Home to one of Africa’s biggest elephant herds, the wild and untouched Lower Zambezi National Park is Zambia’s newest national park and is located about 100km downstream of Victoria Falls. Although it does not have the diversity of animals of the other national parks, it does afford the visitor a unique opportunity to get close the game that wanders in and out of the Zambezi River channels.

Covering some 4000 square kilometres of woodland savannah, the Lower Zambezi National Park is home to buffalo, lion, leopard, elephant, a variety of antelopes, crocodiles and hippos – all of which are concentrated primarily along the base of the valley. Bird lovers can rest assured that the area is home to a rich variety and abundance of local birdlife. On the other side of the river is Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools Reserve, which means that the whole area is a protected haven for wildlife.

During the rainy season, the full river forms a network of streams and grassy islands – much like Botswana’s Okavango Delta. As in the Delta, a canoe safari is the best way to get up close to the animals that frequent the marshes and pools. Lodges in the lower Zambezi also offer Tiger fishing, game drives and walking safaris, so there is no shortage of adventure to be had.