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South Luangwa National Park - About the park

South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Zambia’s natural resource base is vast. It covers an area of 752,612 km2 of which some 64,000 km2 are set aside for wildlife conservation. This large tract of land constitutes some 8 percent of the country’s total land mass and boasts of 19 National Parks and 32 Game Management Areas (GMAs) that have a rich natural heritage. This magnificent country is proud to have one of the largest concentrations of game in Africa, as well as stunning scenery and a rich and colourful cultural heritage. An endlessly absorbing land with a rhythm and essence of its own, Zambia invites exploration and offers innumerable discoveries and adventures.

The Luangwa Valley is one of Africa’s prime wildlife sanctuaries, with concentrations and varieties of game and birdlife that have made it world famous. This is the landscape of the ‘Real Africa’, with herds of antelope sheltering under thorn trees, or roaming the plains, predators skulking in the shadows and primordial drama in every vale. Experts claim South Luangwa is one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of game around the Luangwa River and its ox bow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa. One does not have to be an expert to recognize that!

The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life blood of the park's 9050km2. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this park and is still one of the finest ways to experience this pristine wilderness first hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness ranging from dry, bare shrub-lands in the winter to a lush green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction.

Wildlife
The hippopotamus is one animal you won’t miss. As you cross over the bridge into the park there are usually between 30 and 70 hippos lounging in the river below and most of the dams and lagoons will reveal many. There is estimated to be at least 50 hippos per kilometre of the Luangwa River!

In, but most certainly also outside of the park, you are bound to see elephants in small herds, gathering to form large herds in the dry season. You will find that the Luangwa elephant seems to be a bit smaller then its Southern Africa cousins and most of them lack the big tusks. Reasons vary according to whom you speak, but the extensive poaching history must have had its influences on their genes.
Interesting and valuable insights are given at the Chipembele Wildlife Education Centre. They aim to teach children to conserve and protect the local wildlife and natural environment and thereby help to generate sustainable development for the benefit of the local population for generations to come. This important education can only benefit the local animals as well!

Zebra can be seen running in small herds. The differences between Zambia’s Crawshay zebras and those in the south and east of Africa (Burchell Zebra) are in the stripes. Here they are purely black and white, lacking the shadow stripe found in the Burchell Zebra. You will notice the big difference when looking back at your numerous photos. Other endemic species of the Luangwa Valley include the Thornicroft’s Giraffe and the Cookson’s Wildebeest.

Buffalo are abundant and spread throughout the valley, also forming large herds when the dry season sets in.

The park has 14 different antelope species, most of which are easily seen on game and night drives. Watch out for the elusive bushbuck, widely spread throughout the park and even easily seen outside of the park boundaries. The most numerous antelope is the impala, these animals can be seen in herds all over the park. Not to be confused with the Puku, of similar size but a much fluffier buck with a rich orange coat and maybe elsewhere in Africa rare, but prolific in this area.
Perhaps the most beautiful is the Kudu, with its majestic spiral horns and delicate face. Although fairly common, they’re not always easy to find due to their retiring habits and preference for dense bush.

Of the primates, baboons and vervet monkeys are prolific. More scarce is Maloney’s monkey. Present, but unlikely to be seen except on night drives, is the night ape and the nocturnal bushbaby.

Hyenas are fairly common throughout the valley and South Luangwa has a good population of leopard but they are not that easy to spot. However the park claims to have the highest concentration of leopard and often visitors are rewarded with a glimpse or longer sightings. Personally we visited more then eighty parks in Africa and nowhere have we seen leopard that “easy” as here in the Luangwa Valley.

Lions are as plentiful in the Luangwa as anywhere else in Africa, but when a kill is made away from the central tourist area, the pride may stay away for several days and may not be seen by visitors on a short stay. Around the area of Mfuwe lodge there are regular sightings of a coalition of two male lions even picking up their tree climbing skills!
Of the other carnivores present but not often seen is the caracal, wild dog, serval and side striped jackal.

The Luangwa River also has an extraordinarily high number of crocodiles. It is not uncommon to see several basking on the riverbanks or even floating down the river tearing at a dead animal. Especially at the end of the dry season many hippos seem to end up as food for the crocs.

Birdlife
Bird-watching is superb in the Valley. Near the end of the dry season, when the river and oxbow lagoons begin to recede, hundreds of large water-birds can be seen wading through the shallows. Red faced yellow billed storks, pelicans and the striking 1.6m saddle bill are easily spotted. Then there’s the marabou stork, great white egrets, black headed herons, open billed storks, the stately goliath heron and so many more. Of the most beautiful are the elegant crowned cranes, with their golden tufts congregating in large flocks at the salt pans and heard easily when flying over in large numbers.
The African fish eagle is the national symbol of Zambia and found everywhere in the park. Their call is part of the natural bush-radio and their flight impressive.

In November, just before the rains set in, the migrants from Northern Europe and the intra-African migrants arrive to exploit the feeding opportunities that the warm rainy season brings. These include the red chested cuckoo, white storks, European swallows, swifts, hobbies and bee-eaters, as well as birds of prey such as the Steppe eagles and Steppe buzzards that come all the way from Russia.
A special sight is the hundreds of brightly coloured carmine bee-eaters nesting in the steep sandy banks of the river. Africa Geographic organises special birding trips during that November time to watch this colourful event first hand. Mfuwe resident Derek Solomon is world renowned for his special interest in birds. Should you be interested in having him guide you during this time, let us know well in time. We are happy to get in touch with him for your special needs.

With about 400 of Zambia’s 732 species of birds appearing in the Valley, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, there is plenty for the birdwatcher to spot, whatever the season.

Flora
For an enhanced experience of the bush, one would do well to develop an interest in the varying vegetation in Zambia. Some magnificent trees grow in the Valley and it certainly adds to the richness of your experience to begin to recognise different tree species and figure out the implications of them growing in that particular area. Among the more common trees in the valley are the mopane, leadwood, winterthorn, some beautiful specimens of baobab, large ebony forests, the tall vegetable ivory palm, marula and the magnificent tamarind tree. The sausage tree is obvious in and outside of the park and plays an important role in feeding the numerous animals of the valley!

Caring for the environment of South Luangwa National Park
Although many initiatives have brought a decline in poaching, the area of South Luangwa is still under the threat of poaching and ongoing deforestation. The Personal Touch wants to bring your attention this “other” side of living and working, but also visiting this magnificent area of Zambia, as many tourists do not see the ongoing struggle to conserve this area for generations to come.
The South Luangwa Conservation Society is a non-profit organisation committed to the conservation and preservation of the local wildlife and natural resources of the National Park and surrounding game management areas by means of anti poaching patrols and snare removal programs. Upliftment of local communities by alternative income generating projects such as fish farming, tree planting and chilli farming and the education of local children to appreciate their heritage and work towards sustainable wildlife utilisation and harmonious coexistence are all part of the work of SLCS. Working with and under the regulations of ZAWA (Zambian Wildlife Authority), regular patrols are conducted within the South Luangwa National Park and surrounding GMA’s (Game Management Areas). The Village Scout Scheme in the Kakumbi Chiefdom adjacent to the Park is a way of including people from the community in the protection of the area they live in.
And you can help too! Be part of their good work by donating. Just a few dollars can mean the life or death of that beautiful lion you took that photo off. Please take five minutes of your time and visit their website and join The South Luangwa Conservation Society, your help is highly appreciated.

Park entry
If you’re in your own vehicle, be sure to get a map of the park from the helpful scouts at the park entrance and follow the loop roads in the park, past dams bursting with hippos, crowned cranes, grazing antelope and scurrying baboons. In case you are travelling in a big group and would like to conduct your own drives, make sure to have a look at our rental game vehicles. Our cars seat up to nine persons enabling you to enjoy the drives with your complete party, ensuring nobody misses out on good sightings. A bonus for self drives is that there are no time restrictions and you can enter the park for the full twelve hours (06.00 -18.00).
To make the most out of your game drive, why not hire a private guide for your party. He is well known in the park, knows the best loops and game activities, plus it saves you the driving yourself. Needless to mention he is available for the entire day, only retiring after a exciting day in the park. Pre-booking is absolutely necessary as good guides are hard to come by and we are more then happy to assist you with additional information.

If you’re staying at one of the Valley’s lodges, their guides will ensure you have every opportunity to see all that the valley has to offer of its wildlife, birds and varying vegetation and habitats in both morning and afternoon drives. Normally their game drive activities are set hours, leaving around 6.00 and returning 10.00 for the morning and leaving around 16.00 to return around 20.00 for their afternoon drives. Not only are your booked drives guided by the professionals and thus you are getting more insights into any animal behaviour, but the bonus of staying in the park two hours after the gate closes for self drivers enables you to look for the nocturnal animals of the park.

Entry regulations and rules are obtained at the entrance of the park or at your lodge. As pricing and regulations seem to change regularly, please e-mail us for the latest information. Do note, entrance fees can only be paid cash in (preferably) US dollars or Zambian Kwacha. No credit cards or traveller cheques are accepted.

Getting there
Flying:
Mfuwe Airport has an international status and various airlines are looking at scheduled flights from abroad.
Currently the easiest way flying in is from Lusaka and possibly Lilongwe (Malawi).
Domestic flights operate about ten times a week in peak season (June-Oct) from Lusaka. Contact us with any questions as we can arrange your bookings easily.
Charter planes from outside the country can now fly direct without clearing customs at Lusaka and there are a number of charter companies in Zambia, which can fly to and from Zambia’s top destinations. Again, let us know your preferences and we will do the investigating for you.
We cater for Mfuwe airport transfers to and from all major lodges.

While you await your flight or before you head off to the bush, we offer a variety of excursions. Please have a look at our possibilities in these cultural attractions of South Luangwa’s Mfuwe and make sure to ask your lodge for additional details or contact us directly.

Driving:
Driving, one can approach from three sides. The usual route is from Chipata. This is a rough road to international standards and the 123km drive takes about two to three hours to Mfuwe, just outside the Park. This is during the dry season. In wet conditions the road quickly deteriorates and driving becomes a greater adventure, thus taking longer hours.

If travelling in a robust 4x4 from Lusaka, it is possible to take a short cut from the Great East Road at Petauke. This road follows the Luangwa River to Mfuwe with a lot of side tracks. As long as you follow the main track you can not go wrong. Only to be attempted well into the dry season. A good overnight stop between Lusaka and Petauke or Chipata is at the Luangwa River Bridge at Bridge Camp, just 5 km of the main road.

The Northern access is from Mpika on the Great North Road or Lundazi, near Zambia’s eastern border with Malawi. Just below Mpika, there is a road running down the Munyamadzi Corridor between North and South Luangwa Parks. It is passable but only in 4WD and preferably with two vehicles as help is a long way away. The mountain pass down the escarpment is quite formidable, very rocky and bumpy but the view over this, the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, is quite spectacular. Prepare for some river crossings, so again this route is “dry-season” only.

When to Go
Seasonal changes are very pronounced in Luangwa. The dry season begins in April and intensifies through to October, the hottest and locally called suicide month, when game concentrations are at their height. Warm sunny days and chilly nights typify the dry winter months of May to August. The wet season begins in November as the leaves turn green, and the dry bleak terrain becomes a lush jungle. The rainy season lasts up until the end of March and the migrant birds arrive in droves. Each lodge stays open for as long as access is possible, depending on its location in the area. Contact us for details.

Where to stay
There are many varied places to stay in the Valley ranging from luxurious safari camps to the lower budget chalets and camping. Most of the lodges are spread along the east bank of the Luangwa River, in the adjoining Game Management Area, conducting game drives and walking safaris along the west bank and in the Park itself. Some of the Lodges have bush camps deep in the Park for remote walking safaris.
As currently there are many operators in this area, there is plenty of choice. Most budgets or requirements can be catered for, however we must warn you: “South Luangwa does not come on the cheap” and real backpacker accommodation is not available.

It is difficult to name just one good place to stay, as there are so many! Just have a look at our accommodation reference, listing the numerous lodges and camps here in the valley. Your can also drop us an e-mail with your inquiries on any style of accommodation and we are happy to send you our references.

© 2009, The Personal Touch Ltd.

About the Park | Accommodation | Activities