The Zimbabwean World Heritage Site, Mana Pools Reserve, is situated on the opposite bank forming a natural transfrontier park and creating a large sanctuary for wildlife.

Game viewing: Abundant game occurs in the valley floor and along the river offering fantastic land and water-based game viewing opportunities. A variety of safaris are available including photographic by open vehicle or boat; walking and canoeing.

Canoeing safaris along the main river and quieter waterways are a wonderful experience for the nature lover, drifting lazily along with the current, past hippo and game coming down to drink. Canoeing trips can be arranged with various lodges from a couple of hours to a few days. For the less intrepid, relaxing boat cruises are available.

Fishing:
The park is perhaps most famous for its fishing, offering some of the most spectacular fresh water sport fishing in the world. The main focus for fishermen is the famous and feisty Tigerfish (a relative of the piranha) which, when caught, suitably entertains with spectacular leaps out of the water. Vundu (a type of catfish) which can obtain weights of more than 50kg provides equally interesting sport (particularly good for muscle building!). Fishing in the park is on a catch and release basis. Most of the lodges provide excellent fishing tackle, but the more avid fisherman is advised to bring their own remembering that the park is a very long way from any tackle shops.

Mammals:
Perhaps the most memorable sight to be seen in the Lower Zambezi is that of elephant swimming across the enormous Zambezi river between the two countries. The park is host to large herds of elephant and healthy populations of lion, leopard, side striped jackal, hyaena, hippo, buffalo, zebra, waterbuck, and many other antelope. Less common but a very special treat are the African wild dog and aardvark.

Birds:
The Lower Zambezi National Park is an Important Bird Area and therefore of global conservation significance. Over 300 species of birds can be found in the area. The African fish eagle, Zambia’s national bird is commonly seen and heard. Huge flocks of red winged pratincole may be seen hawking insects in the evenings above the river and if you are exceptionally lucky the elusive Bat Hawk may take the occasional pratincole right before your eyes (so keep them open!). The crested guinea fowl and narina trogon are less common specials.

BEST TIME OF THE YEAR TO VISIT

April/May:
Potential rain storms around. Warm/hot. The bush is very green, grass long. Birding is good with the migratory birds still in breeding plumage and preparing to move on. Game viewing is good but limited roads in the park are open. The dense vegetation forces the lions to use the roads and the wild dog are more readily seen in the open plains. Fantastic light for photography.

June/July:
The start of the peak season – the bushcamps within the park are open and walking safaris are possible. This is “mid winter” and can be very cold on early morning and evening game drives in the open vehicles. During the day the temperatures are cool/warm. The bush is drying out. All areas of the park are open. Game viewing is good/excellent. African Wild Dog den in this period, so sightings at this time are extremely rare.

August:
Cool to hot with the bush now dry. Game viewing excellent.

September:

Hot, dry and hazy. Trees flower and lose their leaves. There may be fires in the area attracting yellow billed kites (migrants) and other birds. Game viewing is now excellent. Buffalo form large herds. Everything is waiting for the onset of the rains. Fishing is excellent.

October:
Very dry with excellent game viewing, animals concentrating around the water. Storm clouds start building up and there may be occasional rain which cools the temperatures down and clears the air. Can be very hot (up to 40 degrees in the shade). Fishing is excellent.

The warmer months are the best time of year to catch tiger fish. This is also the breeding season, when the fish are much more active.

November:
Hot and humid. Daily afternoon storms become the norm. These can be very dramatic with sheet lightning – very beautiful and exciting. The bush is green and fresh. When the rains come the impala give birth, as do the warthogs and many other species. Excellent bird watching. The bushcamps are now all closed and access to the more remote roads is reduced as the rains increase.

December – March:
Lush, green and very beautiful. Only some of the lodges outside the park remain open, road access is restricted. Thunderstorms are a daily event. Birding is Excellent.