South Luangwa National Park

Why visit South Luangwa National Park?

South Luangwa - the birthplace of walking safaris - is one of the best places to see leopards.

South Luangwa's verdant river valley

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.

South Luangwa National Park covers 9,059 km2 (900,000 hectares), of which the Mfuwe area is the park’s busiest, and the Nsefu sector is quieter and more remote. South Luangwa is one of four national parks and several game reserves in the Luangwa Valley - a protected ecosystem of 70,000 km2 (7,000,000 hectares).

Predators and other wildlife

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.

Spectacular bird watching

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.

Why South Luangwa is a responsible safari choice

Your Africa Geographic safari to South Luangwa contributes to the conservation of the park to the benefit of local people 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 the Luangwa Valley and other threatened ecosystems.

• South Luangwa National Park is the birthplace of the renowned walking safari, offering low-impact, immersive wildlife experiences led by expert local guides.

• 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.

• Choosing South Luangwa for your safari with Africa Geographic means contributing to ethical tourism, biodiversity conservation, and the well-being of rural Zambian communities.