Mosi oa Tunya National Park

Size and Landscape

Mosi oa Tunya is the smallest Park in Zambia covering an area of 68 km2. It is situated in Livingstone and was declared a National Park in 1972. This is the most visited Park because of the magnificent Victoria Falls. The maximum height of the Falls is 108 metres and the mean maximum water flow is 540 million litres per minute, normally reached in March or April.

The terrain is fairly flat except below the falls in the gorges’ area. Elevations vary between 790 and 900 meters above sea level.

The dominant vegetation type is mopane woodland although small areas of teak and miombo woodland are also present. Along the edge of the Zambezi River there is a narrow but distinct band of riverine forest.

Habitat and animal population

The most frequently sighted mammals are baboon and velvet monkey. At least 10 km2 of the Park is fenced and set aside as a Zoological Park. Animals found are giraffe, white rhino, elephant, buffalo, impala, puku and warthog. There is a varied bird life including the Taita falcon, a rare bird which nests in the gorges. Others are shrike and sunbird.

 

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