Lower Zambezi National Park
The Lower Zambezi National Park, downstream from Lake Kariba, is the newest park in Zambia. At this point along the mighty Zambezi River, the river forms small thatched islands, which is the habitat of a variety of wildlife.
The beauty of this park lies in the absolute wilderness. Despite the fact that the variety and quantity of wildlife is not as large as in other parks, there are some spectacular opportunities to approach wildlife that walk in and out of Zambezi. The park is opposite to the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the river is a huge game reserve.
You can drive on your own through the park, but the park is still very underdeveloped and not suited to self-drive visitors. The existing lodges and canoeing organisations offer the best access to the park. They arrange all transfers from either Lusaka or Chirundu or Kariba in Zimbabwe.
Canoe safaris offer the visitor a unique opportunity to see wildlife. Once you are in a boat on water level, the animals seem to accept you and therefore, less likely to run away. Hippos and crocodiles are plentiful in the river there, so a quick dip in the river is not recommended. That is not so bad, because the lodges that are built along the banks certainly have a pool where you can cool off during the hot summer months.
The park consists of three different habitats, a lot of trees and plants hang over the river, while a little further inland a marsh is surrounded by mopane forests and winter thorn trees. The hills on the horizon of the park are covered with deciduous forests. The park covers a large area of over 4,092 km², but the game is found mainly at the bottom of the valley. The hills on the north side of the park serve as a natural barrier for most animals, so that they remain in the park.
Huge herds of elephants, some even up to 100, are often seen on the banks of the river. 'Island hopping' buffalo and waterbuck are not uncommon. The park is also home to lions and leopards and you should definitely listen to the cry of the osprey.
