South Luangwa National Park
Zambia's most desirable safari destination!
South Luangwa National Park is located on Zambia’s eastern side and is considered the finest safari park in Zambia! The park is famed for its plentiful game, its variety of game viewing activities and most importantly, its exceptionally high quality of guiding and walking safaris that has raised the bar across all of Africa! At a size of nine thousand square kilometres, the topography of the park is one of the most varied in Zambia as the Luangwa River winds through vast open plains, dense woodlands and waterlogged marshes.
The birthplace of walking safaris
For those looking for an authentic and professional walking safari experience in Africa, Zambia is by far, the obvious choice! Norman Carr (founder of Norman Carr Safaris) was the original innovator of walking safaris in Zambia and his dream was to secure the future of Luangwa’s unique wilderness. He believed that you never truly knew a place until you’ve walked it and today, his legacy lives on across the Luangwa Valley as all of the camps have highly experienced and knowledgeable guiding.
What to do?
Whilst many national parks are limited to day game drives, South Luangwa National Park is a destination that benefits from its variety of safari activities, including day and night game drives and its infamous walking safaris. The day is often split between a morning and a late afternoon activity, allowing you a few hours in the middle of the day to enjoy a light lunch or indulge in an afternoon siesta or a relaxing armchair safari.
The wildlife in South Luangwa National Park is diverse and reliable, with huge herds of elephant or buffalo to be seen on a regular basis, as well as high populations of impala and antelope. There are many predators in the park including large lion prides, leopard and spotted hyena. Of all the predators, South Luangwa National Park has become renowned for its leopard sightings, seen on reguarly on game drives and even on foot! Although much more uncommon, it is also possible to see African wild dogs and the best time of the year to see them is between February and May.
When to go?
The South Luangwa National Park is seasonal and the best time to go is the period between June and October when the park is at its driest and the days are warm with plenty of sun. The game viewing by vehicle and foot, is the most reliable during these months as the animals concentrate around the rivers for their primary water source. The wet season outside these months make certain areas of the park extremely difficult, or impossible to access. This is because Luangwa’s infamous black cotton soil becomes extremely sticky and wet, making the roads simply impassable, even for safari 4x4’s! Some camps open during the ‘emerald’ season which lights up the park with vibrant green tones and it is a particularly good time to visit for those interested in birdlife.
