Lower Zambezi National Park
Of Zambia’s 19 National Parks, the Lower Zambezi is the newest, and already boasts a good number of privately run Lodges in the Park, and in the neighbouring Game Management Areas, most notably the Chiawa Area. The Park itself is some 4 092 kilometres square, making it the fourth largest in the country. With the boundaries including the Zambezi River – including its floodplain - and part of the Zambezi Escarpment (rising to some 1 200 metres above sea level), the park is diverse in terms of vegetation, and topography.
The River’s edge is home to diospyros and ficus species, and inland there are Mopane forests and Winterthorn trees. The Parks border with the Zambezi River lies opposite Zimbabwe’s well known Mana Pools National Park making an extensive (and beautiful) protected area.
Wildlife is abundant, and game viewing is excellent - whether on a game drive, or from a canoe – even if not all species are represented (notably the giraffe, and rhino). Game generally congregates on the valley floor, and along the River and its tributaries. Visitors frequently see herds of upwards of 100 elephant, with buffalo and waterbuck being common sightings. There is also a good population of lion and leopard in the park. In the river there are hippo and crocodiles, and the Park is also home to an excellent diversity of birds.
The River’s edge is home to diospyros and ficus species, and inland there are Mopane forests and Winterthorn trees. The Parks border with the Zambezi River lies opposite Zimbabwe’s well known Mana Pools National Park making an extensive (and beautiful) protected area.
Wildlife is abundant, and game viewing is excellent - whether on a game drive, or from a canoe – even if not all species are represented (notably the giraffe, and rhino). Game generally congregates on the valley floor, and along the River and its tributaries. Visitors frequently see herds of upwards of 100 elephant, with buffalo and waterbuck being common sightings. There is also a good population of lion and leopard in the park. In the river there are hippo and crocodiles, and the Park is also home to an excellent diversity of birds.
