South Luangwa Nationwide Park in Zambia is extensively considered certainly one of Africa’s best wildlife sanctuaries, combining distinctive sport viewing with genuine wilderness. Overlaying simply over 9,000 sq. kilometres, the park follows the course of the Luangwa River, whose oxbow lagoons and sandbanks type the lifeblood of its ecosystems.
The river helps one of many highest densities of hippo and crocodile on the African continent, whereas its fertile floodplains attract elephants, buffalo and enormous herds of antelope.
What to identify in South Luangwa Nationwide Park
The park is residence to 60 totally different animal species with the one notable exception being the rhino. This area is famend for its large cats and different predators with lions and leopards in abundance – therefore why additionally it is referred to as “The Valley of Leopards”. African wild canine are additionally more and more being recorded throughout the valley.
The park can also be well-known for its endemics and near-endemic species, together with Thornicroft’s giraffe, Crawshay’s zebra and Cookson’s wildebeest, species that add a particular character to any safari right here.
Birding Hotspot
Habitat variety underpins this abundance, with a mosaic of mopane and miombo woodland, sweeping grasslands and stately sausage and ebony groves. This biodiversity fuels excellent birding, with greater than 400 recorded species – greater than half of Zambia’s complete 732 species!
Birders will get pleasure from ticking off some great specials, together with huge congregations of waterbirds within the dry season together with the enduring African Fish Eagle which is Zambia’s Nationwide Chicken. Carmine bee-eaters rework the riverbanks into residing murals, nesting in colonies within the tender cliffs and erupting into clouds of crimson and teal as they hunt bugs on the wing.
Dwelling of the strolling safari
South Luangwa is essentially thought of to be the birthplace of the trendy strolling safari, pioneered within the mid-Twentieth century by conservationist Norman Carr, and nonetheless one of the rewarding methods to discover its tracks, scents and delicate behaviours.
Seasonal adjustments listed here are dramatic: from dusty, tawny plains crowded with sport within the dry months to the plush “emerald season”, when storms rework the valley right into a inexperienced, bird-filled oasis. Finest loved on foot!
The whole lot it is advisable to plan your journey in 2026
The Kingdom – Showcasing the Nsefu Sector
The Nsefu Sector, lately showcased in Sir David Attenborough’s BBC sequence “The Kingdom”, is situated within the distant northern reaches of South Luangwa Nationwide Park, providing an much more unique safari expertise with notably excessive densities of wildlife because of its mature riverine forest, ebony groves, open floodplains and pure springs that draw animals and birds year-round.
The Kingdom sequence follows the fortunes of 4 rival households, all attempting to assert a wealthy nook of this paradise known as Nsefu – headed up by 4 formidable females, particularly leopardess Olimba, wild canine queen Storm, hyena matriarch Tenta and lioness Rita – filmed over 5 years as they offer beginning, hunt, fall ailing, achieve new territory and face intruders. Watch now on BBC iPlayer.
When to go to Zambia
Zambia is a good vacation spot to go to just about all yr spherical, bar January and February in the course of the peak of the wet season. The most effective time is usually thought of the dry winter season which runs from Might to October, with peak season in South Luangwa being July to October, when the sport viewing is at its greatest. Shoulder seasons are likely to run in June and November.
Many camps shut for January and February for the moist season. The inexperienced season could be very lush and exquisite, with many camps providing lowered charges from March to Might.
Attending to South Luangwa
Entry to South Luangwa is by way of a 70‑minute flight from Kenneth Kuanda Worldwide Airport in Lusaka to Mfuwe Worldwide Airport. There are a number of flights on daily basis with Proflight Zambia in addition to the choice to constitution planes.
Guests from the UK and Eire, USA, China, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Belgium and South Africa don’t require visas to enter Zambia.
Carmines River Lodge launching June 2026
Carmines River Lodge is a brand new ultra-private safari lodge being developed on a 54‑acre personal island in South Luangwa’s “Valley of Leopards”, because of launch in June 2026.
Positioned between two rivers overlooking the Msandile and the Luangwa Wafwa Oxbow lagoon, it sits reverse the world’s largest colony of carmine bee-eaters, which impressed each the lodge’s identify and its stunning bird-focused theme.
It’s situated about lower than hour’s drive from Mfuwe airport and is completely positioned for exploring the realm, simply 10 minutes by pontoon from South Luangwa Nationwide Park and solely 20 minutes from Nsefu.
The lodge will initially comprise simply three elevated two‑bed room villas set amongst mature ebony bushes, every designed for privateness with panoramic lagoon views. Every villa can be 239m sq. with up to date African styling, with flooring‑to‑ceiling glass, indoor–outside loos and personal plunge swimming pools. The lodge caters for 12 friends however can accommodate as much as 18 friends in complete on request, utilizing additional beds if and when wanted for kids/tweens.
This lodge has been thoughtfully designed to be inclusive and accessible. One room can be specifically outfitted for friends with mobility wants, that includes wheelchair-friendly entry, supportive seize rails, and discreet panic buttons to make sure consolation and security.
Actions will embody sport drives, strolling safaris and boat safaris, with a powerful emphasis on predator viewing, elephants, wild canine and the valley’s notable birdlife.
The lodge’s place reverse huge carmine bee-eater colonies makes it a main base for birders and photographers in the course of the late dry season.
The lodge will provide high-end, low-impact eco-luxury with conservation and group upliftment at its core, operating on 100% solar energy, supported by a full water filtration plant and utilizing solely biodegradable facilities.
Claire Roadley
Claire Roadley is Founding father of Umlingo. Umlingo promotes genuine, sustainable accommodations and safari eco lodges throughout Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. If you need to be a visitor blogger on A Luxurious Journey Weblog as a way to elevate your profile, please contact us.
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