The Lower Zambezi National Park is located on the north side of the Zambezi River in southeastern Zambia. Before 1983, the area was a private game reserve owned by Zambia's president. This protection limited large-scale tourism and helped preserve the park as one of Africa’s few remaining untouched wilderness areas. Across the river lies Zimbabwe’s Mana Pools National Park. Together, the two parks are part of the Zambezi floodplain, surrounded by mountains. The area is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The park slopes gently from the Zambezi Escarpment down to the river, covering two main woodland savannah ecoregions. These areas are defined by the types of trees that grow there: Southern Miombo woodlands on higher ground in the north, and Zambezian and Mopane woodlands on lower slopes in the south. Near the river is a floodplain habitat.

The park is surrounded by a larger area called a Game Management Area (GMA). There are no fences between the park and the GMA, allowing animals and people to move freely across the entire region. The park and GMA are known for their remote location. There are no paved roads, and visitors are unlikely to see other tourists. A small airport, Jeki Airstrip, is located within the park and operated by Proflight Zambia.

Many large mammals gather on the floodplain, including Cape buffalo, a large population of elephants, lions, leopards, various antelope species, crocodiles, and hippos. Cape wild dogs are sometimes seen in the area. The park is also home to many bird species.

In 2011, a company called Mwembeshi Resources Limited proposed copper mining in the park. Their plan, named the Kangaluwi Mine, was approved in 2014, with mining expected to begin in 2023. However, in May 2023, the company was ordered to stop mining by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency and the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment because they violated conditions. Conservationists warned that mining could harm the park’s wildlife, the Zambezi River, and Zambia’s tourism industry.