Southern Province: World Heritage, National Parks and River Landscapes

Zambia’s Southern Province brings together a variety of travel experiences: the transboundary Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls World Heritage Site, several national parks, and a network of rivers and lakes. Livingstone, birdwatching, archaeological history and tours on the water give the region a range of focal points. As you plan your trip, consider which of these aspects interests you most.

World Heritage in Livingstone and Zambia

Livingstone, Zambia’s tourism capital, is in Southern Province. The city is home to the transboundary UNESCO World Heritage Site of Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, which Zambia shares with Zimbabwe. The World Heritage Site includes 3,779 hectares of Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park in Zambia.

The dimensions of the waterfall also give a sense of this natural heritage shared across the national border. In Zambia, Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls is about 1,708 metres wide, an average of 100 metres deep, and 108 metres deep at its deepest point. These measurements describe the waterfall; they are different from the area of the national park included in the World Heritage Site.

National Parks, Landscapes and Waterways

Lochinvar, Blue Lagoon and Mosi-oa-Tunya National Parks are in Zambia’s Southern Province. Kafue National Park is partly in the province. This geographical distinction is useful when considering the region’s different landscapes and activities.

Southern Province’s waterways include the Zambezi and Kafue rivers and Lake Kariba. Floodplains, woodlands and termite mounds shape the landscape of Lochinvar National Park. The Gwisho Hot Springs are also located there, along a geological fault. Lochinvar thus brings together a range of natural features within one national park.

Birdwatching, History and Tours on the Water

Lochinvar National Park offers opportunities for birdwatching, with more than 420 species recorded there. The park also has an archaeological side: Sebanzi Hill is an archaeological site and the location of an Iron Age village that was inhabited until the last century. Nature watching and history are two distinct reasons to explore Lochinvar.

Most riverside camps and lodges in Kafue National Park offer boat trips year-round. At the same time, water levels vary considerably throughout the year. Available trips may vary by operator, so check availability before making specific plans. Canoe trips are also offered in Kafue, particularly at Kaingu. Their current availability may also depend on the operator.

The experiences described are therefore quite different: Lochinvar combines landscapes, birdwatching and archaeological history, while boat and canoe trips are the main water activities in Kafue. World Heritage and Livingstone are another focus of Southern Province. These themes give you different starting points for planning your trip around your own interests.

Discover More Destinations

Discover more destinations: Livingstone, Simonga, Siatwinda, Mafuta, Siavonga, Komanyana, Ngoma, Jenga Jenga, Sinazongwe, Kazungula, Choma, Chirundu, Kalomo.

Go to the main travel overview: Zambia.