What it is
A park on the north bank of the Zambezi downstream of Kariba, with a floodplain of winterthorn trees and an escarpment wall behind it. The river here is wide, island-studded and full of hippo and crocodile.
Why go
The activities are on the water. Canoeing past elephants feeding on islands, tiger fishing from a boat, walking on the floodplain in the early morning. Elephant, buffalo and lion all use the river terrace, and wild dog pass through. It suits people who want to be in the landscape rather than driving around it.
When to go
Camps run from about April or May to late October and close for the rains. Game viewing gets better from August as the interior dries, and the October heat is severe. The canoeing is calm water rather than rapids, but hippo make it a guided activity and not a casual paddle.
Most people stay 3 nights.