The Lower Zambezi National Park
The Lower Zambezi National Park covers an area of 4092 square kilometers, but most of the game is concentrated on the valley floor. There is an escarpment along the northern end which acts as a physical barrier to most of the parks animal species.
Enormous herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the rivers edge. The park also hosts good populations of lion, leopard. The Chongwe River demarcates the western boundary of the park.
The ecological unit of Lower Zambezi National Park and the Chiawa Game Management Area supports a large population of the bigger mammals: elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, hippo, waterbuck, kudu, zebra, crocodiles, impala, warthog. Roan, eland and the Samango monkey are present, but rare. Nocturnal animals here are hyena, aardvark, porcupine, civet, genet and honey badger.
The bird life along the riverbanks is exceptional. Magnificent fish eagles can be seen and heard for miles around. Nesting along the cliffs are white fronted and carmine bee eaters. Other residents are the red winged pratincole, the elegant crested guinea fowl, black eagle, and vast swarms of quelea. In summer the stunning narina trogon makes its home here. Other specialities are the trumpeter hornbill, Meyer's parrot and Lillian's lovebird.
The vegetation in the area is predominantly Acacia albida trees, a thorn species 10 - 30m high with the classical shady umbrella canopy. Able to tolerate sandier soils than other woodland species, it serves to stabilize infertile sandbanks and reduce erosion. Winterthorn pods are also remarkably nutritious to elephants who digest them but leave them about 40% intact, thereby contributing to its proliferation.