Zambia · Southern Africa
South Luangwa.
South Luangwa is the home of the walking safari and one of the most concentrated wildlife areas in Africa.
Photo Nicole Olwagen / Unsplash
The Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons draw game into a narrow, intensely productive strip in the dry months. Leopard densities are among the highest anywhere, and the park is one of the few places where night drives are standard rather than exceptional.
The green season changes the park completely: some camps close, roads become difficult, and those that stay open switch to boating and a landscape few visitors ever see. It is cheaper, wetter and, for a returning traveller, often more interesting.
How do you get to South Luangwa?
Fly to Mfuwe Airport, about an hour and a quarter from Lusaka, and most camps are then a drive of under two hours. The park can also be reached by road from Lilongwe in Malawi, which makes a combined Zambia and Malawi trip straightforward.
Where did the walking safari start?
In the Luangwa Valley. The conservationist Norman Carr began taking visitors on foot here in the 1950s, and walking is still the park's signature. A walk is led by a guide with an armed scout, at the pace of whatever is found on the ground, and the best way to take one is from a small remote bushcamp.
What wildlife is special to South Luangwa?
Two animals found only in the Luangwa Valley: Thornicroft's giraffe and Cookson's wildebeest. The park is also known for leopards, large herds of buffalo and elephant, a very high density of hippos in the river, and wild dog.
How long should you spend in South Luangwa?
Four to six nights, often split between a main camp on the river and a small bushcamp for walking. It combines naturally with the Lower Zambezi and Victoria Falls, or with Lake Malawi.
What is there to see in South Luangwa?
Sample journeys that stop here
- Timeless Luxury Zambia →Experience Zambia's wild beauty through unforgettable safaris, breathtaking landscapes, and warm African hospitality. From the awe-inspiring Victoria Falls to the wildlife-rich plains of South Luangwa and the tranquil waters of the Zambezi River, Timeless Zambia offers an authentic safari experience where adventure, luxury, and nature come together to create memories that last a lifetime.
What does South Luangwa pair well with?
- Lower ZambeziThe Lower Zambezi is a river park where canoeing and fishing sit alongside game drives, opposite Zimbabwe's Mana Pools.
- Victoria Falls and LivingstoneThe Zambian side of Victoria Falls gives the closest, wettest views, and Livingstone is the town that serves it.
- Lake Malawi, MalawiLake Malawi holds more species of fish than any other lake on earth, and the clear water makes them visible from the surface.
- Kafue and the Busanga PlainsKafue is one of the largest national parks in Africa and among the least visited for its size.
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