South Luangwa Park, Zambia

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At the southern tip of the Great Rift Valley lies the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, one of Africa's premier wildlife sanctuaries. The brooding Luangwa River meanders through the luxuriant valley, supporting thousands of hippo and crocodile and sustaining the national park. The South Luangwa is a place of primeval forest and lush savanna, stretching for hundreds of miles and encompassing the Luangwa River floodplains; adjacent highlands and a mosaic of different habitats. It is particularly known for its walking safaris.

Each habitat attracts different wildlife so your safari would be best spent in 2 or 3 different bush camps within the Southern Luangwa National Park. We have visited plenty of them and know that there's a bewildering choice for safaris. We'll chat with you and help you decide which bush camps or lodges will suit you and will compliment each other.

The South Luangwa National Park has one of the greatest game concentrations in Africa. Elephant, a wide variety of antelope, buffalo, kudu, zebra, Thornycroft's giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest occur in great numbers, as well as over 400 bird species. Lion, wild dog and spotted hyena are also common and the South Luangwa is famed for its excellent leopard sightings. Leopard are highly concentrated in the Valley but also the South Luangwa National Park is one of the few African parks to allow night drives which of course increases the chances of spotting these nocturnal hunters on your safari. Night drives are a common feature of all Zambia’s parks and one of its advantages as a safari destination.

The South Luangwa safari experience differs with the seasons: the central, more sophisticated lodges close to the main gate at Mfuwe bridge, remain open year round as this is the only part of South Luangwa which doesn’t get water-logged. As the dry winter months begin, the rest of the park is reclaimed and from mid May/June to to September you can stay at small seasonal safari camps in glorious seclusion. Many visitors spend a couple of nights maxing out their camera’s batteries in the central region, where animals are relaxed and used to vehicles, then head into the wilderness to the north or south. Delightful safari camps occupy prime sites on ancient oxbow lakes, (the only remnants of the original water course if you remember your school geography), amidst shady ebony groves, and offer day and night game drives in open vehicles and walking safaris.

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