The Wildlife That Victoria Falls Keeps Secret

Victoria Falls is, for most visitors, about the falls. The spray, the viewpoints, the roar, the mist-drenched rainforest walk. What the town does not shout about – and what most visitors leave without discovering – is the 56,000-hectare national park that begins at its edge.

Zambezi National Park runs along the banks of the upper Zambezi River from the falls westward, a vast, relatively unvisited wilderness of mopane woodland, open savanna, and riverine forest that holds a wildlife community most dedicated safari destinations would envy. Elephants are abundant and frequently encountered roadside. Lion are present and regularly seen on morning and evening drives. Buffalo, giraffe, zebra, kudu, impala, warthog, and over 400 bird species populate a landscape that requires no border crossing, no full day, and no complex logistics – just a vehicle, a guide, and two hours.

The Drive

Your guide collects you from your Victoria Falls hotel and heads directly into the park. The game drive circuits cover the mopane woodland and the riverine corridor along the Zambezi bank – the two most productive habitat zones for wildlife encounters.

In the woodland, elephant herds move between feeding areas, giraffe browse above the tree canopy, and impala and kudu are constant companions. The woodland floor is a tracking guide – fresh elephant footprints, lion spoor in the dust, the spiral drag-marks of a large monitor lizard crossing the road. Your guide reads all of it.

At the river, the landscape opens. The Zambezi above the falls is wide and island-threaded – hippos in the channels, crocodiles on every sandbank, and the extraordinary birdlife that the river edge produces at almost any time of day. Fish eagles are constant. Kingfishers of several species work the margins. Carmine bee-eaters, in season, fill the air with colour and sound.

Early Morning and Late Afternoon

Like all game drives, the Zambezi National Park game drive rewards early and late timing. Dawn drives catch predators still active from the night – lion are most reliably seen in the first hour after sunrise, often still in accessible positions near the road. Elephant herds are mobile and feeding. The light is extraordinary.

Late afternoon drives follow a similar logic. Lions become active as the heat eases. Elephant family groups move to the river for their evening drink, often in large aggregations that fill the riverbank from bank to treeline. The photography light – warm, low, and directional – is as good as it gets.

What You May Encounter

• African Elephant – the most consistently encountered species in the park; herds of 20–80+ animals are common
• Lion – well-established prides with known territories; morning drives offer the best probability
• Buffalo – large herds in the dry season, frequently encountered near the river
• Giraffe – tall above the mopane canopy throughout the drive
• Hippo – in the river channels; visible from game drive roads that approach the bank
• Zebra, Kudu, Impala, Warthog – abundant throughout
• Wild Dog – occasionally seen; Zambezi National Park has a small but established population
• Exceptional birdlife – 400+ species including fish eagles, bee-eaters, kingfishers, and hornbills

Why This Drive Is Underrated

Zambezi National Park suffers from proximity to its famous neighbour. Most visitors to Victoria Falls think of wildlife in terms of the Chobe day trip – the full day to Botswana that is, without question, an extraordinary experience. But Zambezi National Park offers something different: a genuine, unfenced African wildlife reserve you can enter in minutes, for a fraction of the cost and time, without a border crossing. For guests with only a few hours, for those who want to begin their safari instincts before a longer trip, or for any visitor who wants to encounter elephants and lions in their own habitat without leaving Zimbabwe – this drive is the answer.

What’s Included

• Return hotel transfers within Victoria Falls
• 2-hour game drive in Zambezi National Park – open safari vehicle with experienced guide
• Expert licensed guide throughout
• Refreshments

Not Included

• National Parks entry fee – $15 per person (payable on the day)
• Gratuities for guide (optional)
• Personal items

Good to Know

• Duration: 2 hours
• No minimum age – suitable for all ages
• Wear comfortable clothing in neutral colours (khaki, olive, beige)
• Bring your camera, binoculars, sunscreen, and insect repellent
• A light fleece is useful for early morning drives in cool months (May–August)
• Morning and late afternoon timing is recommended for best wildlife activity