There is a large number of mammal species including elephant, hippo, buffalo, kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, duiker, klipspringer, lion, leopard, hyenas, African wild dog.
LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK
The Lower Zambezi National Park is situated in the South Eastern part of Zambia on the banks of the Zambezi River, approximately 150 kilometres down stream from Kariba Dam and opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park. Much of the game crosses the river; they don’t need passports (!) and so the whole region is more like one massive wildlife sanctuary.
The Park was established in 1983 and covers an area of 4,100 square kilometres, with 120 kilometres of river frontage. Approximately 25% of the park lies in the valley between the Central African Plateau and the Zambezi River, the escarpment adds to the overall beauty of the region and ensures stunning sunsets.
The legendary Zambezi River, the namesake of this pristine wilderness is 2700km long, it first fertilises the Barotse floodplains, before plunging over Victoria Falls, shooting through narrow gorges to replenish the massive man made Lake Kariba before reaching the Lower Zambezi where it slows its pace. Here, a myriad of islands & gentle back water channels have formed, creating a home and feeding ground for an incredible amount of wildlife.
There is a large number of mammal species including elephant, hippo, buffalo, kudu, zebra, impala, bushbuck, duiker, klipspringer, lion, leopard, hyenas, African wild dog, serval, civet, genet, aardvark, chac-ma baboon and vervet monkeys, just to name a few. With the Zambezi River as one of the parks natural boundaries, the area also attracts an abundance of bird life estimated to include almost 400 species.
For the adventurous traveller, a canoe safari along the Zambezi shoreline is a great way to get close to nature. Paddling down stream towards Mozambique, passing great herds of game without feeling like an intruder, your guide explains how to dodge territorial hippos and how to deal with the elephants that visit your camp by night. A comfortable option is staying in one of the beautiful permanent tented camps along the River and spending your days canoeing, taking guided walks and game drives.
The best time to visit the park for wildlife viewing is the dry season (June to early October) when large numbers of elephant, buffalo, waterbuck and impala come to the river to drink and graze along its banks. During the rainy season (end October to March) much of the game moves away from the river.
