Zambezi River

The Zambezi River is one of Africa’s great rivers and the fourth-longest river on the continent, flowing for approximately 2,574 kilometres from northwestern Zambia to the Indian Ocean in Mozambique. It passes through or forms boundaries involving Zambia, Angola, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, making it an important geographical and ecological feature of southern Africa. The river is best known for Victoria Falls, one of the world's most spectacular waterfalls, located on the Zambia–Zimbabwe border. Farther downstream, the Zambezi flows through the Zambezi Valley, including important wildlife areas such as Mana Pools National Park, Sapi Safari Area and Chewore Safari Area in Zimbabwe, and the Lower Zambezi National Park in Zambia. The river and its surrounding floodplains support abundant wildlife, including elephants, hippos, crocodiles, buffalo, lions and numerous bird species, making it an important destination for wildlife viewing, fishing, boating, canoeing and photographic safaris. The Zambezi also plays a major role in local communities, agriculture, fisheries and hydroelectric power through major reservoirs such as Lake Kariba and Cahora Bassa. For safari tourism, the river is particularly valuable because it provides a unique combination of water-based activities, wildlife and wilderness landscapes, making destinations along the Zambezi among the most attractive safari regions in southern Africa.