The Lower Zambezi National Park is full of life year-round. But at the end of the Green Season, when the Zambezi River runs high, and the canopy is still thick with fresh leaves, the entire landscape feels as though it is quietly brimming over, every channel, riverbank and forest edge holding movement, colour and sound in equal measure. It is a deeply rewarding time to be here, as there is a sense of ease and abundance, a safari that feels rich and unhurried, and filled with moments that unfold generously and, often, privately.
There is always a sense of anticipation when heading out, because the Lower Zambezi has a way of offering the unexpected, from a leopard draped effortlessly over the branch of a tree to the fleeting, electric energy of a pack of wild dogs moving with purpose through the bush, and yet, within that unpredictability, there is one presence that feels almost certain. Elephants.
This stretch of the Zambezi is, in many ways, an elephant’s paradise, shaped by the very things that define this season, with rich vegetation, reliable water, and an abundance of winterthorn trees whose nutrient-dense pods, affectionately known as “elephant biscuits,” provide a favoured food source. Drawn to these trees, elephants spend long periods feeding, often in loose, relaxed herds, and at this time of year, when resources are plentiful, there is a sense of ease to their presence, with unhurried moments that allow their interactions to unfold gently, offering a deeper glimpse into their world.
You begin to notice the playfulness first: young calves splashing at the river’s edge and clambering over one another with a clumsy confidence.
Nearby, older juveniles engage in gentle sparring, learning the boundaries of strength and hierarchy. The adults are always close, feeding steadily, occasionally pausing to dust themselves with dry earth or to reach higher into the trees, sometimes even rising onto their hind legs to access those sought-after pods, a behaviour that feels both powerful and unexpectedly delicate.
The river becomes an extension of their world. One of the most memorable ways to observe elephants here is from the water, where, from a boat or canoe, you are able to watch them enter the river to drink, bathe or swim, their massive forms softened by the current as they move with surprising grace, trunks lifted like periscopes as they cross deeper channels. Seen this way, they feel entirely at ease, part of a dance that belongs as much to the river as it does to the land.
On land, game drives offer a broader perspective, allowing you to follow herds as they move between feeding areas and water sources, while walking safaris bring a quieter, more detailed understanding, revealing the stories left behind in tracks, broken branches and the low, resonant vibrations of elephant communication that travel through the ground.
Each safari experience adds a layer, building a more complete picture of how these animals live and move through this environment.
Elephants in the Lower Zambezi are part of a larger, connected population that moves freely through the region, and their lives are shaped by strong matriarchal bonds, with older females guiding their families using a deep knowledge of the landscape, remembering where to find food and water even as conditions change. Their communication extends beyond what we can hear, with low-frequency rumbles that can travel over several kilometres, allowing them to stay connected across distances, while their intelligence and emotional depth continue to reveal themselves in small, often quiet ways.
April also marks Time + Tide’s return to the Chongwe River, as our camps reopen and the season begins. Time + Tide Chongwe offers front-row seats to the Lower Zambezi’s abundance, whether staying in the relaxed, riverside setting of Time + Tide Chongwe Camp, the private and beautifully designed Time + Tide Chongwe House, or the more intimate Time + Tide Chongwe Suites. Each provides a different way to experience the same extraordinary landscape. From here, elephants are never far, feeding in the surrounding trees or gathering along the riverbanks, their presence woven into daily life.
To spend time with elephants in the Lower Zambezi, at this particular moment in the season, is to see them in their happy place, surrounded by everything they need and moving without urgency, offering the opportunity to observe not just their presence, but their personalities, their relationships, and their place within a landscape that feels, for a short while, entirely full.
FOLLOW THE ROAD LESS TRAVELLED
Discover the road less travelled
Our expertise in African travel and conservation dates back for many decades, you can expect equally pioneering travel guidance from our award-winning team. Time + Tide are custodians of some of the most remote corners of our planet and it is our privilege to guide you along the road less travelled.