Exploring Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa National Parks: A Safari Experience

After our time consuming crossing, it was time for more time consuming driving. First stop Mvuu Lodge Camping for Lower Zambezi NP. A beautiful place to camp on the edge of the Zambezi river and what a river it is. We camped on the other side, at Mana Pools NP two years previously and it was so beautiful. This side was equally stunning and we had elephants visiting the camp, with babies!

Here is the way to the park.

Scenic view of a riverside deck at sunset, featuring wooden chairs and tables, with calm water and colorful sky.

View of a riverside lodge surrounded by lush greenery and mountains in the background, with a boat moored nearby.

Scenic view of a river at sunset, with calm water reflecting the sky, surrounded by trees and small boats along the shore. — Campsite view

Calm river at sunset, with a reflective surface and overcast sky, framed by lush greenery on the banks.

A resting tabby cat with closed eyes, lounging on a sofa beside an orange pillow.

Our resident cat

A person cooking at a rustic outdoor kitchen space, equipped with a gas stove and various containers, with a curious cat nearby.

An outdoor stone countertop with various items including water jugs, camping gear, and kitchen tools, accompanied by a cat resting on the shelf.

A camping scene with a yellow tent set up near a water body, surrounded by trees and a campsite table with supplies and clothes hanging to dry.

A white SUV parked near a serene lakeside under large trees, with outdoor seating and equipment visible in the background.

We went on a really beautiful sunset boat trip on the Zambezi river. Lots of hippos and elies.

Silhouette of an elephant standing in a river at sunset with mountains in the background.

Sunset over a tranquil river with silhouetted mountains in the background.

A grey heron perched on top of a large mound, surrounded by a soft, blurred background. — I think it is a black-headed heron rather than a grey heron

A hippopotamus standing on a grassy riverbank with a white bird nearby, surrounded by lush vegetation and calm water.

A bird with a beige body, orange-brown wing patches, and pink legs foraging near water in a grassy field. — Not my strong point but I think this is an Egyptian goose

A bird standing among tall grass, featuring brown plumage and prominent eyes, with a muddy ground visible in the background. — No idea what its name is but could be a water thick-knee or a spotted thick-knee

Lower Zambezi National Park is in southern Zambia, on the Zimbabwean border.

Welcome sign at the entrance of Lower Zambezi National Park, featuring a stone structure and animal skulls.

A large elephant standing on a dirt path with a clear blue sky and mountains in the background. — This guy was waiting for us as we got into the park!

A large elephant standing on a dirt road in a natural habitat with mountains and trees in the background under a clear blue sky. — He was pretty close…

It is a really beautiful park and during our two days there, we barely saw other cars or people. Sadly, there is no information when you get to the gate. All we got was a bare room and a guy off his head. He was so out of it, he could hardly write. We were told to just follow the main road and that was that. Thanks to Tracks for Africa, we ventured out into all the smaller off roads and found a stunning park with beautiful scenery and many elephants.

We came across a family of elies making their way to the water, also plenty of crocs!

A group of three elephants, including a juvenile, standing together in a natural setting.

A group of elephants gathered near a water source, with several adult elephants and a baby elephant in a natural setting surrounded by trees.

A group of elephants in a natural habitat, with one large elephant in the foreground and smaller elephants behind, surrounded by greenery.

A group of four elephants standing together near a water source, surrounded by greenery.

A large crocodile resting by the water's edge, with a calm surface reflecting the surroundings.

A crocodile swimming in murky water, partially submerged with its body visible above the surface.

The park is truly beautiful and very wild. We saw so many elephants and met some people at our camp who had not seen any! There were no cats this time but the scenery made up for that and so did the many, many elephants we saw at various lagoons.

A solitary baboon sitting on the ground in a dry, grassy area, surrounded by sparse vegetation and trees. — Baboon

A group of hippos partially submerged in a calm body of water, with their ears and eyes visible above the surface, surrounded by shimmering water reflections. — Got to love hippos… Look at those ears!

A large elephant standing on a dirt path near a water source, with mud on its skin and a background of greenery. — Fun in the mud, look at the baby sliding about

A group of elephants, including a mother and her young calf, covered in mud, standing on a dirt mound in a natural setting.

A hippopotamus standing on a dry patch of land adorned with vegetation, accompanied by a small white bird nearby.

A hornbill perched on a weathered branch against a blue sky. — Hornbill

A hornbill bird perched on a weathered tree stump, with a bright orange beak and a contrasting black and white plumage against a blue sky.

A group of elephants wading through a calm body of water surrounded by lush greenery and blue sky with fluffy clouds.

Bottoms!

Two elephants standing by a water source, facing away from the camera, with the larger one on the left and a smaller one on the right.

A group of elephants is wading in a shallow water area, with some elephants facing away, surrounded by tall grass and trees.

A group of six elephants standing near a water source, with their backs facing the viewer, surrounded by grass and trees.

A herd of elephants gathered by a riverbank, with several young calves, and a white bird standing nearby.

Three elephants near a water body, with one standing prominently in the background and two in the foreground, surrounded by tall grass and a couple of white birds.

Two elephants standing by a riverbank with greenery in the background, accompanied by a few white birds nearby.

An elephant wading through shallow water surrounded by green vegetation and grass.

A group of four elephants standing near a water source, with one elephant lifting its trunk, and a hippopotamus partially submerged in the water. Several white birds are seen in the foreground.

A large, ancient baobab tree with a thick trunk and bare branches against a clear blue sky, surrounded by greenery.

A large, leafless tree with a thick trunk and sprawling branches against a bright blue sky.

Close-up of an elephant's head in black and white, highlighting its textured skin and tusk.

A close-up of a muddy elephant with large ears standing on dusty ground near a water source.

A close-up of an African elephant standing in a grassy area near a water source, showcasing its large ears and tusks.

This one wasn’t happy the hippo was enjoying the water too

A young elephant stands on the shore of a river, gazing curiously at a hippo submerged in the water nearby.

An elephant standing on the grassy bank of a river, looking towards a swimming hippopotamus in the water.

An elephant standing on the riverbank observing a hippo partially submerged in the water, surrounded by tall grass and trees.

An elephant shaking its ears near a riverbank with a hippo partially submerged in the water.

Close-up of an elephant's head with large ears and tusks, near a water body in a natural setting.

A large elephant walking near a water source, surrounded by grass and another elephant in the background.

A close-up of an elephant standing in sandy terrain near a body of water, surrounded by grass and trees.

A baby elephant walking near a group of adult elephants by a riverbank, surrounded by tall grass.

A close-up of an elephant standing near a body of water, with green grass and trees in the background.

A group of elephants interacting in a natural setting, with one younger elephant leaning toward an adult, both covered in mud.

Three warthogs grazing in a grassy field under sunny weather. — Warthogs

A large, leafless baobab tree stands prominently in the center of the image, surrounded by green foliage and a group of gazelles grazing on the ground beneath. — Impala

A herd of deer grazing in a grassy area near large trees, with blue skies in the background.

A colorful bird perched on a thin branch, featuring vibrant green plumage and a reddish-orange throat against a soft, muted background. — Red-throated bee-eater

A large bird with a black and white body, long legs, and a colorful head stands near a pond, with a smaller white bird visible in the background. — Saddled-billed stork, my favourites

Three birds perched on a weathered tree branch amidst lush green foliage. — Sacred Ibis

A wild boar standing among tall grass and brush, showcasing its distinctive tusks and shaggy fur.

A group of hippos resting in a shallow water area, with one partially submerged hippo peeking out, surrounded by greenery.

A group of baboons in a grassy area, with one baboon sitting in the foreground and two others walking in the background.

A baboon sitting on the ground in a natural setting, surrounded by dry grass and scattered vegetation.

A serene landscape featuring a calm river meandering through lush greenery, with trees lining the banks and sandy soil in the foreground.

A tranquil river scene surrounded by lush green trees and clear blue skies. — Sacred ibis

Two hippos resting on a bed of green aquatic plants.

An elephant reaching up to eat leaves from a tall tree in a natural habitat.

It was a stunning drive! We cut through Lower Zambezi NP and skipped Lusaka altogether, we try to stay out of big cities as much as possible and stick to the countryside instead. From there, we drove through a string of small villages, passing many curious and friendly locals along the way. We did stop to chat to some and as usual, they wanted their photo taken!

Three children posing with a bicycle in a rural setting, smiling and making hand gestures, surrounded by dry grass and trees under a clear blue sky.

Two young boys standing next to their bicycles on a dirt path, surrounded by trees and vegetation.

A clothesline with various colorful clothing items hanging outside in a rural setting, with mud houses and trees in the background.

Close-up photograph of an elderly man with a weathered face and gray beard, wearing a light-colored shirt, standing outdoors in a rural setting with trees in the background.

A young woman stands beside a hand pump well in a rural area, with colorful buckets nearby and dry vegetation in the background.

A woman carrying a large bundle of straw on her head while standing in an outdoor field.

A person carrying a large bundle of dry grass on their head while walking in an open field.

A rural village scene featuring traditional thatched-roof huts, trees, and a dirt pathway under a clear blue sky.

Bridge Camp is such a quirky place to stay. It was the only option around, so we just went with it.

Our room was pretty breezy since the windows didn’t actually have any glass, but the bed was comfortable. The price was exorbitant for what it was but the donkey boiler water heater was cool, and the restaurant food was surprisingly tasty.

A traditional thatched-roof house made of stone, surrounded by rocky terrain and sparse trees, with another small structure in the background.

Cozy bedroom with two beds, one made up and the other with clothing and a suitcase. Decorative patterned curtains cover the windows, and a fan is visible in the corner.

A metal stove releasing smoke, surrounded by rocks and dry vegetation in a sparse outdoor setting.

A sunset view over a river, featuring a silhouette of a suspension bridge in the background and trees along the riverbank. — Where we are going, with the sunrise.

A serene river landscape with rolling hills and lush greenery along the banks, reflecting a calm and tranquil atmosphere.

A smiling vendor holding a large basket filled with fresh vegetables, including cauliflowers and leafy greens, in front of a gas station. — Amazing cauliflower and huge lettuces, one lasted a whole week!

A person riding a motorcycle with a large load strapped to the back, traveling on a rural road. — Proof that you can carry anything on a bike.

South Luangwa was our main reason for visiting Zambia. We’d heard it was fantastic for big cats and I was really hoping this would be the trip where I finally saw a leopard.

The only downside for us was the camping setup. Unlike other places where you can pitch a tent right inside the park, Zambia keeps the campsites on the outside. We definitely missed that feeling of being tucked away deep in the wild at night and having animals walk around.

One great thing is that you can do walking safaris! We set off early in the morning and walked for 4 hours, it was really beautiful and so quiet. Got pretty close to some zebras, they weren’t bothered by us at all. Saw some buffalo in the distance too.

A group of monkeys are seen on a bridge, with some sitting on the railing and others scattered across the road, surrounded by trees. — Welcome committee at the park entrance

A group of four people walking through a dry, open field with sparse trees in the background during the evening.

A dry savanna landscape with sparse, leafless trees and tall grass, featuring a couple of zebras grazing in the distance.

Several elongated, pale brown fruits hanging from branches of a tree with lush green leaves against a blue sky.

A person holding a large, cylindrical, cream-colored object in a natural outdoor setting, surrounded by dry grass and trees. — From the sausage tree (Kigelia africana) These fruits can grow up to 60cms long and weigh up to 7kg!

Two people walking through a dry landscape with trees at sunset.

A herd of zebras grazing in a dry, grassy landscape with sparse trees.

Footprint in the dirt with a fallen leaf nearby, showing signs of wildlife activity. — Ungulate, maybe impala

A zebra standing in a dry grassy field with tall, bare trees in the background.

Tracks in sandy soil showing animal footprints and irregular patterns. — Lion print – they retract their claws when they walk unlike dogs, hyenas and jackals.

A wide view of a dry, barren landscape with sparse vegetation and fallen logs, featuring a lone person walking in the background.

Footprints in sandy soil with dry leaves scattered around. — Possibly a wild dog, hyena or jackal

A soldier in camouflage clothing stands in a natural environment, looking away, holding a rifle, with trees and dry grass in the background.

The park is very beautiful and we had some gorgeous drives although didn’t see many animals. Our best sightings were a massively huge herd of buffalo and hyenas finishing off a buffalo carcass. The sunsets from the campsite were out of this world. We stayed at Wildlife Camp, really nice spot right by the river. Plenty of hippos and loads of pesky monkeys.

A serene sunset over a river, with the sun glowing orange in the sky and silhouetted trees lining the bank.

Sunset over a river with trees lining the banks, reflecting the golden hue of the sun on the water.

A serene sunset over a river, with a pink sky reflecting on the water, and silhouettes of trees along the shore.

Serene twilight landscape featuring a river with a reflective surface, surrounded by land and trees under a colorful sky.

A serene river landscape at sunset, featuring calm waters reflecting orange and pink sky hues, with tree-lined banks and gentle ripples.

A tranquil river scene at sunset with golden reflections on the water and silhouettes of trees along the banks.

A gray monkey sitting on a rocky surface surrounded by dry leaves and sparse vegetation.

A serene sunset over a river, with a large sun setting on the horizon and its reflection shimmering on the water's surface.

Serene landscape showing a riverbank with exposed dirt and roots, reflecting the sky at sunset.

Sunset over a river, with the sun's reflection shimmering on the water's surface and silhouettes of trees and boats in the background.

A serene sunset view over a river, with the sun reflecting on the water's surface, surrounded by trees and a tranquil landscape.

Day two, another beautiful day of driving through the park, see what we find…

A black-headed ibis walking through green foliage in a wetland area. — African sacred ibis

Two giraffes standing in a natural habitat with greenery in the background.

Two giraffes standing together in a dry landscape with sparse vegetation and trees in the background.

A serene river landscape with a sandy bank, barren tree stumps in the water, and lush greenery in the background.

Two giraffes standing side by side with their heads turned towards the camera, displaying their unique patterns and long necks against a soft, natural backdrop.

For us, it is a wild park where we can see animals. For the local people, it is a place where they can fish and find food. We saw many mokoros (canoes carved out of trees) on the river and people sleeping by the fire at night. Not safe with all the crocs and hippos!

A riverscape featuring several worn boats along a muddy shore, with a person standing beside a water source in the background.

A tranquil riverbank scene featuring several wooden boats resting on sandy shores, with scattered fishing gear and debris visible in the background.

Two men in a wooden canoe on a calm river, one steering with a pole while the other sits casually.

A person standing in a small canoe on a calm river, using a long pole for navigation, with a barren landscape in the background.

A person in a red shirt paddling a wooden canoe on calm waters, with a reflection visible on the surface.

A man in a red shirt standing in a small wooden boat, using a long pole to navigate on a calm river with reflections on the water's surface.

A person paddling a wooden canoe in calm waters, reflecting their image on the surface, with a sandy bank in the background.

A boy in a red shirt paddles a wooden canoe on a calm river, with his reflection visible in the water and a sandy shore in the background.

A fisherman in a red shirt paddle a small wooden boat on a calm river, with his reflection visible in the water.

A woman sitting by the edge of a river, holding a stick and looking at the water, with a bucket nearby and reflections visible in the water.

A scenic view of a large, vibrant sun setting behind dark silhouettes of trees in a misty landscape.

A stork perched on a bare tree branch, set against a gray sky. — Yellow-billed stork

A grey heron standing upright in a wetland area with green vegetation, alongside a white ibis foraging in the mud.

A grey heron standing by a body of water, surrounded by green foliage and lily pads.

A black-necked stork standing in shallow water, pecking at the ground, surrounded by green grass.

A saddle-billed stork standing on dry, cracked ground with sparse greenery in the background.

A black and white stork with a bright red beak and yellow accents walking in a grassy area near water.

A brown bird with a long curved beak stands on muddy terrain, surrounded by green grass and yellow flowers. — African sacred ibis

Close-up of a water buffalo with prominent horns and expressive eyes, surrounded by blurred fellow buffaloes in the background.

A zebra standing in a grassy area with its back turned, showcasing its distinctive black and white stripes, while an elephant is blurred in the background.

A water buffalo stands on muddy ground with several birds perched on its back, while another water buffalo grazes in the background amidst a green landscape.

A hippopotamus resting in shallow water surrounded by green vegetation, with a bird standing nearby.

A hippopotamus resting partially submerged in a grassy area near water. — Battle scars

A crocodile resting on the bank of a body of water, with its reflection visible in the water.

A wetland area with green vegetation and scattered trees under a clear sky.

A lion resting under leafy branches in a natural habitat. — Very skinny lion

A serene sunset over a calm body of water, reflecting the orange sun surrounded by trees and land.

A close-up of an antelope grazing on grass in a natural habitat.

A group of buffalo, including a calf, standing beside a dusty path with lush greenery in the background.

Two African buffaloes grazing in tall grass, with the focus on one buffalo in the foreground and another visible in the background.

A close-up of an elephant's face partially obscured by foliage, showcasing its large ears and trunk.

When we came across the buffalos and the hyenas! We were told there was a buffalo kill by a pride of lions but when we got there, there were hyenas and vultures cleaning up. Cute little baby hyena kept hanging around but too scared to go near the bones. The adults kept fighting and dragging the carcass around, at time running off with bits!

A vulture with spread wings standing on dry grass, showcasing its distinctive plumage and posture. — White-backed vulture

A group of vultures standing on dry grass, one vulture prominently in the foreground with its wings slightly raised, while another is positioned behind it.

A hyena feeding on a carcass in a dry, grassy landscape, with visible ribs and bones scattered around.

A spotted hyena carrying a piece of carcass in its mouth, surrounded by dry grass and sparse trees.

A group of vultures scavenging on a carcass in a dry, grassy environment.

A hyena sitting near the remains of a carcass in a dry, grassy landscape.

A vulture walking on dry grass, with its distinctive hooked beak and dark feathers. — Hooded vulture

Two hyenas interacting with a stick in a dry, grassy area surrounded by sparse vegetation.

Two hyenas feeding on the carcass of an animal in a dry, grassy area surrounded by sparse vegetation.

A hyena walking while holding a piece of carcass in its mouth, with another hyena resting in the background.

A young hyena walking on dry grassland with a vulture in the foreground.

A spotted hyena standing on a dry, grassy terrain, next to a piece of animal remains.

A hyena sitting on dry grass, facing left with its mouth slightly open, showcasing its distinctive fur pattern and features.

Two hyenas in a dry, grassy landscape, one standing and looking towards the camera while the other rests on the ground.

A playful hyena lying on the ground, showing its teeth and a relaxed expression, amidst dry grass and sparse vegetation.

A hyena resting on its side in a dry, grassy landscape, with one paw covering its face.

A hyena scavenging on a piece of carcass in a dry, open landscape with other hyenas visible in the background.

Two hyenas scavenging on a carcass in a dry, grassy environment.

A hyena feeding on the remains of a carcass in a dry, natural landscape.

A spotted hyena standing on dry grass beside animal remains, in a natural setting.

Two hyenas scavenging on a piece of meat in a dry, grassy landscape.

A spotted hyena lying on the ground in a natural setting, surrounded by sparse vegetation.

A large vulture with spread wings stands on a dry grass field, showcasing its feather pattern and stature, while another vulture is seen nearby.

A spotted hyena lying on the ground in a natural setting, with a relaxed posture and a visible grin.

A hyena lying on its side on a dirt path, appearing relaxed with eyes closed and mouth slightly open.

Some other animals around the park.

A pair of hippos, an adult and a juvenile, standing on a grassy shoreline with several other hippos relaxing in the background, near a body of water.

Two hippos grazing on vegetation at the edge of a water body, with several hippos resting in the background.

A giraffe grazing on bushes in a natural setting.

A giraffe standing amid tall grass and bushes, with a blurred riverbank in the background.

A woman sitting on a log in a field with tall, dry grass, holding binoculars to her eyes.

A saddle-billed stork walking near a shallow water body in a grassy area.

This was truly incredible! We drove to a lagoon to look at a huge baobab tree. We were watching the zebras and saw some buffalo coming out of the bush. More and more kept on coming, like hundreds! All marching towards the water, they took it in turns going in to drink. You really can’t capture the space and the sheer numbers in photos….

A large, leafless baobab tree with a thick trunk and branches against a clear blue sky, surrounded by sparse vegetation and a dirt path.

A herd of water buffalo standing in a dry, grass-covered area with sparse vegetation.

A group of water buffalo resting together in a grassy area, with a few birds perched on their backs.

A herd of water buffalo resting among lush green vegetation, with a few birds perched on their backs.

A close-up of a water buffalo with large curved horns, surrounded by other buffalo in a lush green landscape.

A herd of water buffalo resting in a grassy area, with several animals lying down and a few standing in the background.

A herd of water buffalo walking through a green field, with several small birds perched on the back of one buffalo.

A large herd of buffaloes resting in a green field near a forested area.

A group of buffalo grazing in a green field, with some animals prominently displaying their large curved horns.

A group of water buffalo resting on green grass with a small bird standing among them.

A herd of buffalo resting on green grass in a shaded area.

A large herd of buffalo grazing in a lush green field surrounded by trees.

A large buffalo standing in a green field, with several birds perched on its back. — Oxpeckers

A group of buffalo resting together in a lush green area, surrounded by trees.

Two buffaloes grazing in a lush green field with small birds perched on their backs.

Close-up of a zebra's head showing its distinctive black and white stripes, with ears perked up and a background of dry grass.

A zebra grazing in a grassy area, showcasing its distinctive black and white stripes against a natural background.

A zebra standing in a dry, grassy area with two birds perched on its back.

A group of zebras standing together in a dry, grassy area with sparse trees in the background.

A zebra walking on dry ground with two birds perched on its back, surrounded by sparse vegetation.

Three small birds perched on the back of a zebra, showcasing its distinctive black and white stripes.

A baboon sitting among dry grass in a natural setting.

A baboon sitting in a field of brown grass, looking to the side with its mouth slightly open.

Close-up of a baboon's face showing a playful expression and visible teeth.

A leopard lounging on a tree branch, partially obscured by green leaves. — My first ever leopard, not the best, but hey, better than nothing!

A leopard resting on a tree branch, partially obscured by leaves and branches.

I think there were about 16 giraffes when we got back to the campsite. Wasn’t expecting that at all. Hadn’t seen that many animals around camp so it was a great surprise. And some impala too!

A woman photographs a group of giraffes in a grassy landscape near a river, with trees in the background and a sign indicating a swimming pool camp site.

Four giraffes standing on a grassy area near a river, with lush greenery in the background.

A mother giraffe stands beside her calf in a natural habitat, with other giraffes in the background near a river.

A tall giraffe standing on green grass with a riverbank in the background.

A group of several giraffes standing near a bush, with some stretching their necks to eat leaves. The backdrop includes a lush landscape with trees and an open area.

Two giraffes feeding on leaves from a bush in a savannah landscape near a riverbank.

A giraffe standing by a riverbank with a natural landscape in the background.

A group of giraffes standing and eating near bushes in a natural setting, with a riverbank in the background.

A group of five giraffes standing together in a natural setting, with trees and a river in the background.

A giraffe standing near a river, with its neck curved back over its body, showcasing its distinctive spotted coat and long legs.

A group of six giraffes standing together in a natural setting, with trees and a river in the background.

A horned antelope resting on grassy terrain.

A resting antelope lying on the ground, with short, curved horns and a slender body, surrounded by grassy terrain.

So many birds in the park!

A serene landscape featuring a pond covered with lily pads, surrounded by trees and dry grass under a clear sky.

A black bird standing on a grassy wetland filled with water lilies, with two hippos partially submerged in the background. — African openbill

A gray heron standing in calm water, reflecting its image, with lush greenery and autumn colors in the background.

A group of hippos relaxing in shallow water covered with greenery, with a bird standing among them.

A group of hippos resting in a body of water covered with green vegetation, with one standing ibis perched on a hippo's back and another ibis standing nearby. — Hamerkop in the background

A kingfisher perched on a branch over still water, surrounded by dry twigs and foliage. — Brown-hooded kingfisher

A colorful bird perched on a bare branch against a light gray background. — Bee-eater

A colorful bird with a green body and orange-brown head perched on a bare branch.

A young stork standing on long legs in a dry grassy area, with greenery and branches in the background. — Juvenile saddle-billed stork

A black and white bird standing on one leg in a dry, grassy area.

A tall bird with a long neck and beak, featuring a mix of brown and white plumage, standing among dry vegetation.

A group of small birds with blue and brown plumage perched among branches with green leaves. — Blue waxbills

A bald eagle perched on a branch, surrounded by green leaves and a clear sky. — Fish eagle

A bald eagle soaring in a clear blue sky with wings outstretched.

A group of four pied kingfishers perched on a branch over a body of water, with two birds grooming and the others in various poses. — Pied kingfishers

Five kingfishers perched on a wooden branch over water.

A heron standing in shallow water, surrounded by aquatic plants and reflecting sunlight. — Grey heron with frog

A heron standing in a shallow pond surrounded by green aquatic plants, with reflections in the water.

A large black bird with a distinctive red facial patch walking on rocky terrain. — Southern ground-hornbill

A hippopotamus partially submerged in water, surrounded by green grass and water plants.

A young waterbuck standing on a dirt path, looking curiously at the camera with soft sunlight illuminating its fur. — Young waterbuck

A hippopotamus resting in a marshy area surrounded by green vegetation and water.

It was a long drive but we decided to go to a hippo hide. Wow, it was really impressive. A small hide overlooking water full of hippos and crocs. Again, nobody about at all, just the sound of the hippos and the birds to keep us company.

A group of hippos resting on a sandy riverbank and partially submerged in the water.

Two crocodiles resting on a small land formation in a body of water, with one crocodile in a more elevated position and the other lying down nearby.

A large crocodile resting on dry earth near a body of water, showcasing its textured skin and long tail.

A group of hippos resting in shallow water and on a sandy bank, with one hippo standing and others lounging in the water.

A large crocodile resting on a sandy bank beside a body of water.

Two hippos playfully swimming in a river, creating splashes of water.

Two black and white storks wading near a shallow waterbody, with a crocodile resting on the bank in the foreground and sandy terrain in the background.

Two crocodiles resting on the banks of a river with sandy areas in the background.

A group of hippopotamuses resting on a sandy riverbank with some playfully interacting with one another.

Two colorful birds perched on a branch, with earthy tones in the background. — Bee-eaters

A crocodile lounging on a sandy riverbank, partially submerged in shallow water.

A crocodile resting partially submerged in water with its mouth open, surrounded by a sandy shore and two birds standing nearby. — African jacana birds

A hippopotamus walking near the water's edge, with a crocodile resting in the shallow water and a couple of birds nearby.

A group of four hippos partially submerged in water, with a sandy shoreline in the background.

A close-up view of a hippo standing on sandy ground, showcasing its large head and distinctive features.

A hippopotamus walking on sandy ground, showcasing its large body and distinctive features.

A large hippopotamus standing on sandy ground with a grassy background.

A hippo standing in shallow water, roaring, with several other hippos submerged nearby.

A hippopotamus standing on a sandy area with birds perched on its back.

A close-up of a hippopotamus with a bird sitting on its back, against a sandy background.

A group of hippos resting in shallow water, with some partially submerged and others on a sandy bank, in a natural habitat.

A group of hippos resting and basking on the shore and in the water of a river.

Two saddle-billed storks standing on a sandy bank near water, one facing the camera and the other turned slightly, with a fish eagle in the background.

A large crocodile displaying its teeth while resting on the riverbank.

A group of hippopotamuses resting in a water body, with two hippos foraging on the shore among green vegetation, while several others are submerged in the water.

A group of hippos resting in a lush green wetland surrounded by water and vegetation.

On our last day in the park, we followed a herd of elephants as they made their way to the water. The sun was going down, the light was beautiful and it was truly a magical moment. No other people around, just silence and the elephants.