Quite simply, your safety is best assured by going on safari with a reputable operator. Aside from the valley's magical scenery and some of the most spectacular sunsets on earth at any time of year, you're assured of seeing big game including hippo, buffalo and elephant. The large game is found in higher concentrations past the Nyakasanga River into Mana Pools and the Lower Zambezi National Park. Lion, leopard and other predators are found in the area but are more often than not heard and not seen - leopard in particular are very elusive. Kudu, waterbuck, impala, zebra and eland are among the more common antelope found.
Baboons are a common sighting particularly near the main camps.
The birdlife is always spectacular and varied with over 300 recorded species in the Mana area. The best time of year for birds particularly the migratory species is in the summer months from November to April. Insects in the Zambezi Valley are fascinating even for avid bug-haters. The population explodes in the wet season. On the backed up canoe safaris there's a full blown mobile tented camp set up in advance of your arrival at each overnight stop.