Lower Zambezi Park, Zambia

• View slideshow (8 photos)

The Lower Zambezi National Park, as its name suggests, lies on the banks of the magnificent Zambezi river, a few hundred kilometres downstream from Victoria Falls. (Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park lies on the southern bank of the Zambezi river). The Lower Zambezi is a rich and mesmerizing water sanctuary for wildlife - great herds of elephant, buffalo and impala, and small groups of warthog, zebra and baboon are drawn to the river and this in turn attracts lion, leopard and spotted hyena. Other commonly seen animals are wild dog, serval and african wild cat.

The Lower Zambezi National Park is an exceptional beautiful park in Zambia. The floodplain grasslands have stands of tall leadwood, ebony and fig trees and relatively sparse bush which allows you to spot game easily. It also means that this is a great area for walking safaris. Behind the grasslands rises a dramatic wooded escarpment which is both a picturesque backdrop for your photographs and, more pertinently, a natural boundary for wildlife. All in all this means that game-viewing in the Lower Zambezi National Park is very good indeed especially in the dry season (June to October) when the animals are largely concentrated along the valley floor, by the river banks and on the islands in the Zambezi river itself.

One of the most attractive aspects about safaris in the Lower Zambezi is that game-viewing activities are very varied. Safaris takes place on foot, in open 4x4 vehicles, by boat and, most characteristically, by canoe, enabling you to glide silently among animals quenching their thirst at the Zambezi river. Excellent tiger fishing is also available on a catch and release basis.

There are only a few safari camps in the Lower Zambezi National Park so we recommend booking early. The safari lodges and camps vary in terms of romance, luxury and location. Each has its special charms. The more exclusive, and expensive, are located inside the Lower Zambezi National Park whereas the others are in the Game Management Area adjacent to the park. This means that a part of your game drive is spent getting into the National Park. Some of the secluded camps are perfect for honeymoon safaris.

Access to the Lower Zambezi National Park is via charter flight from Lusaka, Mfuwe or Livingstone. You land at the airstrip and are then transferred by 4x4 game vehicle to your safari lodge. Sometimes part of this transfer is by boat which is a wonderful introduction to the Zambezi river.

When to visit
As with most other Zambia safari destinations, the Lower Zambezi becomes completely water-logged in the extremely wet summer months of late November to March when the game lodges close. They open up again in April and offer early season specials until late May, but not all activities will be available depending on the rain. The main season stretches from June to end October depending on the safari lodge.

The ideal time for safaris to the Lower Zambezi is between late July and early September. As you continue into late September and October the temperatures rise. Late October is known as suicide month and so you would need to be happy in the heat!

• Browse holidays in Lower Zambezi Park
• Browse accommodation in Lower Zambezi Park