The lower Zambezi area is particularly well known for Mana Pools National Park, the World Heritage Site on the Zimbabwean bank. The Zambian shoreline has a selection of excellent safari lodges through Game Management Areas and the Lower Zambezi National Park. This park is still wild and relatively undeveloped.

This part of the valley with its riverine forests, broad flood plain and woodlands in the hills towards and beyond the escarpment provides excellent habitats and the birding is spectacular year round.
Lake Kariba was built in 1960 and provides electric power to Zambia as well as Zimbabwe. The 220km long and 40km wide lake is great for anglers, offering fantastic freshwater game fish and on the shores, there is lots of wildlife. Many of the animals take to the water easily, swimming through waterways to the numerous islands - a popular reason for boating and game viewing expeditions on the lake. Lake Kariba is a huge expanse of water - covering nearly 6 000km² - and forming part of the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia. As with Victoria Falls, the Zimbabwean side of the lake is better developed and known as a prime holidaying area.

The lake is named after a rock which used to feature quite prominently in the river gorge - but is now buried underwater. Many believed it to be the home of the river god Nyaminyami, who caused anyone who came near it to be drawn into the deep water, never to be seen again…