Overview–zambia

Sioma Ngwezi National Park

Zambia’s third-largest park, Sioma Ngwezi National Park is a remote and seldom-visited wilderness area with practically no amenities and low wildlife densities. As long as your expectations aren’t too high, the park is worth a visit when staying in the area. Nearby attractions are the impressive Ngonye Falls and a beautiful stretch of the Zambezi River (popular for tiger fishing). Sioma Ngwezi forms part of the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA), a vast international peace park that allows free movement of animals throughout.

Best Time to Visit

Sioma Ngwezi has no permanent water sources and animals move out in the Dry season. The park is best visited in May and June, just after the Wet season, when there is still some water around. From December to April, the roads might become difficult to navigate.

Scenery

Sioma Ngwezi’s main habitat is Kalahari woodland. The dry terrain is flat and forested with tracts of miombo and acacia woodland. There are areas of magnificent teak forest as well. The Kwando River forms the western boundary (also the border with Angola) but there are no other waterways in the park. Dambos (wetland pools) are the main source of water for animals.

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Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: May and June (Best wildlife viewing)

High Season

From: Never (The park is never busy)

Size

From: 5,000km² / 1,931mi²

Wildlife & Animals

There is a good variety of wildlife in Sioma Ngwezi. Most of the usual species are present (rhino is missing). Elephant numbers are high, and giraffes might be spotted too. Different habitats support herds of zebra, puku, impala, eland, and tsessebe. Sought-after antelopes such as sable and roan are present too. The main predators are lion, leopard, and spotted hyena but they are rarely encountered. Cheetahs and wild dogs might be present as well.

General Wheather

The weather and climate of Sioma Ngwezi is comparable to that of Zambia in general. The Dry season in Zambia is a lovely time to visit – it’s divided into a cooler period (May to August) and a hotter one (September and October). Zambia is right in the tropics and gets lots of rain in the Wet season (November to April). At that time many camps in Kafue, Lower Zambezi and the more remote parks shut down. The Mfuwe section of South Luangwa can be visited at any time of year.

Dry Season –May to October – Winter

In winter, there’s hardly any rain and humidity is low. Thirsty animals crowd around the waterholes and rivers to drink.

May – The end of summer, when temperatures are pretty cool: typically, 11°C/52°F in the morning and 25°C/77°F in the afternoon. Nighttime temperatures also start to drop and the rains have mostly come to an end.
June, July & August – The average morning temperature is a chilly 10°C/50°F, so bring warm clothing for early game drives. Afternoons are pleasant, with temperatures around 23°C/73°F, although lower-altitude parks such as South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi will be hotter.
September & October – The heat slowly builds and the first rains bring relief from very dry conditions. Daytime temperatures are around 31°C/88°F in October, which is the hottest month. In the lower-lying parks, temperatures often peak at over 40°C/104°F.

Wet Season –November to April – Summer

Due to high rainfall and bad roads, the Wet season months from December to March are not ideal for visiting Zambia.

November – An unpredictable month, but usually with some afternoon rain. Temperatures average between 18°C/64°F in the morning and 29°C/84°F in the afternoon.
December, January, February & March – The wettest months, with heavy downpours in the afternoon. Afternoon temperatures are around 26°C/78°F and the humidity is high.
April – The rains slow down and so does the humidity.

Prons

Off-the-beaten-track destination
Easily visited en route to Liuwa Plain National Park
Nearby attractions include Ngonye Falls and the Zambezi River
Several nearby lodges, on the Zambezi, are set up for fishing

Cons

Not much wildlife and animals are skittish
Lack of permanent water makes animals move out in the Dry season
Very little development in the park

How To Get There

There is a good road from Livingstone to Sioma Ngwezi, but the sandy tracks in the park aren’t great, and a sturdy 4x4 is essential. If you want to visit the park independently, you should pick up a scout at the park’s office. Alternatively, you can try to book a trip with one of the lodges along the Zambezi near Ngonye Falls.