South Luangwa
Zambia · Eastern Province · 550 m
Description
South Luangwa is the best known national park in Zambia and the place where the walking safari was invented, a valley of oxbow lagoons and ebony groves along a river that changes course every few years and leaves its old bends behind as waterholes. Leopard density here is among the highest in Africa and night drives find them regularly. Thornicroft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra occur only in this valley. The dry season concentrates elephant, hippo and buffalo on the shrinking river in numbers that are hard to credit. Mfuwe has an airstrip with daily flights, which makes it the easiest park to reach.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 4 to 10 days (optimal 5 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: June – October
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Walking safari with an armed guide
- Leopard on the night drive
- Hippo pods in the shrinking river
- Thornicroft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra
- Elephants crossing at Mfuwe lodge
- Oxbow lagoons and the ebony groves
- Carmine bee-eater colonies in the banks (August - November)
- Wild dog packs in the mopane
- Fly camping on a walking trail(Multi-day trip)
- Kawaza village and the community projects
- Vultures and storks at the dry-season carcasses
Getting there
- Airports:
- MFU