Elephant River Zambezi

The  Zambezi is a big river! Its kicks off in Zambia in the hills near the Congo border near the town of Mwinilunga in the North West of Zambia, spanning out on the huge Barotse Floodplains near Mongu  pouring over the Victoria Falls at Livingstone sweeping through Lake Kariba and down through the Lower Zambezi joined by the Kafue River,  to later be met by the Luangwa River and then on through the Cahora Bassa dam and then onto the coast to wash across the huge crocs lolling in the surf at Chinde on the Mozambique coast...

The Lower Zambezi is a splendid park, full of game, lots and lots of elephant and great for fishing on a boat with a cold box full of Mosi beers. The Zambezi escarpment sweeps up above to crystal clear blue skies and the thoughts of more adventures to come. To get there by road, one heads south from Lusaka, to the dusty, dirty little border town of Chirundu, hang a left at some large concrete bollards and into a township to the East. There are no signs for the park, odd really, but then so is Chirundu. The township gives way to a bush road and eventually, after a several kilometers of good country one hits the Kafue River. To cross it means driving onto a wonky old ferry with a happy go lucky captain and his first mate who takes a small fee from you for passage.

Kafue River Ferry Lower Zambezi

The crossing is short and you share it with local people, goats, bicycles and on one occasion a cow!

The Chinese are building a new road all the way down from Lusaka, through the Zambezi Hills to Chiawa, then onto Luangwa Boma where the Luangwa River meets the Zambezi. They will then do a link from Chiawa to Chirundu and they are already putting in the piling for a bridge across the Kafue. So use the ferry while you can, its days are numbered!

Chinese Contractors putting in piling for a bridge across the  Kafue River.

After crossing the Kafue its a nice relaxed drive following the Zambezi, bumping into the odd elephant and impala, or lovely smiles from the people in the villages until you reach the Lower Zambezi Park boundary on the lazy but beautiful Chongwe River lined by Winter Thorns, elephants abound and the Zambezi stretches out far and wide at its confluence. Here you will find a charming camp, Chongwe River Camp owned and run by splendid fellow called Chris Liebenberg. The camp is very comfortable, perfect location on the Chongwe River and Zambezi River with a great chef and wonderful staff, really worth staying with them!

Chilling on the Chongwe River

Chongwe River Camp

Sunset Fishing Zambezi River

Sunset on the Zambezi

If you want some very helpful free information on how to the trip above and the best places to stay or any other information on where to go on safari in Zambia, Tanzania or Botswana try this cool new website: Africa Spectrum i love helping people find the best trip and best places to stay...enjoy!