Lower Zambezi National Park
🇿🇲 Zambia
🐊 Nile Crocodiles Patrol Lower ZambeziLower Zambezi National Park is a protected tropical savanna stretching along the northern bank of the great river in southern Zambia. This wilderness stands apart through its sweeping floodplains, dense riverine forests, and dramatic escarpment backdrop, creating a sanctuary defined by permanent water and lush vegetation.
-15.452° S 29.941° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
Lion
Panthera leo
★ 
Painted Hunting Dog
Lycaon pictus
★ 
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
📊 Most Spotted
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus rufirostris
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ Lion
Panthera leo
★ Painted Hunting Dog
Lycaon pictus
★ Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
📊 Most Spotted
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Chacma Baboon
Papio ursinus
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Smith's Bush Squirrel
Paraxerus cepapi
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Leopard
Panthera pardus
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
Vervet Monkey
Chlorocebus pygerythrus
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
📊 Most Spotted
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
African Fish-Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Fork-tailed Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Tockus rufirostris
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink
Trachylepis wahlbergii
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Chobe Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus chobiensis
Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus laevigatus
Leopard Tortoise
Stigmochelys pardalis
Cape Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus capensis
Rock Monitor
Varanus albigularis
Congo Two-headed Snake
Chilorhinophis gerardi
Snouted Cobra
Naja annulifera
Serrated Hinged Terrapin
Pelusios sinuatus
Recent sightings in Lower Zambezi National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Zambezi River Cruises
Hippos and Nile crocodiles bask on riverbanks, while African Fish-Eagles and Pied Kingfishers hunt overhead. Elephants and buffalo frequently visit waterholes.
2Lion Tracking & Predator Hotspots
Guided game drives focus on lion prides and their prey, with high densities of impala, waterbuck, and buffalo. Spotted hyenas are often heard at night.
3Painted Hunting Dog Sightings
One of the best places in Zambia to see Africa’s most endangered large carnivore. Packs hunt cooperatively near open plains and riverine forests.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Zambezi River Cruises
- 2Lion Tracking & Predator Hotspots
- 3Painted Hunting Dog Sightings
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Then there’s the wildlife—on this trip alone we had countless leopard encounters, unforgettable lion sightings, more elephants than I could possibly count, and even a glimpse of a smaller pack of African wild dogs.
While waiting had some beautiful sightings of a herd of elephants crossing the open plain, making their way to the forest nearby. `We watched big herds of buffalo grazing in the distance and watched all the different species of birds flying nearby.
Because we were on the water, most animals spotted were crocodiles, hippos that were trying to cool off, elephants, and bird life.
Later in the afternoon we watched a group of elephants cross a channel and then spent some time with the same pride of lions with eight cubs feeding on a waterbuck, which they had killed the night before.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in Lower Zambezi National Park?
The most likely sightings are African Bush Elephant (seen by about 80% of wildlife watchers), Egyptian Goose (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), White-fronted Bee-eater (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Meves's Glossy-starling (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1190 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit Lower Zambezi National Park for wildlife?
June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in Lower Zambezi National Park?
Yes — about 80% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 67 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion in Lower Zambezi National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 25 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Painted Hunting Dog in Lower Zambezi National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Painted Hunting Dog sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 15 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Common Hippopotamus in Lower Zambezi National Park?
Yes — about 50% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in Lower Zambezi National Park, based on 24 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
Very goodHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
