The Zambezi Valley has been known outside of Africa for thousands of years. Legends suggest that the kingdoms of Hiram, Solomon and Sheba were enriched by the gold and ivory of Ophir - supposedly part of present day Zimbabwe. The Zambezi was one of the gateways to the ancient treasure trove. More recent history records some of the explorations of hunters, missionaries and slave traders along this part of the Zambezi River.

Nowadays this part of the valley holds very different treasures for adventurers!
Temperature scan be surprising : when I went there in november, it was more than 40 C° during day. By night it falls (!) down to 34 C°... Really heavy !

Beyond Kariba Gorge, the Zambezi River flows through a wide and game-rich floodplain hemmed in by towering escarpments in both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

The shoreline in Zimbabwe has protected safari areas and Mana Pools National Park, a World Heritage Site renowned for its population of elephant, buffalo, lions, leopard, large antelope species and smaller mammals.

Similarly the shoreline in Zambia has private conservancy areas, game management areas and the relatively unexplored Lower Zambezi National Park. This region is heavily populated by hippos and crocodiles - it's also renowned as a birder's paradise with over 300 species having been recorded and is favored by sports fishermen in search of the famous Tiger Fish.

The Lower Zambezi National Park, downstream from Lake Kariba, is Zambia’s newest park. It is at this point along the mighty Zambezi River that the river forms little reed islands, which are home and feeding grounds for a myriad of wildlife.

The beauty of this park is in its state of absolute wildness. Despite the fact that the variety and amount of game is not as wide as the other parks, there are some spectacular opportunities to get close to the game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels. The park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the river is a massive wildlife sanctuary.

You can drive into the park on your own but it is very underdeveloped and not yet structured for self-drive visitors. The existing lodges and canoing operators provide the best access to the park. They all offer pick-ups from either Lusaka or Chirundu, or Kariba in Zimbabwe.

Canoing safaris offer the visitor a unique opportunity for game viewing. When you are at water level on a boat, the animals seem to accept you and are less likely to run off in a hurry. Hippos and crocodiles inhabit the river in abundance so a quick dip would be ill advised. That does not matter too much, as the game lodges that nestle along the banks will undoubtedly have a swimming pool where you can cool off from the high summer temperatures.

The park covers three different habitats, the river is overhung with a thick riverine fringe, while further inland is a floodplain fringed with mopane forest and interspersed with winter thorn trees. The hills that form the backdrop to the park are covered in broad leaf woodland.

The park covers a wide area, over 4092 sq km, but the game is mostly found at the bottom of the valley. The escarpment along the northern end of the park acts as a barrier to most of the animals, keeping them in the park.

Enormous herds of elephant, some up to hundred strong, are often seen at the river's edge. 'Island hopping' buffalo and water bucks are common. The park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard, and you should listen out for the cry of the fish eagle.