Lower Zambezi

Opposite Mana Pools, the Zambezi slows and spreads into channels and wooded islands. Elephants wade between them at dusk. We return here more than anywhere else — by canoe, on foot, and to camps that keep their numbers small.

Why the Lower Zambezi

Lower Zambezi National Park runs along the northern bank of the Zambezi, below the Zambezi Escarpment. Together with Mana Pools on the Zimbabwean side, it forms one of the great wilderness river systems of Africa. What makes it special is variety: from a single camp you can canoe in the morning, take a boat out at sunset and go on a game drive or a walk in between.

Wildlife

The floodplain draws elephants, buffalo, waterbuck, impala and kudu down to the river, with lion, leopard and wild dog following. Hippos and crocodiles fill the channels, and the birdlife is outstanding — African skimmers, carmine bee-eaters in season, fish eagles everywhere. Elephants regularly swim between islands, sometimes right past the canoes.

What you can do

• Canoeing — the signature activity: gliding down quiet side channels with a guide. See canoe & river safaris.
• Walking — morning walks on the floodplain and into the escarpment foothills.
• Game drives — day and night drives; night drives are a good chance for leopard.
• Boat trips — sunset cruises on the main river.
• Fishing — catch-and-release fishing for tigerfish at many camps.

When to go

The season runs from about April or May to November, and most camps close during the rains, roughly December to March. May to July is cooler and greener. August to October is dry, hot and the peak for game viewing, as animals concentrate along the river. October can be very hot. See our month-by-month guide.

Getting there

The quickest way is a light-aircraft flight from Lusaka to one of the park’s airstrips — around 40 minutes. You can also drive from Lusaka towards Chirundu and continue by road and boat; allow most of a day. Many travelers combine the Lower Zambezi with South Luangwa and Victoria Falls in a 10 to 12-night trip.

Choosing a camp

Camps range from rustic bush camps to refined lodges. The questions that matter most:

• Does the camp offer canoeing, and from the camp itself or after a drive?
• Is it inside the park or in the Game Management Area outside it? Inside means fewer people and easier access to the best areas; some camps outside offer walking and fishing with more flexibility.
• How many guests, and how many guests per vehicle or canoe?
• Is it open when you want to travel?

We’re happy to talk it through — message us and we’ll tell you honestly which camps suit what you want.

Frequently asked questions