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Why visit South Luangwa National Park?
South Luangwa is one of the best places to see leopards. It is also home to unique seasonal bushcamps built from locally sourced wood and grass, which are dismantled at the onset of the rainy season and rebuilt when the landscape dries up after the floods.
Safari life in the valley centres around the Luangwa River and its rich floodplains, which spill over into the surrounding plains, savannas, and woodlands. During the annual flooding season, the river changes course regularly, creating new oxbow lakes and hairpin bends, which make it an ideal location for wildlife safaris.
Safari camps and lodges are situated along the banks of the Luangwa River, in the shade of massive riverine trees, with most other areas remaining untouched and distinctly wild, making it the perfect place for an authentic, off-the-beaten-track experience.
South Luangwa - the birthplace of walking safaris
British conservationist Norman Carr initiated walking safaris in South Luangwa during the 1950s to provide a more immersive, respectful, and educational way to experience the wilderness, shifting the focus from hunting to wildlife conservation and photography. This allows visitors to observe animals and the landscape in a unique way, noticing finer details and behaviours that are often missed from a vehicle.
READ MORE about the Luangwa Valley.
South Luangwa quick facts
South Luangwa National Park spans 9,059 km² (905,900 hectares), part of a much larger protected area exceeding 70,000 km² (7 million hectares), comprising the South Luangwa, North Luangwa, Luambe, and Lukusuzi national parks, as well as several large game management areas.
The Luangwa Valley is home to one of Africa's largest hippo populations and two endemic wildlife species. See below for more information.
Access is via the nearby Mfuwe International Airport, with daily flights from Lusaka and other cities.
Bush and beach: You can easily combine your South Luangwa safari with some sand-in-the-toes time on Lake Malawi - chat to our consultants via the prompts on this page.
What wildlife can I expect to see in South Luangwa?
Lions, leopards, wild dogs and hyenas are seen regularly, and the Thornicroft’s giraffe (subspecies of the Masai giraffe) is endemic to the area. Other Zambian specialities include the Cookson’s wildebeest (a subspecies of the blue wildebeest) and the Crawshay’s zebra (a subspecies of the plains zebra). Luangwa hosts one of the highest populations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa.
Over 460 bird species have been recorded in South Luangwa - including Lilian’s lovebird, Narina trogon, Pel’s fishing owl, western banded snake eagle and large flocks of carmine bee-eaters.
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South Luangwa FAQs
The best time to visit South Luangwa for game viewing is during the dry season, from June to October. June to mid-August offers cooler, comfortable temperatures, while September and October provide peak wildlife concentrations and hotter weather. The dry season is ideal because the vegetation thins, water sources become scarce, concentrating animals, and walking safaris are excellent due to dry ground and fewer mosquitoes.
The rainy season, from mid-November to April or May, brings localised flooding, making large parts of the park inaccessible. Many bush camps close during this time, but some larger camps remain open throughout this "green season", when boat trips and bird watching are favourite safari activities.
Peak season bookings require 12–18 months advance planning. Trips outside of peak season can be arranged 6–9 months ahead, with better rates and availability.
Safaris to South Luangwa typically cost from US$700 per person, per night, depending on the accommodation comfort level and activities. Our packages offer excellent value with transparent pricing.
Our safari prices typically include accommodation, all meals and described activities, park fees, experienced guides, airport transfers and 24/7 support from our team. Specific inclusions vary by package – contact us for detailed itineraries.
You only make your first payment when you book your South Luangwa holiday. Your second (last) payment is about 90 days before you travel.
We have been handcrafting experiential safaris since 1991. Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Booking through a respected tour operator with many years of experience means that all you need to focus on is helping us design your safari and then having a superb vacation. The rest - all the nitty-gritty detail and admin is done while you relax. Our 24/7 concierges take care of problems such as flight changes and missed flights, last-minute road transfer and lodge changes due to unexpected events, and itinerary changes requested by you.
Remember that you will not save money by attempting to book and manage your own safari, but you will inherit mistakes and problems that arise.
Yes, your money is safe. Your payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability. See what travellers say about us.
YES
by booking your safari with Africa Geographic, you make a significant difference because:
We donate a portion of every safari sold to selected conservation efforts at ground level
Your safari supports our conservation publishing efforts, which educate the world about Africa's incredible biodiversity and the local people who protect it
Our chosen lodges support local community initiatives, ensuring that tourism benefits the nearby villages directly. They also adhere to strict environmental practices, such as limited vehicle numbers and sustainable camp operations, which help protect the ecosystem
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!
Start planning your South Luangwa holiday
Our travel experts will craft a no-obligation itinerary just for you. We have crafted over 5,000 safaris since 1991. Your personal details are protected; we only use this information to contact you.
Why choose us to craft your safari?
Handcrafted experiential safaris since 1991.
Travel in Africa is about knowing when and where to go, and with whom. A few weeks too early/late or a few kilometres off course, and you could miss the greatest show on Earth. And wouldn’t that be a pity?
Trust & Safety
Guest payments go into a third-party TRUST ACCOUNT - protecting them in the unlikely event of a financial setback on our part. Also, we are members of SATSA who attest to our integrity, legal compliance and financial stability.
Make a difference
We donate a portion of the revenue from every safari sold to carefully selected conservation projects that make a significant difference at ground level.
YOUR safari choice does make a difference - thank you!