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Write a User ReviewOn the Bank of the Mighty Zambezi
Although easily visited on a day trip, an overnight stay is recommended. We treated ourselves to a night on Tsowa Safari Island, a small jungle island in the heart of the park, accessible by boat transfer only. It was a very welcome retreat from the hustle
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and bustle of Victoria Falls and the perfect base for game drives and boat trips away from the crowds.
A Park of Two Halves
As well as several upmarket accommodations within the river section of the park, National Parks accommodation has been upgraded and is very pleasant, although it’s situated near the entrance gate rather than deep in the park.
A Pleasant Surprise on the Periphery of Vic Falls
I had been told previously that most of the game in this park had been poached to the point of extinction, but my experience that day suggested otherwise. While eating breakfast looking down onto the waterhole, which lies little more than 100m outside the park boundary, I saw elephants, buffaloes, kudus and warthogs all drinking together while vultures circled overhead and a few marabou storks lurked around the fringes. Later in the afternoon I went on a game drive
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deeper into the bush, seeing a small pride of lions en route to the park’s picturesque riverine sections.Many visitors to the Vic Falls area head to Botswana’s Chobe National Park for a quick safari fix, but Zambezi is a cheaper and quieter alternative.
The Southern Side of Victoria Falls:
As for Zambezi National Park, while it doesn’t rank as highly as the likes of Hwange or Mana Pools when it comes to safaris, it is well worth visiting as an extension of a trip to Victoria Falls. It can easily be accessed as a day trip, either on a game drive or (arguably more enjoyable) a canoe excursion along the wild stretch of the Zambezi River that forms its northern boundary. Alternatively, visitors who want to get away from the crowds might
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actually prefer to base themselves at a lodge in Zambezi National Park and visit Victoria Falls as a day outing there.In terms of wildlife viewing, Zambezi National Park is a bit of a mixed bag. Four of the Big Five are present, the odd animal out being rhino, but sightings are far from guaranteed. The network of roads that follows the south bank of the Zambezi is a good place to see elephant, buffalo, hippo, crocodile and a host of interesting water and forest birds. A more remote road circuit runs through the southerly Chamabonda Vlei, which is serviced by a couple of stilted viewing platforms overlooking waterholes, and probably the best place to look for lion, sable antelope and eland.
On the Doorstep of Victoria Falls
Zambezi National Park (not to be confused with Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, several hundred kilometres away) lies along the Upper Zambezi, close to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, and is a boon to those who fly in with minimal time on their hands. It’s such a short hop from the hotels in and around Victoria Falls that you can breeze in and out for an afternoon of hippo-watching and croc-spotting.
Given that Victoria Falls is a very busy tourism zone, I think this park is better than one might expect: it’s possible to see four of the Big Five (rhinos are the only absentee), plus a good variety of antelope including sable, eland, waterbuck and kudu.
Vic Falls and the Mighty Zambezi
Zambezi National Park is slowly recovering from years of poaching, and wildlife numbers are improving. We saw plenty of elephants, hippos and crocs along with ever-present impalas and waterbucks, but it’s fair to say the wildlife viewing isn’t on a par with Hwange or Mana. In its favor, however, is the mighty Zambezi and I’d certainly recommend canoeing down the river and sunset boat trips. The river comes into its own in the early mornings, when the mist rises amid the reeds and makes for some beautiful photography. It’s close enough for a day trip from the spectacular Vic Falls or as a place to stay while visiting the falls if you didn’t want to stay in town. Some beautiful camps and lodges can be found in the park; these include Old Drift Lodge, Tsowa Safari Island and Batoka Zambezi Sands.
Above the Falls
Zambezi National Park adjoins the much greater attraction of Victoria Falls. I have enjoyed many nights in the inexpensive National Parks chalets, which are beautifully situated along the river upstream of the falls. Sable antelope still occur in decent numbers in the southern grasslands, and lion are also present. Otherwise this is a place to enjoy the wildlife of the riverbank, not only elephant, hippo and bushbuck, but also smaller mammals such as baboon and banded mongoose. There are also numerous riverine birds, including African finfoot, rock pratincole and African skimmer. Those who enjoy wilderness with few other visitors, and are not too worried about spotting game, will find this park to be an excellent retreat. This is especially so if they are already visiting the Zimbabwean side of Victoria Falls, which is, of course, an amazing sight and a major tourist attraction.
The Park Upriver
Located a few kilometres up the Zambezi River from the thunderous Victoria Falls, this small national park may be close to the action but, in my opinion, lacks the pizzazz of Zimbabwe’s other national parks. It hasn’t the abundance of wildlife of Hwange, it isn’t as wild or remote as Chizarira, and it’s not as jaw-droppingly beautiful as Mana Pools. That said, there is still plenty of game to be spied, with elephant, lion, buffalo and leopard as well as herds of sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala all found here. While half-day and full-day canoeing trips are also available, if you’re a nature enthusiast or adrenaline junkie, I’d recommend you opt for a longer canoeing safari at Mana Pools National Park or Lower Zambezi National Park on the Zambian side of the river.
Well Worth a Visit From Vic Falls
Although this park can be a bit hit-and-miss, I would still unreservedly encourage tourists to visit. Traditionally, most people have accessed the park on day-trip game drives from the neighboring town of Vic Falls, and this is still a good way to do it, despite a recent surge in accommodation options within the park. On good days here I’ve seen lions padding down the road, along with large herds of elephant, buffalo and general game. But, on the flipside, I’ve also seen little more than impala and waterbuck on my quietest days in the park! It’s worth noting that this park tends to be at its best in the late dry season months of August to October, when most of the animals are drawn to the life-giving waters of the Zambezi. The animals then disperse when the rains arrive in November and sightings tend to become fewer and further between.