The Zambezi River - Zambia's Finest Safari Feature

The Zambezi is Africa's fourth largest river;Besides fishing, the dams also provide the local
flowing for about 3000km across central Africa.community with enough water for irrigation for
The river hails from a small brook at the upperthose who practice farming along the river. The
Northwest corner of Zambia and it then flowsdams are also a source of hydropower. The
through Angola and borders Namibia, Botswana,Kariba dam supplies power to Zambia and
Zambia and Zimbabwe before finally cuttingZimbabwe while the Cahora Bassa dam supplies
through Mozambique where it empties its waterspower to both Mozambique and South Africa.
into the Indian Ocean through a Delta.There are a number of game parks and reserves
The Zambezi River ebbs and flows depending ondotted all along the Zambezi and offering some of
season. If there is prolonged rain, the river swellsthe best Africa safaris. The most popular of
up and bursts its banks in particular areasthese include the Zambezi National Park, the
displacing thousands of people. On the other handVictoria Falls national park, the Mana pools park,
if there is no rain, the waters recede. The river isand the Wide horizons elephant camp. Here,
divided into three sections; the upper Zambezi,visitors can watch a wide array of wild animals
middle Zambezi and lower Zambezi.along game drives or in fenced and controlled
Though the river, has a lot to offer with everyreserves. The activity that the Zambezi is world
square kilometer it passes through, it has the bestfamous for is its eventful white water rafting
of its features in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Perhapsexpeditions. The rocky riverbeds of the Zambezi
the most spectacular feature along the Zambezi isand the steep, gorged terrain as well as pressure
the magnificent Victoria Falls. Known locally aspools provide an excellent flowing strip for the
"Mosi-oa-Tunya" (the smoke that thunders), theexciting rapids.
Victoria Falls is one of the Seven Wonders of theThe Zambezi rapids have been classified as grade
World. The deafening roar of the falls as millionsfive, meaning that they are very difficult to
of liters of water cascade down its rocky cliff cannegotiate, very fast, violent and unpredictable as
be heard from metres away. From the fallingthey have no clear pattern that a negotiator can
water rises a glistening blanket of mist whichget used to therefore making each trip different
makes the sight all the more enchanting.from the next. The rapids are also popular
The best time to tour the falls is during the drybecause they have little bare rock allaying fears
winter season which runs from July to August.of injury therefore allowing kayakers to make the
Around the rainy season, the blanket of mist getsmost of the experience.
so thick that it makes it impossible to catch aThere is a wide array of hotels and lodges to
glimpse of the falls. The peak of the dry season ischoose from along the Zambezi. They range from
also not best because the falls are at their dullestoutdoor tent and mattress camping lodges to
during this time. If you wish to, you can catch aluxury five star hotels. Whichever you choose,
helicopter ride and get a bird's eye view of thethey all promise different adventures that are
falls. However, most people prefer the experiencebound to make your stay memorable. A couple
from the ground where they can feel the sprayof the most popular hotel and lodges include; the
of the falls on their faces. If you plan to view theRoyal Livingstone hotel, the Tongabezi lodge and
falls from the ground, carry a raincoat as you arethe Thorn tree lodge at Victoria Falls. The
bound to get soaked, most people get a kick outMwambashi river lodge, Kasaka river lodge and
of this though.Mtondo river camp are good choices for those
Not far from the falls stands the grand Victoriawho want to be close to the river and around
Falls Bridge. The bridge is a prized piece of finewild game. And for those who want to spend
architecture that joins Zambia and Zimbabwetheir days fishing in Lake Kariba, the Chete Island
while also providing an expansive view of thedeluxe tented safari lodge and the Chikanka Island
Zambezi and the adjacent rain forests. The mosthotel would be good choices for you.
popular activity at the bridge is bungee jumping.There are a number of towns and settlements
The fall is 111 metres long making it the secondalong the Zambezi River. The major ones include;
longest bungee distance in the world. OtherKatima Mulilo in Namibia, Mongu, Lukulu and
notable sights along the Zambezi include theLivingstone in Zambia, Victoria Falls and Kariba in
expansive Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams.Zimbabwe, and finally Songo and Tete in
The Kariba dam in Zambia, boasts a vast 300km.Mozambique. Interestingly, over 70 different
The Cahora Bassa dam lies in Mozambique and islanguages spoken by the people along the
20km smaller than the Kariba making it 280kmZambezi. Most of these natives depend on the
wide. Both dams are deep and quite popular forZambezi for their livelihood and have a fascinating
their sport fishing activities. You can chooseculture as well as unique practices. The Bundu
whether to fish from the banks or go out intopeople of Zambia, for example, believe that there
the water in a canoe. The most common fish inis a live spirit called Nyaminyami in the river. They
these areas are Tiger fish which can grow to asbelieve that the spirit offers them protection and
much as 10kg, the yellow-belly bream, and thetherefore regularly perform rituals at the river
red-breasted bream among others.bank to appease the spirit.