Situated on the banks of the Zambezi River in the south-eastern part of Zambia, opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park, the Lower Zambezi National Park occupies 4092 sq. kms, with 120 kms of river frontage. Its distinguishing features are the rugged escarpment to the north, the river itself, and its numerous islands, lagoons and floodplains which attract most of the Zambian wildlife. There are approximately 50 mammal species and 400 bird species, which thrive in the Park, as well as a wide variety of spectacular trees, grasses and flowers.
This area is still unspoiled as it is new to tourism and is afforded a high level of protection from the Zambian Government and the local tour operators. It was only declared a National Park in 1983, and the Cumings Family, who own and operate Chiawa Camp, brought the first tourists to the Park in 1990, creating one of the finest African safari experiences, opening access and all the game viewing loops enjoyed within the Park today.
Only licensed operators may conduct safaris in the area, and only the few lodges situated within the Park may conduct river and canoeing trips there on a daily basis, with strict regulations governing the number of boats on the water. Visitors to the Park are thus assured of seeing very little human activity. This has led to the Lower Zambezi National Park providing one of Africa’s finest wilderness experiences.
The legendary Zambezi River is, in itself, a spectacle and is the namesake of this pristine wilderness. Along its 2700 km course, the Zambezi fertilises the Barotse floodplains, plunges over the Victoria Falls and replenishes the massive Lake Kariba before reaching the Lower Zambezi. Here, a myriad of islands have formed, creating a home and feeding ground for an incredible amount of diverse Zambezi wildlife. Together this creates one of the most diverse and interesting eco-systems on the planet, providing the opportunity to explore these habitats in an unmatched variety of activities on a Lower Zambezi safari.
