The Lower Zambezi National Park

The Lower Zambezi National Park is Zambia's youngest park, officially gazetted a National Park in 1983. 

The four thousand (4092) square kilometres extent of the LZNP is bordered by the Chiawa Game Management Area (GMA) in the West, Rufunsa GMA in the East, the Zambezi River in the South, marking the international border with Zimbabwe, and the Great East Rd. in the North.  Situated on the banks of the Zambezi River in the southeastern part of Zambia, opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site, the Lower Zambezi National Park occupies 120kms of river frontage.

The Zambezi Escarpment along the northern boundary towers above the Zambezi Valley, which also forms part of the Southern limit of the Great East African Rift Valley.  The river frontage, the valley floor and the Escarpment, combined with the plateau gives The Lower Zambezi National Park magnificent picturesque scenery, providing a memorable experience for any visitor.  However it is the Zambezi Valley and the river that captures all of the game.  The escarpment along the northern end which acts as a physical barrier to most of the parks animal species. Enormous herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the rivers edge. ‘Island hopping’ buffalo and waterbuck are common. The park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard, prolific hippo and over 300 bird species.

Walking and canoeing safaris are specialities of the area. The park receives few visitors today, yet it won't be long before the great potential is realised. The Park is still relatively undeveloped, but it’s beauty lies in it’s absolute wilderness state.

The diversity of animals is not as wide as the other big parks, but the opportunities to get close to game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels are spectacular.

The rivers edge is overhung with a thick riverine fringe, mostly diasporus, ficus and other riverine species. Further inland is a floddplain fringed with mopane forest and interspersed with winterthorn trees Acacia albida. The hills which form the backdrop to the park are covered in broadleaf woodland.

Zambia's Safari Season

April to November are the best game viewing months. The season begins at the end of the rainy season. The vegetation is still lush at this time however with the advent of the drier months the bush begins to dry and thin and the game begins to gather.

Early Season - April to May

Visiting the Lower Zambezi after the rains is stunning as the skies are clear and the mountains seem so near. The migratory birds remain in plumage and are preparing to move on. The dense vegetation forces the lions to use the roads and the wild dog are readily seen in the open plains.

Mid Season - June to August

The season has kicked into gear, the vegetation is thinning out, the elephant and buffalo herds start to gather. This is the coldest time of the year and it is essential to bring warm clothing including jackets and long pants for night drives and early morning activities. The days are a perfect temperature. The Sausage Tree (Africana Kigelia) starts to flower, as does the flame creeper/burning bush (Chifungulu) which transforms the green vegetation to a bright red.  African Wild Dog den in this period for mating, so sightings at this time are extremely rare.

Late Season - September to November

Things are really starting to heat up both in terms of weather and game viewing and fishing. Most waterholes have dried up by now, so game is more often seen on the river banks and islands. Bird watching is also spectacular with summer migrating birds returning - the carmine bee eaters really put on a show along the riverbanks. October is the hottest month and the bushveld is in need of the thirst quenching rains that are due. When the first rains come the impala give birth, as do the warthogs and many other species.  Also the ideal time to view the elusive African Wild Dog.