Lower Zambezi National Park

National Park · Zambia

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Photo © Joachim Huber from Switzerland

Photo © Joachim Huber from Switzerland — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Where the Zambezi slows into broad, braided channels beneath a wall of escarpment, a vast floodplain woodland opens across the valley floor. This is a national park of miombo and mopane woodland, riverine forest and open grassland, all shaped by a Cwa climate whose dry season falls in the cool winter months. Through that season the bush thins, waterholes shrink and life concentrates along the river and its oxbow lagoons, while the rains bring a flush of green and disperse everything across the floodplain. The ecological character is one of transition: dry woodland species on the higher ground, water-dependent communities in the riparian strip, and a rich assemblage of grazers, large herbivores, predators and scavengers moving between them. Birds of prey work the thermals above the escarpment, woodland songbirds and ground-dwelling species inhabit the mopane, and migratory and resident waterbirds crowd the sandbanks and shallows.

For photographers, the appeal is the light and the concentration. Winter mornings arrive clear and cool, the low sun raking the woodland edge and picking out dust and mist over the water; by afternoon the light turns long and golden across the floodplain. Because the dry season compresses wildlife around remaining water, sightings of large mammals and aggregations of waterbirds come thick and fast, and the open river frontage gives clean sightlines that dense bush elsewhere denies. Birdwatchers should plan around the winter months, when resident woodland and riparian species are joined by migrants and the receding water exposes feeding flats. Access is by road and light aircraft from the provincial capital, with game-viewing largely by vehicle, on foot and by boat along the channels — the last offering the closest and most intimate approach to drinking herds and basking birds. Come for the dry-season clarity, stay for the sheer density of life at the water's edge.

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Pternistis natalensis

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Centropus senegalensis

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Chrysococcyx klaas

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Ardeola ralloides

Western Cattle Egret

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Pitta angolensis

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Eastern Nicator

Nicator gularis

Pycnonotus barbatus

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Red-billed Quelea

Southern Red Bishop

Uraeginthus angolensis

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Mottled Spinetail

Telacanthura ussheri

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

African Black Swift

White-rumped Swift

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Paragallinula angulata

Gallinula chloropus

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Microparra capensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Ciconia ciconia

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Egretta vinaceigula

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Verreaux's Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Western Barn Owl

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Apaloderma narina

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Bennett's Woodpecker

Campethera bennettii

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Falco biarmicus

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Poicephalus meyeri

Lilian's Lovebird

Agapornis lilianae

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Cecropis senegalensis

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Livingstone's Flycatcher

Erythrocercus livingstonei

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Acrocephalus palustris

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Acridotheres tristis

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling

Onychognathus morio

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Pinarornis plumosus

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Oenanthe familiaris

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer domesticus

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Estrilda astrild

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Green-winged Pytilia

Orange-winged Pytilia

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Purple Indigobird

Vidua purpurascens

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

Motacilla capensis

Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Butorides striata

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-capped Crombec

Sylvietta ruficapilla

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Mountain Wagtail

Motacilla clara

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Panthera pardus

African Wild Dog

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Four-toed Sengi

Petrodromus tetradactylus

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

African Savanna Hare

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Mutable Sun Squirrel

Heliosciurus mutabilis

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Common Dwarf Mongoose

Helogale parvula

Crocuta crocuta

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Civettictis civetta

Aepyceros melampus

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Cercopithecus mitis

Syncerus caffer

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