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Zambia's most famous safari destination, South Luangwa National Park is tropical, wild, beautiful and full of game.

Situated in a wide rift valley, the park is flanked by the Muchinga escarpment to the west and the meandering Luangwa River to the east.

Wildlife of South Luangwa National Park

Much of the game is found near the river, with herds of elephant and buffalo descending the dusty banks to drink. Large crocodiles laze on sandbanks and at dusk hundreds of hippo leave their pools and lumber up the banks to graze. Impala and puku are common and the beautiful Thornicroft’s giraffe can be seen in the dappled forests. Cookson’s wildebeest, Crawshay’s zebra, waterbuck, bushbuck, grysbok and oribi are also found. Predators abound with lion and spotted hyena, while the leopard are always a highlight.

Birdlife

Finally, there are over 400 species of bird with highlights including flocks of crowned cranes, colonies of carmine bee-eaters and a breeding colony of yellow-billed stork.

Walking safaris

Walking safaris are a speciality in the Luangwa. Accompanied by guides and scouts, walks explore the riverbanks and pretty dambos with their green Nile cabbage and crocodiles. There are also day and night drives in open 4x4s.

The Green Season

In November the Luangwa receives its first rains. Short downpours followed by warm sunshine lead to an explosion of vegetation. Grass grows to six feet tall, trees flower, pans fill and rivers burst their banks. Animals take advantage of the abundant food to give birth to young, and flocks of migrant birds arrive. It’s a time of plenty, when the parks are colorful and bursting with life.

During the rains Kapani, Nkwali and Tafika run green season safaris exploring the tributaries, flooded pans and accessible plains. These are superb for birdwatching and seeing Africa at its most vibrant.