​Overview – Mosi-oa-Tunya NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip has travelled through Zambia several times and is the author of more than 20 guidebooks to various African destinations.

Philip is the Zambia expert for SafariBookings and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Philip is our Zambia expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park has two parts: the Victoria Falls World Heritage National Monument Site and Mosi-oa-Tunya Game Park. The falls are deservedly one of Africa’s top attractions. The game park is a small wildlife sanctuary and might be worth a visit if you have a few hours to spare.

 
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Best Time to Go May to September (Best time to see the waterfall)
High Season July to October (Busy and high-season rates apply)
Size 66km² / 25mi²
Altitude 710-994m / 2,329-3,261ft
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Pros & Cons

  • Victoria Falls in one of Africa’s top attractions
  • Small game park with lots of animals 15 minutes from Livingstone
  • Game park with lots of animals in small area
  • Self-drive or guided drives available
  • Guided walking safari to see rhino on foot
  • Not a real park, but a wildlife sanctuary
  • Lacks wilderness appeal

Mosi-oa-Tunya NP Safari Reviews

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  • Scenery
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  • Wildlife
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Wildlife

The tiny park offers a good introduction to Zambia's wildlife. There are elephant, buffalo, giraffe and zebra, as well as many of the common antelope species. Some white rhino have been re-introduced and started breeding successfully. Guided walks to see them are available. There are no large predators.

Scenery

The park is situated along the bank of the upper Zambezi – one of Africa's most impressive rivers. It includes the Victoria Falls and stretches to 12km upstream above the falls. The scenic highlight is obviously the waterfall itself. The drive along the river offers stunning views of this mighty waterway, especially in the early morning, when a thick carpet of mist hangs above the water.

Weather & Climate

Temperatures in Mosi-oa-Tunya plunge in the middle of the Dry season (May to October). Wrap yourself in your warmest clothing on early-morning game drives. The mercury goes the other way in October, when the heat rockets up with the expectation of the Wet season’s (November to April) first rains. Outside these times, the drier months are consistently warm, while the wetter months are consistently hot.

Best Time to Visit

Mosi-oa-Tunya’s diminutive size makes it less vulnerable to changes in the climate, which means you can see wildlife here at any time of year. That said, conditions are far more comfortable in the drier months (May to October), and it’s easier to see animals as the vegetation has receded. This is also when the flow of the Zambezi River is at its greatest, making Victoria Falls that much more spectacular.

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Mosi-oa-Tunya NP Safari Reviews

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  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Philip Briggs  –  
South Africa ZA

Philip is an acclaimed travel writer and author of many guidebooks, including the Bradt guides to Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya and South Africa.

The Smoke That Thunders
4/5

Named after the local name for Victoria Falls – Mosi-oa-Tunya, meaning ‘the Smoke That Thunders’ – this small park is a fixture on almost all safari itineraries through Zambia since it protects the Zambian half of the waterfall that...

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Latest User Review
Tob Photo  –  
Mozambique MZ
Reviewed: May 26, 2015
5/5

Victoria Falls is simply stunning. Has to be seen. Absolutely one of the seven natural wonders of the world.

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