Lower Zambezi National Park — Attraction in Lusaka Province

Lower Zambezi National Park, nestled along the northern banks of the Zambezi River opposite Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools, is one of Zambia’s premier safari destinations. A map of the park immediately reflects its striking duality: a vibrant riverfront teeming with wildlife activity and an expansive, rising escarpment backdrop that frames a more rugged and untamed interior.

The most prominent feature on the map is the Zambezi River, stretching across the southern edge of the park. This natural boundary with Zimbabwe serves as a lifeline, drawing in countless species year-round. The river's wide course is dotted with islands, channels, and sandbanks, all marked clearly—these are key habitats for hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and an astonishing variety of birdlife. Some maps even indicate navigable canoe and boat routes, reflecting how water-based safaris are integral to the Lower Zambezi experience.

Running parallel to the river inland is a band of floodplains, woodlands, and open grassland—a prime wildlife corridor. The map highlights areas such as Jeki, Chongwe, Chiawa, and Lungwa, all commonly used as base camps or safari lodges. These names often double as zones of high animal activity, and many game drives are centered here. The Chiawa Game Management Area lies just outside the park's western boundary, often shaded differently to distinguish it as a buffer zone where community-based tourism and conservation are practiced.

Beyond the floodplain, the map shifts in tone as it rises to the Zambezi Escarpment in the north. This rugged mountain chain, marked with steeper contours, cuts off vehicle access in some areas and offers natural protection for elusive species like leopards and African wild dogs. Very few roads penetrate this interior, emphasizing its wildness and the park’s emphasis on minimal infrastructure.

The park map shows limited road networks, and most trails require 4x4 vehicles. Tracks hug the river for the most part, with a few bush routes leading into the escarpment valleys. Seasonal roads are often noted, particularly those that become impassable during the rains. Some maps include walking trails and canoe routes, as Lower Zambezi is one of the few places where walking safaris and canoe excursions are central to the visitor experience.

Key features typically marked on a high-quality Lower Zambezi map include:

Zambezi River channels and islands

Permanent and seasonal waterholes

Camps and lodges like Sausage Tree Camp, Old Mondoro, Anabezi, and Royal Zambezi Lodge

Airstrips such as Jeki and Royal, which are essential access points since most travelers fly in due to the park's remoteness

Park gates like Chongwe Gate

Boundary with Mana Pools National Park across the river—while not inside the same country, the maps often highlight this to show the transfrontier nature of the ecosystem

Another notable element on the map is the absence of fences, a deliberate conservation choice that allows for free movement of animals across the landscape. Elephants, in particular, are known to swim across the Zambezi to reach floodplains on both sides, and the map helps illustrate the seamless habitat shared with Mana Pools.

In essence, the map of Lower Zambezi National Park tells a story of layered ecosystems—from watery lifelines to remote mountainous wilderness—and minimal human interference. It balances orientation with invitation: pointing out enough for safe and smart exploration, but leaving much to be discovered through experience. For nature lovers and safari purists, the simplicity and layout of this map reflect exactly what the park delivers—unfiltered, wild Africa at its...

The park gently slopes from the Zambezi Escarpment down to the river, straddling two main woodland savannah ecoregions distinguished by the dominant types of tree, Miombo and Mopane: Southern Miombo woodlands on higher ground in the north, and Zambezian and Mopane woodlands on lower slopes in the south. At the edge of the river is floodplain habitat.

The park itself is ringed by a much larger game management area (commonly referred to as GMA); there are no fences between the park and the GMA and both animals and people are free to roam across the whole area. The attraction of the Lower Zambezi park and its surrounding GMA is its remote location. Unlike South African parks, there are no paved roads and you are very unlikely to encounter another tourist whilst traveling around. Tourist numbers are minimized due to the park being inaccessible by road, unless one has advanced 4x4 driving skills and even then only at certain times of the year. Tourists visit the park either on a boat on the Zambezi or by light aircraft flying from either Livingstone or Lusaka.

Most large mammals in the national park congregate on the floodplain, including the Cape buffalo, a large elephant population, lion, leopard, many antelope species, crocodile and hippopotamus. Occasional sightings of the Cape wild dog occur throughout this park which is one of Zambia's best strongholds for them. There are also a large number of species of birds, but no black rhinoceros population remained around the time the national park was...

One of the best National parks maintained in Zambia Africa. There are other National parks as well like Kafue national park but this park is protected by conservation society which runs on NGO. They are doing a wonderful job in protecting the animals and in turn tourist like us can enjoy with these friendly animals without fear of getting attacked. Ofcos you may need to maintain distance. Some advices... If your driving from Lusaka it's a must to take a 4×4 car. We got stuck twice as we had taken a salon. The roads from the entrance of the park to the main gates sre totally off road and needs a heavy vehicle. Pls be prepared with water , food, some basic medicine, cloths torches and ofcos most important jungle shoes. It's better to book a resort and go so they can tske you to game drive for wildlife site seeing or canoing site seeing where you can enjoy hippo's. The beauty is you can see the Zimbabwe border just across the river. This is definitely a 2 night and 3 day trip so don't try to squeeze in 1 day. Not worth it. Animals are friendly and you can expect them to come around your camp at night. They don't disturb at all . Food is taken care of resort as you won't find a single shop for food or drinks so be well prepared before you head out. The drive from Lusaka to the park is about 5...