South Luangwa National Park Overview
Dubbed as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, the concentration of wildlife species around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, are some of the most intense in Africa. Founded in 1972, South Luangwa National Park covers a vast area of 9059 square kilometres, and as a protected game reserve for over 65 years before that, it has been relatively untouched by the degradation of unregulated mass tourism and therefore sustains a truly “pristine wilderness” feel. Add to this its life-blood, the Luangwa River, one of the most intact major river systems in Africa, and you have one of the greatest wildlife draw cards on the planet.
Whilst much of the wildlife is concentrated along the valley floor, and closer to the river, there is also the remote Muchinga escarpment which acts as a physical barrier to many of the park’s animal species, and where species like Hartebeest, Sable and Roan among others can be found.
The Park not only hosts a wide variety of wildlife and birds, but its diversity of vegetation is also something to be marvelled at. From Mopane and Miombo woodlands, to Acacia Scrub, open grassland Savannah and Riverine forests, the area has continual contrasts in its landscapes. Other common trees include Leadwood, Vegetable Ivory Palm, Marula, Tamarind and Baobabs. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from dry, bare Bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months.
The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park when Norman Carr, originally a ranger in the game reserve in the 1940’s, began to operate safaris in the area. Norman recognised the light footprint impact on the conservation of the area and formed walking safaris for those wanting to explore the wonders of the area.
Due to the untainted light pollution of the area, South Luangwa is renowned for its night skies where an impressive blanket of stars cloak over you through darkness, and the awe-inspiring view of the shimmering milky way above sends you into slumber.
When To Travel
Seasonal changes are pronounced in Luangwa with a distinct wet and dry season. The hot, drier months of June to October make for great wildlife viewing as animals concentrate in large numbers around water sources and vegetation is dry and sparse. The wetter months of November through to April are great for bird enthusiasts, and lodges will stay open for as long as they are accessible, with several lodges in the central area of park remaining open year-round.
April to July
April is the start of the dry winter season, typically sunny and warm during the day and chilly in the early mornings and nights; July is mid-dry season.
August to October
Temperatures continue to rise with October and November being the hottest month. Game concentrations are at their highest around water sources and vegetation is dry and sparse.
November to March
This is the start of the wet season through to the end of March and the dry brown vegetation is transformed into rich lush greenery making a haven for the huge flocks of migrant birds.
Getting There
By road
South Luangwa National Park is located near the village of Mfuwe and is an estimated 700km from Lusaka. The most common route is from Chipata, 123km to Mfuwe on a tarred road. Although accessible for 2WD, it is recommended that 4 x 4 vehicles are always used when accessing National Park areas.
By air
Proflight is the only airline flying scheduled domestic flights in Zambia and fly daily from Lusaka to Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), just outside the park. It is also possible to fly directly to Mfuwe from Lower Zambezi NP (Jeki/Royal Airstrips).
Species
Wildlife
South Luangwa offers four of the Big Five and in total there are an estimated 60 different wildlife species throughout the park. Night drives are popular with regular leopard sightings and offering opportunities to see other smaller nocturnal creatures including porcupine, genet, and bush-babies. Whilst Painted Dogs are present in the park, it is rare to see them. Specialties include the Thornicroft giraffe, Crawshay’s zebra (which has an unusual stripe pattern), Cookson’s wildebeest and Puku (an antelope of similar size to impala but with a thicker and rich red coat – usually prolific around the wetland areas).
Birdlife
South Luangwa NP is a birder’s paradise, with over 400 recorded bird species; including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species. Near the end of the dry season, when the waters have receded, hundreds of water-birds can be seen wading through the shallows – including the saddle-billed stork with its striking red, yellow and black beak and the largest of the herons, the stately looking goliath. Endangered crowned cranes with their majestic golden tufts congregate in large flocks around the salt pans. The best months for sighting migratory birds which arrive in their hundreds are November through to April. These include the European swallows, swifts, the stunning southern carmine bee-eaters (which nest along the river banks), the Steppe eagles and Steppe buzzards that come all the way from Russia. Other notable bird species include the great white pelican, ground hornbill, open billed stork, little bee-eater, Lillian’s lovebird, African skimmer, African pitta, moustached warbler, African broadbill, white headed black chat, racket tailed roller, western banded snake eagle, Verreaux’s eagle owl, Allen’s gallinule.
Dubbed as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, the concentration of wildlife species around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, are some of the most intense in Africa. Founded in 1972, South Luangwa National Park covers a vast area of 9059 square kilometres, and as a protected game reserve for over 65 years before that, it has been relatively untouched by the degradation of unregulated mass tourism and therefore sustains a truly “pristine wilderness” feel. Add to this its life-blood, the Luangwa River, one of the most intact major river systems in Africa, and you have one of the greatest wildlife draw cards on the planet.
Whilst much of the wildlife is concentrated along the valley floor, and closer to the river, there is also the remote Muchinga escarpment which acts as a physical barrier to many of the park’s animal species, and where species like Hartebeest, Sable and Roan among others can be found.
The Park not only hosts a wide variety of wildlife and birds, but its diversity of vegetation is also something to be marvelled at. From Mopane and Miombo woodlands, to Acacia Scrub, open grassland Savannah and Riverine forests, the area has continual contrasts in its landscapes. Other common trees include Leadwood, Vegetable Ivory Palm, Marula, Tamarind and Baobabs. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from dry, bare Bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months.
The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park when Norman Carr, originally a ranger in the game reserve in the 1940’s, began to operate safaris in the area. Norman recognised the light footprint impact on the conservation of the area and formed walking safaris for those wanting to explore the wonders of the area.
Due to the untainted light pollution of the area, South Luangwa is renowned for its night skies where an impressive blanket of stars cloak over you through darkness, and the awe-inspiring view of the shimmering milky way above sends you into slumber.
Seasonal changes are pronounced in Luangwa with a distinct wet and dry season. The hot, drier months of June to October make for great wildlife viewing as animals concentrate in large numbers around water sources and vegetation is dry and sparse. The wetter months of November through to April are great for bird enthusiasts, and lodges will stay open for as long as they are accessible, with several lodges in the central area of park remaining open year-round.
April to July
April is the start of the dry winter season, typically sunny and warm during the day and chilly in the early mornings and nights; July is mid-dry season.
August to October
Temperatures continue to rise with October and November being the hottest month. Game concentrations are at their highest around water sources and vegetation is dry and sparse.
November to March
This is the start of the wet season through to the end of March and the dry brown vegetation is transformed into rich lush greenery making a haven for the huge flocks of migrant birds.
By road
South Luangwa National Park is located near the village of Mfuwe and is an estimated 700km from Lusaka. The most common route is from Chipata, 123km to Mfuwe on a tarred road. Although accessible for 2WD, it is recommended that 4 x 4 vehicles are always used when accessing National Park areas.
By air
Proflight is the only airline flying scheduled domestic flights in Zambia and fly daily from Lusaka to Mfuwe International Airport (MFU), just outside the park. It is also possible to fly directly to Mfuwe from Lower Zambezi NP (Jeki/Royal Airstrips).
Wildlife
South Luangwa offers four of the Big Five and in total there are an estimated 60 different wildlife species throughout the park. Night drives are popular with regular leopard sightings and offering opportunities to see other smaller nocturnal creatures including porcupine, genet, and bush-babies. Whilst Painted Dogs are present in the park, it is rare to see them. Specialties include the Thornicroft giraffe, Crawshay’s zebra (which has an unusual stripe pattern), Cookson’s wildebeest and Puku (an antelope of similar size to impala but with a thicker and rich red coat – usually prolific around the wetland areas).
Birdlife
South Luangwa NP is a birder’s paradise, with over 400 recorded bird species; including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species. Near the end of the dry season, when the waters have receded, hundreds of water-birds can be seen wading through the shallows – including the saddle-billed stork with its striking red, yellow and black beak and the largest of the herons, the stately looking goliath. Endangered crowned cranes with their majestic golden tufts congregate in large flocks around the salt pans. The best months for sighting migratory birds which arrive in their hundreds are November through to April. These include the European swallows, swifts, the stunning southern carmine bee-eaters (which nest along the river banks), the Steppe eagles and Steppe buzzards that come all the way from Russia. Other notable bird species include the great white pelican, ground hornbill, open billed stork, little bee-eater, Lillian’s lovebird, African skimmer, African pitta, moustached warbler, African broadbill, white headed black chat, racket tailed roller, western banded snake eagle, Verreaux’s eagle owl, Allen’s gallinule.
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