The Upper
Zambezi rises on the Benguela Plateau in Angola (its source at Kuleni
Hill in Zambia is undramatic) and extends through Zambia's remote
western region down to Victoria Falls. This western sector is extremely
difficult to explore but includes the Barotse floodplain, Sioma National
Park and Liuwa National Park - the region should only be tackled by
experienced safari hands.
- The
ancient kingdom of Barotseland, whilst
having a particularly interesting history and being an area where
old Lozi customs have been retained by the inhabitants, there is no
game to speak of other that herds of Nguni cattle - it remains an
excellent area for fishing safaris.
- Sioma
National Park is a rough wilderness without any roads - the park
protects a large population of elephant and it's the only place in
Zambia outside of the South Luangwa in which you'll find giraffe -
poaching is rife with incursions from Angola matching local
pursuits.
- Liuwa
Plain National Park is a large grassy plain and woodland area -
Liuwa plains witnesses Africa's second largest wildebeest migration
- this is really worthwhile!
Livingstone and Victoria Falls
Zambia's
Kalolo people call Victoria Falls "Mosi-oa-Tunya". The Zambian
view on the falls is as spectacular as it is from Zimbabwe with
excellent views on the Eastern Cataract and fine viewpoints from the
Knife Edge Bridge and an ancient Baobab tree near the railway line
appropriately called "The Look Out Tree".
As yet,
Livingstone hasn't been as extensively developed as the town of Victoria
Falls on the Zimbabwean bank but offers some excellent lodge
accommodation and activities during the almost obligatory stay at
Victoria Falls. Livingstone itself is also an important air charter hub
from which connections to the Kafue, Luangwa and lower Zambezi regions
are made.
The lower
Zambezi River is essentially the stretch that runs downstream from
Kariba Gorge to the Mozambican border. This section is particularly well
known for Mana Pools National Park, the World Heritage Site on the
Zimbabwean bank.
The
Zambian shoreline has a selection of excellent safari lodges en route
down towards the Lower Zambezi National Park. This park is still wild
and relatively undeveloped. Elephant poaching in recent years has
declined in the presence of safari operators in the area and game has
improved dramatically as a result.
This part
of the valley with its riverine forests, broad flood plain and woodlands
in the hills towards and beyond the escarpment provides excellent
habitats and the birding is spectacular year round. Access into the
Lower Zambezi National Park during the green season is available but in
our opinion not a good idea - an option is to canoe on the Zimbabwean
shoreline during the rainy season. There is one particularly good canoe
safari on the Zambian bank that ends at Mwambashi.
Safari
spots
