​Overview – Zambezi NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

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

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

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

The small, but very scenic, Zambezi National Park is a great destination for a day trip from Victoria Falls. For a real bush experience you can stay in one of the lodges overlooking the Zambezi River inside the park. Elephant and buffalo are regularly seen, as well as giraffe and zebra. There is a good variety of antelope including waterbuck, impala and sable.

 
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Best Time to Go June to October (Dry season)
High Season June to October (The park gets busy at weekends)
Size 560km² / 216mi²
Altitude 891-1,056m / 2,923-3,465ft
+3 Photos

Pros & Cons

  • Beautiful scenery along the Zambezi River
  • Picnic spots available
  • Great half-day or day trip from Victoria Falls
  • Excellent birding destination
  • Only three of the Big Five are regularly seen
  • Limited road network
  • Travel by 4WD essential

Zambezi NP Safari Reviews

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Wildlife

Four of the Big Five are present, but only elephant and buffalo are likely to be seen. Rhino is absent. Leopard is rarely spotted, while sightings of lion are becoming more common. African wild dog also occur in the park, and the best chance to spot them is during the denning season, from May to August. The river teems with crocodile and hippo.

Scenery

The park has the very scenic Zambezi River as its northern border. The Zambezi River Game Drive runs the length of the park, along the river for about 50km. The vegetation is mainly mopane woodland and riverine forest with some amazing trees, including apple-ring, fig and ebony.

Weather & Climate

The Dry season (April to October) is characterized by temperatures that bounce from morning cold to afternoon warmth and back again. The Wet season (November to March) has a predictable daily pattern of afternoon showers, though mornings are usually clear.

Best Time to Visit

The broad Zambezi River draws many thirsty animals in the Dry season (April to October). This is also when Victoria Falls is at its most thunderous, thanks to the Zambezi’s peak water flows. The Wet season months see less visitors and low-season rates might be available.

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Zambezi NP Safari Reviews

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  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding
Most Helpful Expert Review
Expert
Ariadne van Zandbergen  –  
South Africa ZA

Ariadne is a renowned African wildlife photographer whose work is featured in many well-known guidebooks and magazines.

Zambezi National Park, on the bank of the mighty Zambezi
2/5

Zambezi National Park is just a stone’s throw away from Victoria Falls and makes for a nice day outing if you have time to spare. The road in the park follows the Zambezi River and there are regular viewpoints from which you can see...

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Latest User Review
www.wlasnadroga.pl  –  
Poland PL
Reviewed: Aug 26, 2015
3/5

We had boat trip on Zambezi. Nice sunset and see some crocodiles and elephants.

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