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Experiences

What to do in Lower Zambezi

As you might have guessed, the Lower Zambezi National Park and its myriad activities are centred around the mighty river running through it. Droves of animals travel to the river, including herds of zebra, elephant and buffalo - and you might even see them grazing on the tiny isles in the middle of the water. Idle down the river on a canoe, eyeing hippo, crocodile and a flurry of birdlife, or explore by boat followed by sundowners on the riverbank. There is abundant tiger fish in the Zambezi if you fancy a few hours of angling too. For a close-to-nature experience, leave at dawn on foot to examine fresh tracks and clues from the night’s activities. All lodges conduct a morning or afternoon game drive, but a night drive offers a different cast of wildlife, where bushbabies ogle you from the trees, shy civets and servals slink past, and you could watch lion and leopard on the hunt.

Track wildlife on a game drive in Lower Zambezi

Encounter mega herds of elephant during morning and afternoon 4x4 safari drives
Bordered by the mighty Zambezi and Chongwe rivers, the Lower Zambezi’s 1500 square miles offer landscapes of pretty sausage trees and winterthorn woodlands, and some rather fabulous game viewing. Hop into a vehicle and explore the hidden corners on blissfully private safari drives from your camp, usually taken in the morning and again in the afternoon (with stops for a cooling drink to keep you going). Helmed by a knowledgeable and all-seeing guide, treats in store include herds of elephant and buffalo grazing on the tiny isles in the middle of the river, hippo forming islands of their own, and furtive leopard lounging in the trees.
Track wildlife on a game drive in Lower Zambezi

Go on a canoe safari in the Lower Zambezi

Paddle down the Zambezi River, watching wildlife as it comes to drink
Change your game-viewing perspective with a Zambezi canoe safari. Take to the water with a local guide and paddle expert to help you navigate the river, home to hippo, crocodile and flocks of birdlife. Meander downstream using the current as your engine before mooring on the riverbank for a cup of tea and a muffin. As other sources dry up from May, the life-giving waters of the Lower Zambezi attract herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra and, if you're lucky, a big cat or two. Scan your eyes along the tree-line to catch the flicking tail and stealthy gaze of a leopard. And nothing quite compares to a stare down with an elephant bull from the water!
Go on a canoe safari in the Lower Zambezi

Catch a Tiger Fish in the Lower Zambezi

Host to some of the most incredible freshwater sport fishing in the world
On the lower sections of the Zambezi River, where the water flows slow and wide, creating pretty bays, inlets and eddies, one of Africa’s greatest fighting fish lies in wait. The tigerfish is one of Africa's most powerful freshwater species and it can weigh up to a whopping 15 kilograms. The Zambezi has become known as the best place to take on this ferocious fish in Southern Africa, attracting travellers from all over the world for a spot of catch-and-release fishing. Join them from August to November for the chance to net one of these beauties yourself (maybe with a helping hand from an expert…).
Catch a Tiger Fish in the Lower Zambezi

Go on a guided walking safari along Lower Zambezi

Explore on foot, for an intimate wildlife experience like no other
You'll see plenty of the Lower Zambezi from your trusty Land Cruiser, but to truly get under the hide of this beautiful and wildlife-filled area, a walking safari is in order. In Zambia, every guide is well-versed in the secrets of the bush and they'll gladly share them with you. Step out in the morning for a good leg stretch as you examine the tracks and catch up on the night’s activities of a shy serval or leopard on the prowl, or take a stroll in the afternoon and discover a new-found respect for dung beetles, sausage trees and the guides who decipher it all.
Go on a guided walking safari along Lower Zambezi

Enjoy a sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River

From a calming sunset boat cruise to adventurous morning boat safaris
It's safe to say the Zambezi River needs little introduction...And what better way to experience the crocodile-steeped waters, incredible birdlife and animals lining the banks in their hundreds than from the river itself? Swap your 4x4 for something slightly more mellow and float down the Zambezi by boat. By day, motor between the tiny islands and keep your eyes peeled for splashing elephant and colourful waterbirds. By night, mix G&Ts with a pastel-hued sunset and you’ve got the ultimate sunset river cruise. With most lodges offering trips on the water, this is an essential part of any Lower Zambezi safari.
Enjoy a sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River

Spot wildlife on a night drive in Lower Zambezi

With your guide and a spotlight, see wildlife not active during the day
Night time safaris aren’t available just anywhere in Africa, but the good news is, they are a certainty in the Lower Zambezi. Leave camp after a sumptuous Afternoon Tea and when the sun goes down, your night drive begins, along with the chance to see a whole new cast of wildlife including the ever-elusive civet and serval. Let your spotter pick out the nocturnal animals with a powerful lamp, from bushbabies, whose eyes shine brightly in the darkness, foraging hippos and hunting lion, and leopard lurking shyly on the banks of the river.
Spot wildlife on a night drive in Lower Zambezi
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