SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK ZAMBIA
South Luangwa, Zambia’s flagship wildlife destination in eastern Zambia is well-known as “The valley of the leopards”. It is a great wilderness and pristine paradise for families, couples or solo travellers.
South Luangwa is one of Africa's greatest wildlife sanctuaries. It is filled with grass plains and woodlands including the Luangwa River. This River is the life blood for the park which is the home of the African walking safaris and has one of Africa's largest elephant concentrations. The park offers very pure and natural wildlife experiences. Its breathtaking to do a morning game drive through the wide open plains, and have the first sun rays on your face, while nature is slowly waking up without any other humans around you except the people in your jeep.
Animals to look out for are the endemic Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra.
South Luangwa Safari is game-rich, peaceful and has spectacular nature. South Luangwa in Zambia boasts a bird list with more than 450 species and on a good dat you can spot more than 100 species. South Luangwa is also home to the big four, you can see lions and leopards in all their majestic glory.
Its an ideal park for solo women travelers and families looking for safe guided wildlife experiences.
There is a wide range of camps spread out across the south park, many of them are frequently visited by wildlife.
South Luangwa is situated in the heart of the pristine Luangwa valley in eastern Zambia and founded in 1904. The game reserve is about 9050 square kilometers big and lies on an altitude of 500- to 800 m above sea level. This game-rich park is one of Africa’s last great wildernesses and a fantastic place for everyone who loves nature and wildlife. Visitors can enjoy spectacular safari experiences, like exhilarating walking safaris of multiple days that go deep into the bush of South Luangwa national park.
Best Time to Visit South Luangwa
The dry periods are from April - October, the dryer it gets, the more animals concentrate around the drying pools. The Rainy season is from November to April, during this period is less crowded in the park and everything is beautiful green. At the end of the rainy season the birthing season starts. A Lot of lodges are closed during the peak of the rainy season. Some roads in and to the park are difficult to drive.
Camps Inside the park - Mfuwe lodge and the Bushcamps ( Kapamba, Bilimungwe, Chamilandu, Chindeni, Zungulila or Kuyenda), Chichele and Puku Ridge, Chinzombo and the Bushcamps (Muchenja, Kakuli, Luwi, Nsolo), Zikomo, Lion Camp, Chikunto, Kafunta and the Bushcamps (Three Rivers and Island Bushcamp) Tafika and Chikoko, Luangwa River Camp, Nkwali, Luangwa Safari House and Robins House, Tena Tena, Nsefu and Kaingo and Mwamba Camp.
Highlights
South Luangwa National Park
-
Discover countless of different wildlife species including predators like lions, leopard, hyena and the critically endangered wild dog.
-
Stay at some of the best safari accommodations in the world where wildlife frequent visits the premises.
-
Find the largest hippo population of the world.
-
Vibrant array of birdlife including migrant birds and rare bird species like the Yellow billed African spoonbills.
-
Feel one with nature during a walking safari or driving through the vast open plains of the Valley
-
Visit a community project or local village and meet the sweet local people who love to share their stories and traditions.
Top 15 things to do in South Luangwa Zambia
-
Experience a walking safari and see wildlife hidden deep insight the South Luangwa bush.
-
Enjoy morning, afternoon and evening game drives through the game-rich safari park with local guides .
-
Buy local community products in nearby villages
-
Stay at wonderful bush campsites in the national park boundaries.
-
Meet the local people of that live in the surrounding villages of South Luangwa.
-
Go birdwatching on the banks of the Luangwa River
-
Enjoy canoeing in the South Luangwa River
-
Support and participate in conservation activities in South Luangwa
RKS- DJS on TripAdvisor
“This was one of my favourite parks throughout our trip across Africa. We saw so many different animals. The sunset drive is something I'll never forget.”
Sample Itineraries with South Luangwa
Our 11 nights best value safari tour which is perfect for families stays 4 nights in South Luangwa in the Kafunta River Lodge. Expects to see lots of wildlife during the game drives. Cross the river with a pontoon and enjoy cultural activities in the nearby village. The itinery also includes stays in Lower Zambezi and a visit to the Victoria Falls
Our favorite Safari Lodges in South Luangwa
Flatdogs
Visitors get the high class services for a very affordable price at this excellent accommodation. The food is amazing and the staff very friendly and helpful. Enjoy staying at the tented camps overlooking the Luangwa River. Frequently visited by wildlife, excellent location to start game drives.
Track and Trail
A wonderful location, where elephants regularly visit the wildlife rich areas around the lodge. Track and Trail have chalets as well as tented campsites with luxury tents. The South Luangwa park entrance is just a 5 minute drive.
The home of the African walking safari and where you will find the black rhino.
NORTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK SAFARI ZAMBIA
This remote area is 4,636 square kilometres of virtually untouched landscapes and offers one of the finest wilderness experiences for an African safari. It is there are no permanent camps.
North Luangwa is in the oldest section of Africa's Great Rift Valley. The Luangwa River has shaped this unique landscape over millennia that many regard as “The Real Africa.”
The ecosystem is home to a unique and diverse species community and is one of the last large undisturbed regions in central Africa. It is also the only park in Zambia boasting the Big 5. This pristine wilderness landscape area teems with wildlife and offers one of the most spectacular settings for game viewing experiences in Africa. It is wild and untouched with no permanent camps, not easily accessible and offers walking safaris only. (Best time is July-October)
Camps in the park – North Luangwa Lodge, Mwaleshi and Takwela and Buffalo Camp.
LUAMBE NATIONAL PARK
SAFARI ZAMBIA
One of Zambia’s smallest parks at 254 km² and is situated on the eastern bank of the Luangwa. Luambe lies in the heart of the Luangwa valley between Lukusuzi, North and South Luangwa national parks.
The park was declared in 1938 and is one of the oldest conservation areas in Zambia. The wildlife found is similar to that of her neighbours and includes all the typical large herbivores, carnivores. The animals in Luambe presently are in lower densities than North and South Parks. Luambe is less crowded than its more famous neighbours and is steadily growing to be one of the better parks to visit as animals numbers are increasing.
Habitat diversity in Luambe National Park is enormous and within a few kilometers the vegetation ranges from riverine forest, cathedral mopane woodland, floodplain acacia thickets to the sausage tree-dotted open grasslands of the Chipuka plains. There are over 200 species of birds in Luambe and elephant populations as well as those of lion and leopard are said to be on the increase – so it’s well worth visiting now before the crowds catches on!
Luambe Camp & Conservation was formed and over the last 7 years, has quietly been achieving amazing results. Visiting Luambe is perfect place for those seeking a conservation safari in Africa and get involved.
Luangwa National Parks offer some fantastic conservation and sustainability projects which are well worth a visit https://www.ntandaventures.com/sustainable-tourism-zambia
