A Guide to Wildlife on the Zambezi: What to Spot and When

One of the greatest privileges of staying at Palm River Hotel is that some of Africa’s most iconic wildlife can come to you. Set on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, the hotel offers a front-row seat to nature, where animals gather to drink, feed and cool off just metres from your room.

August, in the heart of the dry season, is one of the best times of year for wildlife viewing. As the vegetation thins and water sources become more limited, animals are drawn to the river’s edge throughout the day, making sightings from the hotel surprisingly common.

The Zambezi is far more than a beautiful backdrop. It is the lifeblood of this extraordinary landscape, sustaining ancient ecosystems, nourishing countless species, and feeding the thunderous spectacle of Victoria Falls itself.

So grab a coffee, settle into a riverside seat, and enjoy your very own front-lawn safari. Here’s what you might spot during your stay.

The African elephant is the sighting every guest hopes for, and August rarely disappoints. Just upstream, Zambezi National Park is home to thriving elephant herds that make their way to the water each day during the dry season.

Watching these gentle giants at the water’s edge is unforgettable. Calves paddle close to their mothers, while experienced matriarchs lead the herd confidently through the shallower channels. From the hotel’s lower lawns or the Zambezi River Deck, you can often spot elephants gathering on the opposite bank.

Early morning and late afternoon tend to offer the best viewing opportunities, although wildlife has its own schedule. If you’re especially lucky, you may even see elephants wandering onto the hotel’s lawns.

The Zambezi supports one of Africa’s largest hippo populations, and you’ll soon understand why they are considered the river’s true locals.

By day, pods spend hours submerged in the shallows, surfacing every few minutes for air amid a soundtrack of grunts, snorts and splashes. As dusk falls, they emerge to graze along the riverbanks.

One of the most memorable experiences is simply sitting beside the illuminated pool after dark while listening to the deep calls of nearby hippos echo across the water. If you’d like to see them up close and personal, we recommend taking a Ra-Ikane River Cruise from the jetty in front of our hotel – a quizzy pod is sure to present itself.

August’s lower water levels expose sandy banks and sun-warmed rocks where Nile crocodiles spend their mornings basking. Motionless except for an occasional blink, they look almost unchanged from another age.

They are easily spotted from the riverbank or on a boat cruise, particularly during the cooler hours of the morning. Their quiet presence is a reminder that this is still a truly wild river.

Not every memorable sighting happens in the water.

Cape buffalo often gather along the river during late afternoon, while elegant waterbuck are regular visitors to the riverine vegetation near the hotel. Keep an eye out for bushbuck, impala and kudu too, especially in the softer light of early morning and evening.

Even guests who have never considered themselves birdwatchers often find themselves captivated by the Zambezi.

The unmistakable call of the African fish eagle is part of the soundtrack of every day, usually heard before the bird comes into view. Pied kingfishers hover expertly above the water before diving for fish, while giant and malachite kingfishers add flashes of colour along the quieter channels.

Patient observers may also spot the impressive Goliath heron stalking the shallows with remarkable precision.

From August onwards, Southern carmine bee-eaters return to nest in the sandy riverbanks – a true delight for those of us who stay on the lookout for their arrival.

Watching thousands of these colourful birds sweeping over the river is one of southern Africa’s great wildlife spectacles. They are best seen on a guided river cruise, where you’ll have the chance to get close to the nesting colonies without disturbing them.

One of the greatest pleasures of staying at The Palm River Hotel is that some of the best wildlife viewing requires almost no effort at all.

Find a comfortable chair on the lower lawns or the Zambezi River Deck, pour yourself a coffee, and simply watch the river.

For an even closer look, our activities team can arrange game drives into Zambezi National Park, guided birding excursions, and sunrise or sunset cruises aboard the elegant Ra-Ikane. Seeing the river from the water offers an entirely different perspective and regularly brings guests within easy viewing distance of elephants, hippos, crocodiles and exceptional birdlife.

Browse our elegant rooms and get in touch with our friendly reservations team at reservations@palmriverhotel.com to help you secure a booking.

Alternatively, secure your own dates online with our seamless booking platform and start dreaming of days spent in one of Africa’s most celebrated regions.

We look forward to welcoming you to Victoria Falls!