What to see at Wildtracks


: : Wildlife : : Birdlife : :

The largest river in southern Africa, the Zambezi attains a lazy, yet powerful majesty in it's lower reaches. Meandering across the bottom of the Zambezi valley the river is impressively wide in some places with channels flowing between scattered islands and sandbars. This part of the world is worth visiting just to see the Zambezi River itself. The Lower Zambezi flows through national parks and game management areas on both it's banks, so wildlife is abundant in the area. Sunsets on the Lower Zambezi are truly magical and the sky catches fire as the sun dips behind the mountains that form the western escarpment of the Zambezi Valley. One of the best places to experience one of these sunsets is from the river itself on one of our sunset cruises. Visit the Gallery for more Zambezi scenery. Top

Wildlife Wildlife abounds on the Lower Zambezi. One of the best ways to spot game is from the river. Drifting silently past a herd of elephant grazing on an island or on the riverbank is truly a special experience. Hippo sightings are practically guaranteed as hippos occupy many of the islands and sandbars on the Lower Zambezi. Another denizen of the river is the Nile crocodile, a truly impressive predator that grows up to 5 metres in length. In the bush around the lodge you are also likely to encounter elephant, buffalo and a variety of antelope. Waterbuck and the shy bushbuck are often seen along the edge of the river. At night it is not uncommon to hear the roar of lions from across the river. Top

Birds The nearby Lower Zambezi park has recently been declared one of Zambia's Important Bird Areas and is home to a number of species endemic to the Zambezian region. There are many opportuniteis for birdwatching, in the miombo woodland and riverine forest surrounding the camp, as well as on the river itself. Commonly seen birds on the river include the African Fish Eagle, Egyptian Goose, Water Dikkop and White Crowned Plover, Pied Kingfishers and in places large congregations of waterfowl. During the dry season, large colonies af Carmine Bee-eaters nest in the sand cliffs, along with White fronted Bee-eaters. Other less commonly encountered species include the Goliath Heron and Saddle Billed Stork. [Leonard, P. 2005. Important Bird Areas in Zambia:Priority sites for conservation. The Zambian Ornithological Society. Lusaka, Zambia.] Top : : Click here for the Lower Zambezi Birdlist : :

This site is best viewed at resolution 1024 x 768.