South Luangwa National Park

Zambia

South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park is Zambia’s most famous safari park, considered by many to be one of Africa’s finest wildlife sanctuaries. Centred on the spectacular oxbow lagoons and open floodplains of the Luangwa River, this is a diverse and fertile region supporting an abundant population of wild animals and birdlife.

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South Luangwa National Park is defined by the Luangwa River system, whose waters sustain a highly fertile landscape and attract all manner of wildlife, including staggering concentrations of hippo, large elephant herds, wild dog, lion, leopard and cheetah.

Unlike the northern Luangwa, the southern Luangwa Valley is predominantly flat, a broad area of alluvial plains interspersed with marshland, light woodland and savannah grasslands that rise gently in the west where the park meets with the Muchinga Escarpment, forming its western boundary. This favourable geography, combined with the constant water supply from the Luangwa River and its tributaries, is what makes South Luangwa National Park such a reliable location for excellent game-viewing, with intense concentrations of wildlife to be seen along the river and its surrounding floodplains at all times of the year.

In and around the South Luangwa, Zambia
Walking and mobile safaris are a special highlight of the Luangwa region – north and south – but game drives, boating safaris and canoeing are also available at nearly all of the camps in the South Luangwa, while a select few lodges also offer micro lighting. For a real bush experience, we suggest visitors to the South Luangwa consider fly-camping.

Game-viewing in the South Luangwa focuses on the Luangwa River and its floodplains. Beyond the central riverine area, much of the park is wooded with large ebony forests that open out onto plains dotted with mopane, leadwood and baobab. At its far western boundary it meets with the Muchinga Escarpment. Game-viewing activities in the South Luangwa rarely extend beyond the central floodplains, though those combining both North and South Luangwa will find they can explore quite different environments across the two parks.

South Luangwa is typically accessed via Mfuwe Airport, with daily flights available from Lusaka. Direct flights to Mfuwe are also available from Lilongwe, in neighbouring Malawi. Road access from Lusaka to the Luangwa Valley is possible, but it is a full day drive.

Featured itineraries

Two Rivers Zambia Safari

An 8-day Zambia safari taking place on and around two of Zambia’s primary rivers, the Luangwa and the Zambezi, both of which offer excellent game-viewing activities - by foot, by vehicle and by boat. The Luangwa Valley is one of the great unspoilt wilderness areas of Zambia, and, indeed, one of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Africa.

Destination

Zambia

Experience

Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £6500 pp

Secrets of South Luangwa

Zambia’s most famous wilderness park, the South Luangwa Valley, is also one of Africa’s greatest wildlife sanctuaries, famed for its pristine scenery and prodigious game. This 7-day safari itinerary will allow you to experience the best that the Luangwa has to offer, with an emphasis on traditional, low-impact walking safari activities.

Destination

Zambia

Experience

Safari and Wildlife Holidays
Walking and Climbing

Prices from £6100 pp

South Luangwa Explorer

Discover the game-rich Mfuwe area of the South Luangwa National Park, and enjoy the comforts of Kafunta River Lodge and Island Bush Camp on this 5-day guided safari itinerary. Game-viewing activities include the guided walking safaris for which the South Luangwa is justly famous, and day and night game drives.

Destination

Zambia

Experience

Safari and Wildlife Holidays
Walking and Climbing

Prices from £2980 pp

South Luangwa Wilderness Safari

Explore the South Luangwa Valley on foot, by 4x4, or a combination of the two on this guided one-week safari hosted by the Bushcamp Company. Choose from one of three fabulous bushcamps - Bilimungwe, Kapamba and Zungulila - each hosting a maximum of 8 guests, ensuring an intimate safari experience in this most wild and remote of African safari parks.

Destination

Zambia

Experience

Safari and Wildlife Holidays

Prices from £4470 pp

Bilimungwe Bushcamp

Bilimungwe is a tiny, four-room bushcamp situated on the banks of the Luangwa River, under the cover of a giant mahogany tree. It is one of six specialist walking camps in the Luangwa run by the Bushcamp Company.

Chamilandu Bushcamp

Chamilandu camp offers comfort, class and beauty in one of the Luangwa Valley's prime river locations.

Chindeni Bushcamp

Chindeni enjoys an enviable position on the banks of the Luangwa River, where it overlooks a busy lagoon from under a canopy of giant ebony trees.

Chinzombo Camp

Chinzombo is a super luxurious all-villa safari camp set on 60 acres of private land just outside the South Luangwa National Park.

Flatdogs Camp

Flatdogs Camp is one of the best options for travellers to South Luangwa on a modest budget, offering comfortable, family-friendly accommodation and excellent game-viewing.

Kafunta River Lodge

Kafunta River Lodge is situated in a quiet corner of the South Luangwa Valley where it overlooks a game-rich floodplain adjacent to the National Park.

Kapamba Bushcamp

One of the more luxurious bush camps in South Luangwa, Kapamba camp boasts a fine location on the banks of the Kapamba sand river, in a remote corner of the National Park.

Kapani Lodge

Kapani Lodge is one of the oldest lodges in the South Luangwa Valley, and occupies a prime location close to the Mfuwe area of the National Park, right on the edge of the Luangwa River.

Kuyenda Bushcamp

Tucked away underneath a canopy of riverine trees on the banks of the Manzi River, Kuyenda is a charming camp, offering intimate accommodation in a remote, game-rich area of the South Luangwa National Park.

Mfuwe Lodge

Mfuwe is among the largest and most luxurious lodges in the South Luangwa Valley. It offers high-end accommodation in a great location at the centre of the park, overlooking a game-rich lagoon.

Nkwali Camp

Nkwali Camp is located on private land immediately outside South Luangwa National Park, to which it enjoys access via a private pontoon. Small, intimate and unpretentious, it offers lovely rooms and a great location.

Norman Carr Bushcamps

Norman Carr offer four bushcamps in the Luangwa Valley - Luwi, Nsolo, Kakuli and Mchenja - each with varied locations allowing you to get as close to the wildlife as possible.

Nsefu Camp

South Luangwa's very first safari camp, Nsefu Camp can trace its origins back to the early 1950s, when it was opened by reputed safari operator Robin Pope.

Robin's House

Robin's House is a lovely private safari home located on the banks of the Luangwa River, close to Robin Pope's Nkwali Camp. Ideal for families and groups, it offers accommodation for five in two bedrooms.

Tafika Camp

Tafika Camp is a private bush camp situated in a remote region of the South Luangwa National Park. It serves as the base camp of Remote Africa Safaris, and is managed by RAS founders Carol and John Coppinger.

Tena Tena Camp

Managed by Robin Pope Safaris, Tena Tena Camp is a very small and exclusive camp situated in the remote Nsefu sector of the South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.

Zungulila Bushcamp

The newest camp in the Bushcamp Company collection, Zungulila is a classic tented camp set on the banks of the seasonal Kapamba River, in the southern Luangwa.

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South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park

Southern African honeymoon