Lower Zambezi National Park

Pros & Cons

• Excellent wildlife viewing with four of the Big Five present
• Excellent guiding
• Great night drives, walking and boat safaris
• Short canoe excursions, as well as canoe trips for several days
• Only expensive, all-inclusive lodging inside the park
• All budget accommodation is outside the park

Wildlife

Buffalo and elephant are abundant and spend time on the small islands and sandbanks in the river. The park is home to some impressive tuskers and big herds regularly cross the river. Lion and leopard are easily spotted and you might come across wild dog as well. For those paddling, most memorable are the thousands of hippo that inhabit the river channels and the enormous crocs lying on the banks.

• More about Lower Zambezi's wildlife

Scenery

The park’s main feature is one of Africa’s most famous rivers – the Zambezi. The northern boundary of the park is the Muchinga escarpment, which forms an impressive backdrop to the river in the valley. Sandy flats, mopane woodland and acacia shrubs fringe the waterways. Leadwoods, figs and ebonies are just some of the beautiful trees that dot the landscape.

Weather & Climate

Lower Zambezi has a clear-cut Wet season (November to April) when the temperatures are generally hot, and afternoon showers sweep in to temporarily take the edge off the heat. The park’s Dry season (May to October) is a milder period when vegetation starts thinning. It gets colder as you climb up from the valley, though the park’s uppermost reaches aren’t accessible to visitors.

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Best Time to Visit

Most visitors to Lower Zambezi arrive between July – midway through the Dry season (May to October) – and the end of the Dry season. This is when wildlife watching is at its best in the park. During the Wet season (November to April), the heat and humidity can be truly oppressive.

• More about the best time to visit

Want to Visit Lower Zambezi NP?

• Lower Zambezi safaris and tours
• Tour operators for Lower Zambezi