Lower Zambezi National Park

🇿🇲 Zambia

🐊 Nile Crocodiles Patrol Lower Zambezi

🌍 #17 Global · 4.8 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #13 in Africa #13 in Savanna & Grassland

Southern Africa, Zambia 1190 spp. recorded

Lower 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

80–90% · Very likely

Lion

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely

Meves's Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

60–70% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

White-headed Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

60–70% · Likely

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

60–70% · Likely

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

60–70% · Likely

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant

Loxodonta africana

80–90% · Very likely

Lion

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Common Warthog

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely

African Buffalo

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely

Chacma Baboon

Papio ursinus

50–60% · Likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

50–60% · Likely

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

40–50% · Likely

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

40–50% · Likely

Leopard

Panthera pardus

40–50% · Likely

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

40–50% · Possible

Northern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus scriptus

40–50% · Possible

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

30–40% · Possible

Vervet Monkey

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

30–40% · Possible

Blue Monkey

Cercopithecus mitis

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Egyptian Goose

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely

Meves's Glossy-starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

60–70% · Likely

Cape Turtle Dove

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely

White-headed Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

60–70% · Likely

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

60–70% · Likely

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

60–70% · Likely

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

60–70% · Likely

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

60–70% · Likely

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely

Nile Monitor

Varanus niloticus

30–40% · Possible

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Trachylepis wahlbergii

30–40% · Possible

Chobe Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus chobiensis

Insufficient data

Spotted Bush Snake

Philothamnus semivariegatus

Insufficient data

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

Insufficient data

Leopard Tortoise

Stigmochelys pardalis

Insufficient data

Cape Dwarf Gecko

Lygodactylus capensis

Insufficient data

Rock Monitor

Varanus albigularis

Insufficient data

Congo Two-headed Snake

Chilorhinophis gerardi

Insufficient data

Snouted Cobra

Naja annulifera

Insufficient data

Serrated Hinged Terrapin

Pelusios sinuatus

Insufficient data

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

Chiromantis xerampelina

30–40% · Possible

Anchieta's Ridged Frog

Ptychadena anchietae

Insufficient data

Garman's Toad

Sclerophrys garmani

Insufficient data

Sharp-nosed ridged frog

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Lion Tracking & Predator Hotspots

JunJulOct

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.

Impala

Aepyceros melampus

40–50% · Likely

Spotted Hyena

Crocuta crocuta

30–40% · Possible

Lion

Panthera leo

60–70% · Likely

🐦

Zambezi River Cruises

MayJunJulOctDec

Hippos and Nile crocodiles bask on riverbanks, while African Fish-Eagles and Pied Kingfishers hunt overhead. Elephants and buffalo frequently visit waterholes.

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

60–70% · Likely

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

50–60% · Likely

Nile Crocodile

Crocodylus niloticus

60–70% · Likely

🦌

Painted Hunting Dog Sightings

AprJunSepOct

One of the best places in Zambia to see Africa’s most endangered large carnivore. Packs hunt cooperatively near open plains and riverine forests.

Waterbuck

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

40–50% · Likely

Painted Hunting Dog

Lycaon pictus

50–60% · Likely

Greater Kudu

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

50–60% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Species Total

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

African Bush Elephant

60–70

80–90

80–90

50–60

80–90

80–90

80–90

60–70

80–90

70–80

80–90

70–80

40–50

40–50

40–50

30–40

60–70

70–80

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

40–50

50–60

Painted Hunting Dog

40–50

30–40

40–50

50–60

30–40

60–70

40–50

40–50

70–80

70–80

20–30

40–50

Common Hippopotamus

20–30

30–40

70–80

20–30

60–70

50–60

70–80

40–50

40–50

40–50

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

40–50

70–80

70–80

80–90

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

80–90

60–70

White-fronted Bee-eater

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

60–70

50–60

80–90

50–60

Meves's Glossy-starling

70–80

60–70

70–80

80–90

70–80

70–80

80–90

50–60

50–60

50–60

70–80

60–70

Cape Turtle Dove

70–80

60–70

70–80

60–70

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

40–50

70–80

40–50

30–40

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

40–50

60–70

50–60

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

70–80

70–80

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

White-headed Lapwing

40–50

60–70

50–60

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

50–60

50–60

60–70

African Fish-Eagle

50–60

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

40–50

60–70

60–70

50–60

Helmeted Guineafowl

70–80

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

60–70

50–60

Fork-tailed Drongo

40–50

50–60

50–60

60–70

60–70

70–80

70–80

60–70

50–60

60–70

60–70

50–60

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

60–70

60–70

50–60

70–80

60–70

60–70

70–80

50–60

50–60

40–50

70–80

60–70

40–50

40–50

40–50

30–40

30–40

70–80

70–80

40–50

50–60

60–70

40–50

40–50

Animal Events

🦌 Lion Tracking & Predator Hotspots

🐦 Zambezi River Cruises

🦌 Painted Hunting Dog Sightings

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class

🐊 Nile Crocodiles Patrol Lower Zambezi

🦜

Biodiversity

Very good

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg

4.3 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

Species by taxon

🦅 Birds

864

🐒 Mammals

178

🦎 Reptiles

105

🐸 Amphibians

43

1190 Total Species

841 Global average across 280 parks

37 Threatened 5 Endemic

🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg

5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★

🎯

Top-12 Avg Probability

62% Global avg

66%

📊

Coverage (235 species at ≥5% of 1190 in the inventory)

24% Global avg

20%

🔀

Taxon variety in top 12 (9 bird, 2 mammal, 1 reptile)

47% Global avg

54%

🔭

Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)

132 Global avg

180

🌟

Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)

14 Global avg

34

⭐

High-prob species (>40%)

26 Global avg

46

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