There’s nothing so delightful as messing about on rivers, and the Zambezi is one of Africa’s most impressive. Lurking in the waters are crocs and hippos, along with snorkelling elephants and plenty of birds for twitchers. Drifting along the Lower Zambezi is an absolute pleasure, whether it’s on a boat safari, canoe, or on a fishing trip. Back on dry land, the river’s banks offer gorgeous scenery, great night drives, and walking. Make sure you bag a prime viewpoint on the banks to wallow in the glorious sunsets, and arm yourself with a cold beer (local Mosi, of course).
If you can’t tear yourself away from the water’s edge, a houseboat holiday or lakeside escape might be just the thing. Threaded along the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and feeding the Lower Zambezi, Lake Kariba offers everything from days spent relaxing on board by the pool with a good book to a blood-pumping battle with a sharp-toothed tiger fish. Africa’s largest manmade lake, it is an enormous expanse of crocodile-lined shores and fish-filled bays, occasionally dotted with a waterside lodge or a luxury houseboat. If you have some time to spare, we’d certainly recommend an adventure to these shores in order to watch the sunset – one of the best we’ve ever seen!
