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Lower Zambezi Safari - Compare 41 Tours

4.5/5  –  32 Lower Zambezi Safari Reviews

Lower Zambezi National Park is one of Africa’s most adventurous safari destinations. While most national parks focus solely on game drives, a Lower Zambezi safari also offers the opportunity to canoe on one of Africa’s wildest rivers and to explore the adjacent bush on guided walking safaris. Wildlife viewing is excellent, with leopard, elephant and African wild dog being particularly noteworthy residents, and the birdlife is pretty eye-catching too. But the most memorable feature of Lower Zambezi is undoubtedly the river for which it is named: a mesmerizing tropical waterway where crocodiles grimace on exposed sandbars, elephants swim across to forested islands, and hippos wallow in the shallows of a maze of channels.

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6 Questions About Lower Zambezi NP Tours

1. What wildlife can I see in Lower Zambezi NP?
2. Are canoe safaris a recommended way to see Lower Zambezi NP?
3. How many days should I spend on a Lower Zambezi safari?
4. How close is Lower Zambezi NP to Victoria Falls?
5. What is the best way to get to Lower Zambezi NP?
6. What is the best time of year to visit Lower Zambezi NP?
 
 

6 Questions About Lower Zambezi NP Tours

Answered by Philip Briggs

What wildlife can I see in Lower Zambezi NP?

“Four of the Big Five (lion, leopard, elephant, buffalo and rhino) are present, the exception being rhino, and you would be unlucky not to see all four over the course of a Lower Zambezi safari of average duration. Elephants are often seen swimming and drinking in the river, or rising on their hind legs and stretching their trunks to full length to pluck nutritious pods from winterthorn trees. Buffalo herds also like to stay close to the river, and while lions are the most common big cats by day, leopards are seen on most night drives. Outside of the Big Five, Lower Zambezi is regarded as one of the most reliable places for sightings of the Endangered African wild dog, particularly over July to October, toward the end of the Dry season. Other common large mammals include plains zebra, warthog, impala, greater kudu and waterbuck. The stretch of the Zambezi bordering the park is also a focus for birds associated with open water and riverside forest. Some 350 bird species have been recorded and localized specialties include African skimmer, palm-nut vulture, rufous-bellied heron, Lilian’s lovebird and Livingstone’s flycatcher.”

1

Are canoe safaris a recommended way to see Lower Zambezi NP?

“Absolutely. We think it would be a great shame to visit Lower Zambezi and not do a canoe safari, because it offers such a different perspective on the park’s wildlife. You often get very close to hippos, elephants, buffalo and other large mammals on canoe safaris, with nothing but water to separate you. This is very exciting, and safe enough in the company of an experienced guide, but nervous travelers and first-time visitors to Africa might find it slightly unsettling. There are two broad options when it comes to canoe safaris. Most safari camps based in and around the park offer short morning and afternoon outings, which provide a great taste of this iconic experience. For the more committed, it is also possible to arrange multiday canoe safaris that follow the Zambezi River downstream, stopping at a different camp every night.”

2

How many days should I spend on a Lower Zambezi safari?

“We would recommend a minimum package of 3 nights in order to get a good feel for the wildlife and activities available in Lower Zambezi. In fact, there is so much to do and see in this park that you could easily spend longer on holiday here, especially if you want to do a multiday canoe trip. Daytime game drives are best for general wildlife viewing, including elephants, lion and African wild dog, but it is worth doing at least 1 night drive to look for leopards and smaller carnivores such as genet, serval and civet. It’s also well worth doing a guided walking safari to concentrate on birds and smaller wildlife. As already noted, canoe safaris are highly recommended for close-up views of aquatic wildlife and birds, but if you are nervous about this, most camps also offer motorboat cruises, which provide a similar experience but don’t feel quite so exposed.”

3

How close is Lower Zambezi NP to Victoria Falls?

“Not as close as people often assume. True, Lower Zambezi National Park lies on the same river as Victoria Falls, but it’s several hundred kilometers downstream via Lake Kariba (the world’s largest artificially dammed lake). The most direct road route from Victoria Falls to Lower Zambezi, following the T1 to Kafue town then the T2 to Chirundu, is almost 600km/372mi long and takes at least nine hours to drive. As a result, most international tourists traveling to Lower Zambezi NP from Victoria Falls fly via Lusaka.”

4

What is the best way to get to Lower Zambezi NP?

“Lower Zambezi NP can easily be reached by road or by air. By road, it is the closest major safari destination to the Zambian capital Lusaka, a 190km/118mi drive via Chirundu that usually takes 3½ to five hours in either direction, depending on which camp you’re staying at. Scheduled flights run between Lusaka’s Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) and Jeki Airstrip (JEK) in Lower Zambezi National Park. These connect with flights to most other popular safari destinations in Zambia, including Livingstone’s Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI), which is only 16km/10mi from Victoria Falls, and Mfuwe Airport (MFU) near South Luangwa National Park.”

5

What is the best time of year to visit Lower Zambezi NP?

“As is the case with most safari destinations in southern Africa, the best time for a tour to Lower Zambezi is in the Dry season (May to October, which includes the southern hemisphere winter months). Temperatures are generally most pleasant at this time of year, and there is less risk of activities being spoiled, or roads being damaged, as a result of tropical storms. The risk of catching malaria is also greatly reduced in the Dry season, and wildlife tends to be prolific close to the river, due to the lack of alternative water sources. Within the Dry season, wildlife viewing generally peaks from July to October, but October can be extremely hot.”

6

Lower Zambezi Safari Reviews

4.5/5 32 Reviews
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.

Canoeing the mighty Zambezi
5/5

Zambia is known for its adventurous approach to safaris, and no reserve epitomises this so clearly as Lower Zambezi, which is best explored by canoe, following the wide main river or one of the narrower and more dangerous channels that...

Full Review

Expert
Emma Gregg  –  
United Kingdom UK

Emma is an award-winning travel writer for Rough Guides, National Geographic Traveller, Travel Africa magazine and The Independent.

Alluring bush lodges, memorable birdwatching
5/5

The birdwatching was superb on my visit to the Lower Zambezi National Park. Kingfishers shone on nearby reeds as we meandered along freshwater channels by canoe, and nonchalant-looking saddle-billed storks picked their way through the...

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Nhsfatcat  –  
United Kingdom UK
Reviewed: Aug 4, 2019
The world I live in got turned off and I experienced the world.
5/5

My family and I stayed with Tusk and Mane Safaris. The Lower Zambezi National Park, with the company, offered no Wi-fi, no internet, no phone signal and solar power only. It re-booted our world. 530am wake up. We were busy dawn ‘til...

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Wild Edu  –  
Spain ES
Reviewed: Dec 28, 2018
A pleasant and extremely positive surprise!
5/5

Lower Zambezi was a really pleasant experience! The only negative thing is that arriving there is quite complicate, but when you arribe, I have to admit that is worthwhile. Maybe the variety of wildlife is not that great (you mainly see...

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Wichjon  –  
United States US
Reviewed: May 27, 2015
5/5

The Lower Zambezi National Park adds the Zambezi River as another element to safaris. One day was spent floating down a side channel of the river in canoes, bringing a new perspective to seeing hippos in the water and crocodiles on the...

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Elizabeth B Reviewed: Sep 7, 2013
THE most beautiful place in Africa.
5/5

Since visiting this park all future parks visited are compared to this absolutely magnificent place.Stunning scenery that leaves you humbled and misty eyed.Great accommodation options,fantastic guides,easy access from Lusaka,and such a...

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All 32 Lower Zambezi Safari Reviews