s recognised for its remarkable tiger fishing. Buffalo, zebra, elephant, hippo and waterbuck, as well as many other antelope species can be found on the banks of the Zambezi River and wandering the bushveld.
Bird life is abundant, and twitchers will be enchanted by vibrant carmine bee-eaters who burrow nests on the riverbank. Twittering birds and the iconic call of Fish Eagle are often the only sounds that will break the silence of this African wilderness. Home of the Big Four (rhinos have unfortunately been poached to extinction), lion, hyenas, and wild dogs are the primary predators within the park. The large trees of the reserve make it an ideal habitat for leopards who like to hide between the leaves and boughs.
Untamed and unspoilt, Lower Zambezi National Park is a protected area that is committed to the conservation of Africa’s fauna and flora. The dry season – from May to October – is the best time to visit the Lower Zambezi, as this is when the animals congregate around water sources, making them easy to spot.
