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Lower Zambezi National Park travel info The Lower Zambezi National Park must rate as one of the top reserves in Africa. Walks, day and night drives and boat cruises are all different ways to enjoy the abundance and diversity of game along the spectacular Zambezi River. With a river frontage of about 120km, the valley floor and the Escarpment combined with the plateau give the Lower Zambezi National Park magnificent picturesque scenery and the lush riverine environment is a hive of activity for wildlife and birds.
If you want to flex your survival skills, you can take a canoe trip down the lower Zambezi. Explore the extreme delights of being on the water in the wild and camp on the river banks at night under skies hanging heavy with stars and fresh dark night air shot through with the calls of hyena and jackal and lion. The river is wide here and still forms channels as it does in the Upper Zambezi but there are less of these in the main stream and the water is deeper in the middle. Canoeing safaris give you the chance to explore the channels where wildlife go to drink/graze.
Seasons
Game viewing is best in mid season, from Jun-Oct. Naturally, the river should be at its highest in June (when all the rainwater in the catchment area has reached downstream) - but the levels are heavily controlled by the hydro-electric scheme at the Kariba dam wall - so can rise overnight if more electricity output is needed. There are no operations inside the park during the rains as roads become impassable and the wildlife moves to the security of the hills rather than the vulnerability of the river banks.
Wildlife
You should see: elephant, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, crocodiles, lion, jackal, hyaena, impala, warthog,
You may see: leopard, bushbuck, roan antelope, eland, Samango monkey, porcupine, civet, genet, honeybadger, serval, wild dog, aardvark
Birdlife
You may see: fish eagle, white-fronted and carmine bee eaters, red winged pratincole, crested guinea fowl, black eagle, quelea, narina trogon, trumpeter hornbill, Meyers parrot, Lilian's lovebird. Birding is always better in the rainy summer season as many birds are migratory.
Precautions
Malaria area - minimize mosquito bites by wearing light, long sleeved clothing and using effective insect repellents (containing Diethyltoluamide DEET) on exposed skin. Sleep under treated mosquito netting or ensure that the doors and windows of your accommodation are screened against mosquitoes. Having a fan or air-conditioner on at night will further suppress mosquito activity. Currently, the three effective anti-malaria tablets are Mefloquine (Lariam or Mefliam), Doxycycline and Malarone (Malanil). It is still possible to contract malaria while on malaria prophylaxis. Note that Lariam may present serious side-effects - please test before you depart.
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