Nsofu

Safaris at Nsofu River cruise

Sunset cruises depart the lodge at 4 pm, and will take you up and downstream to view the late afternoon activities of the abundant wildlife that call the Zambezi their home.

From bush buck and water buck on the lookout for predators, to elephant coming down to the water to drink and play, hippos wallowing and crocodiles cruising in the river – even lions sunning themselves on the banks of the river. The Zambezi at sunset is truly an amazing, enchanting experience. You will arrive back at the lodge just after sunset – around 6 pm to 6.30 pm depending on the time of year.

Bird watching

Whether you are already a hardcore bird-enthusiast or never thought about 'birding' before in your life: after your first safari to the Lower Zambezi, birds will win over your heart. 378 species have been recorded here, including many species of eagle, heron, stork and bee-eater.

And just considering the kingfishers (both beautifully coloured and black and white species) you'll find that the pied, giant, woodland, malachite and brown-hooded kingfishers are all common here. Similarly, the river is frequented by darters, cormorants, egrets, storks and fish eagles that are often seen perching in trees, overlooking the water.

The Lower Zambezi is also rich in wading birds, both resident and migrant; uncommon residents include ospreys, spoonbills and African skimmers. No worries if all these names don't ring a bell: your guide will tell you where to focus your binoculars and share plenty of bird-factoids.

With top guides, plentiful wildlife, and a simple yet stylish safari river lodge, Nsofu is an ideal safari destination for the self catering enthusiast who wants to get away from it all and unwind, enjoy a river safari, fishing and bird watching to rejuvenate the soul, body and spirit.

To see the local life take a nature walk to the neighbouring banana fields. Talk to the friendly locals and enjoy the experience.

Tiger fish - The formidable tiger fish is world-renowned for being a fierce, hard-fighting fish that has a reputation of being the toughest freshwater fish to pursue. Tiger fish is a top target for most anglers, particularly fly fishermen, as it is one of the fastest fresh water game fish in Africa.

Bream - Apart from tigerfish, many fly fishermen come to the Lower Zambezi specifically to catch the Nembwe. A deep bodied tilapia, sometimes called yellow bellied bream. The Nembwe around Nsofu are of good size, around the 2kg mark, and give a good fight.

Vundu - The vundu is the largest true freshwater fish in Southern Africa, reaching up to 1.5 m in length and 55 kg in weight. It can be found in the Zambezi and Kafue rivers around Nsofu.

Nkupi - The area offers the keen angler a chance to catch Nkupi an excellent fighter in its own right.