Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park | Victoria Falls Zambia
One of the smaller national parks in Zambia, Mosi-oa-Tunya protects a wildlife region that is bordered by Livingstone town, agricultural land, and the Zambezi River. It extends from the Batoka Gorge and continues for about 12km / 7.4mi along the Zambezi River, above Victoria Falls.
Some of the old animal migration routes and river crossing locations that Livingstone borders are still used by elephants today. Not all of them are located in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park, which is home to animals all year round (elephants, in particular, during the dry months).
Because no other wildlife region in Zambia is home to white rhinos, this park stands out. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife’s scouts diligently guard these against poachers.
No dangerous animals have ever set foot in this small haven. This, along with the fact that it is surrounded by man-made features, ensures that the wildlife population remains constant all year round. Along with the migrating elephants, the park is home to a variety of year-round residents, including crocodiles, monkeys, baboons, impala, buffalo, waterbuck, wildebeest, zebra, bushbuck, warthog, and white rhino. In addition to a wide variety of bird species, their habitats include grassland, riverine forest, and mopane woodland.
This park is home to two historic sites: the Old Drift Crossing Point and the Cemetery, the latter of which contains the graves of the first European immigrants. Prior to the construction of the bridge across the Zambezi, the Old Drift served as the crossing point for ox-wagons.
From Livingstone, you can easily reach this park. There are a variety of ways to get about the park, including driving (self-drive or game-viewing safari), walking (guided walking safari with an armed ranger), and cruising the Zambezi River.
For a fun outing with the kids, a taste of safari, or a break from “town life” when you don’t have time to go farther afield, Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park is the perfect destination.
Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park is sometimes overlooked by visitors to Livingstone and Victoria Falls, despite its abundance of other attractions. However, most visitors will drive through the park on their way to other activities. However, this stunning and unexpectedly unspoiled park’s lack of visitors is one of its selling points.
Known as Mosi-oa-Tunya or the Smoke That Thunders in the languages of the Koloko and Lozi peoples, the park encompasses the Eastern Cataract of the Victoria Falls. The waterfall’s life-giving spray sustains this region of beautiful rainforest. Warthogs and smaller antelopes call the forest part home. And it’s all situated on the banks of the magnificent Zambezi River. You will be able to witness this unique region of Zambia in its most serene state during your time here.
Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park Facts
Area: 23.4km² / 14.5mi²
Founded in: 1972
Province: Southern Province
Co-ordinates: 17.8709° S, 25.8108° E
Best time to Visit Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
The majority of tourists will probably stop by that park on their way to see the Victoria Falls, which are at their most spectacular in the months of February and March when the water level is at its highest (and the spray is so thick that it makes it nearly impossible to see the Falls). The Falls are at their most spectacular between April and July, after which the river begins to slow down and dry up in some areas. Though some of the rock is visible in October, the Falls are still spectacular and well worth a visit even in this “worst” month.
The animals don’t go on any kind of migration because the park is so tiny, so they’re usually easy to spot. Whether you’re looking to ease into or out of a longer or first safari, there is a year-round choice that will suit your needs.
Getting There
Livingstone may be reached directly by plane from several South African cities (Cape Town, Nelspruit, and Johannesburg), as well as Nairobi, Kenya.
From Lusaka, self-drivers can take the T1, which is more than seven hours long and is considered a full day’s journey. Another common transfer route begins in Botswana at Kasane and ends in Zimbabwe at Victoria Falls Town. From there, passengers can cross into Zambia via the ancient railway bridge and continue on to Livingstone, a distance of around 16km / 10mi.
Wildlife in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
Despite its diminutive size, Mosi oa Tunya is jam-packed with diverse habitats, as previously indicated. Aside from being a great location to see more uncommon species like klipspringers and clawless otters, the gorges may also be rather fruitful. Additionally, this is one of the few spots in Zambia where you can spot rhinos, which are heavily protected and subject to round-the-clock monitoring.
Elephants, crocodiles, and hippos are among the larger species, while baboons and vervet monkeys are primates.
Birding in Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
Birdwatchers can begin checking off raptor species—including augur buzzards, Verreaux’s eagles, peregrine and Taita falcons—without ever setting foot in the bush. African black ducks, finfoots, and blue-billed teals are birds to keep an eye out for.