North Luangwa National Park

Why visit North Luangwa National Park?

North Luangwa National Park in Zambia is a remote 4,636 km2 (464,000 hectares) wilderness with a sparse road network. The camps are rustic, fully immersive, and designed to be dismantled during the rainy season.

The safari experience includes game drives in some areas but is more centred around walking safaris. As in neighbouring South Luangwa, there is a long history of walking safaris here, and in parts of the park, this is the only way to explore the bushveld, with game drive vehicles not permitted at all.

Several tributary rivers run through the park and into the Luangwa River. The crystal clear Mwaleshi River trickles down the escarpment in small waterfalls and recedes in the dry season, leaving many pools along the way, drawing the animals to its banks in search of water. The landscapes range from mopane woodland to riverine forest, open grasslands and acacia thickets with sausage trees, vegetable ivory palms, red mahogany and leadwood trees.

Though leopard and wild dog sightings are not as common as in South Luangwa, there are large prides of lions accustomed to people on foot.

The North Luangwa Conservation Programme has released black rhinos into North Luangwa, making this a Big Five safari park.

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 Valley hosts amongst the highest populations of hippos and crocodiles in Africa.

The woodlands of the escarpment offer the best chance of spotting both sable and roan antelope, as well as unique birding opportunities. Over 460 bird species have been recorded in North Luangwa - including Lilian’s lovebird, Narina trogon, Pel’s fishing owl, western banded snake eagle and large flocks of carmine bee-eaters.