Around one and a half times the size of Delaware, South Luangwa is considered by many to be the crown jewel of Zambia’s national park system. It has a stellar reputation among seasoned safari enthusiasts as one of the most phenomenal game parks in all of sub-Saharan Africa, but is being challenged by Kafue and certainly Lower Zambezi National Parks these days. South Luangwa National Park is one of four national parks (as well as several game reserves) in the Luangwa Valley, the terminus of the Great Rift Valley that stretches from the Red Sea down through East Africa. (And in all fairness, the Great Rift Valley splits at the southern end, forming both the Luangwa Valley as well as Lake Malawi to the east.) Drinking Leopard, South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)Sunset in South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)
One of the reasons everyone in the safari business knows South Luangwa is Norman Carr, a conservationist who was instrumental in setting up Zambia’s national parks. He was a legendary game ranger and then a safari guide. He retired in South Luangwa and ran a safari camp, drawing attention and admiration to the area. Cookson's Wildebeest (an endemic species) in South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)
South Luangwa National Park can be accessed easily via commercial aircraft into Mfuwe airport. Flight time from the capital Lusaka is just over an hour, but this is an international airport and you can fly in from Johannesburg, Addis Ababa, or Doha or Dubai (to name a few). The large park—which follows the Luangwa River and the valley formed from it—has many oxbow lagoons and smaller river tributaries which are great for game viewing. A very high percentage of camps in the park are located on the Luangwa River or along those tributaries or lagoons. The riverine ecosystem has large areas of flat grassland spread out from the rivers, making wildlife viewing exceptional. Big cape buffalo in South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)
There are convenient lodges near the Mfuwe Gate, as well as luxury lodges still connected to the electrical grid if you push in a bit further. I was fortunate enough to stay at several lodges in various areas of the park. The further from the main gate we traveled, the better the game viewing in my experience. We saw leopard, hyena, and lion. But we also were able to spot some of the Luangwa Valley’s endemic subspecies: Cookson’s wildebeest and Thornicroft’s giraffe, as well as Crayshaw’s Zebra (which has expanded beyond the valley and as such, can no longer be considered endemic). Crayshaw's Zebra in South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)Hyena stretching after a nap in the Luangwa Valley (Jason Maynard)
You can take walking safaris in the park, go on night drives with a spotlight, local village visits, and boating safaris along the river. On one of our night drives, we spotted a leopard who had already killed its dinner, and lay contentedly eating while we snapped photos with the spotlight on the big cat. The leopard had eaten so much of the ungulate that our guide could not identify the species. Leopard enjoying dinner during a spotlight game drive in South Luangwa National Park (Jason Maynard)
I thoroughly enjoyed the various endemic species, the great night drives, and the beautiful scenery all throughout the park. I did not get a chance to do a mobile walking safari, where you hike through the bush from one camp to another going deeper and deeper into the park. South Luangwa is one of the few places where you can do a mobile walking safari, so hiking and wildlife enthusiasts should check it out!
It is time to get to Zambia!
Yawning Lioness (South Luangwa National Park) (Jason Maynard)
Adventure Life is always an excellent choice when planning complicated, extreme, or exotic vacations or expeditions. They provide friendly professional services and advice and are enthusiastic and encouraging in helping us to prepare and thoroughly enjoy our trip. They handle all the details which greatly reduces the stress of planning a difficult trip. I'm very impressed with Adventure Life and definitely recommend them to friends and family.
Scott Trochim
2 days ago
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
4 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
5 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.
