Lower Zambezi National Park

Elephants Coming Through The Forest - Lower Zambezi National Park paulcampbell (Atlas Obscura User)

Even by the standards of Southern Africa, the Lower Zambezi National Park is exceptionally beautiful. Prior to 1983 the area was the private game reserve of Zambia’s president, and this means that the area is still relatively untouched by tourism and is one of the few pristine wilderness ares left in Southern Africa. The permanently flowing Zambezi river is kept at fairly consistent levels as a result of the Kariba Dam, and this means that even in the dry season the river is in full flow and attracts huge herds of elephants and other animals to its banks.

The banks of the river are lined with huge trees, and the winter thorn forests towards the eastern part of the park are especially eerie and beautiful. Most of Africa’s most iconic wildlife can be found in the forests and open areas that border the river, with elephant sightings particularly spectacular due to the unusually large number of herds in the area.

Because the Zambezi River is a magnet for the wildlife, all the camps here offer a host of water-based safari activities in addition to the morning and afternoon game drives in open safari vehicles, or guided bush walks.

The most popular water based activity is definitely the scenic boat cruise, which gives you the opportunity to see huge pods of hippo and many herds of elephants on the river banks.

As well as river cruises in search of herds of elephants on the banks of the Zambezi, adventurous guests also have the opportunity to go on a guided canoe trip with a qualified guide down some of the tributaries and side channels. Fishing is also a popular activity, although you should be aware that all fishing is done on a catch-and-release basis in accordance with National Park rules.

Know Before You Go

The Lower Zambezi National Park is located southeast of the Zambian Capital, Lusaka, on the northern bank of the Zambezi River with Zimbabwe's Mana Pools reserve on the opposite bank. The safari season here is limited to the drier months between April and November, when the roads are accessible - this is also when the animals are more reliant on the river and therefore easier to find as there is less standing water in the park. The park is a 45 minute flight by light aircraft from Lusaka, and there are two flights a day to both the Jeki and Royal airstrips in the park. In addition there is also one flight a day to each of the airstrips from Mfuwe Airport, which is the main point of entry for the South Luangwa National Park. You will need to check with your lodge or tour operator to see which airstrip you should use depending on where you are staying. If you stay at more than one lodge in the reserve, you should see if they can transfer you between properties by boat, as this is an amazing way to travel down one of Africa's most iconic rivers.