THE REAL AFRICA

Why Visit South Luangwa?

South Luangwa is Zambia’s premier game viewing park where you can enjoy a unique type of habitat seldom seen elsewhere in Africa. Lying on the valley floor, between the meandering Luangwa River and the steep Muchinga Escarpment, this is the best national park in Zambia and one of the finest in all Africa.

The seasonal floodplains create an environment that supports a huge diversity of wildlife including over 100 species of mammals and over 420 species of birds as well as many reptiles, insects, amphibians and plants. A totally different experience from parks elsewhere in Africa, Luangwa offers a real immersion to the bush life in an attractive habitat of sausage trees and lagoons. In the stunning light of early morning and late afternoon, one can often see elephants, impala, puku, troops of baboons, flocks of water birds, crocodiles and hippos all through the same view finder of your camera or binoculars!

The park is reputed to have the highest concentration of leopard in Africa. It is estimated that there is one Leopard for every kilometre of river in the Luangwa Valley, so your chances of seeing this elusive nocturnal cat are heightened in this park. Pods of up to 500 hippos are possible to view in the dry season as the river shrinks and they are confined to areas of deep pools. On average during the year there are probably 45 - 60 hippos per kilometre!

World famous walking safaris are a favourite activity in South Luangwa and operate from June until November, and morning and night drives in open topped safari vehicles are available year round.

History of the park

In 1938 North and South Luangwa Game Reserves were created to protect and control wildlife populations, especially elephants.

In 1939, a soon to become well known gentleman called Norman Carr became a ranger in Luangwa. Over the years to come he was to have a huge impact on conservation in Africa.

He established the first public camp in Zambia, and developed walking safaris which involved visitors in the real bush experience away from the noise of vehicles. These walking safaris put Luangwa firmly on the map in terms of tourism and they remain popular to this day.

Since 1972 several smaller game reserves have combined to form what is now South Luangwa National Park.

Location

South Luangwa National Park is situated in the Luangwa Valley which sits at the southern end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, leading southwards from Lake Tanganyika. It is low in altitude and experiences higher temperatures than the rest of Zambia. The park covers an area of 9,050 square kilometres or 2,235,400 acres.

The main area of the park is bordered to the west by the Muchinga Escarpment and the Luangwa River provides the east and southern borders. Luawfa Area is in the southern area of the park, and the Nsefu sector is on the east side of the Luangwa River which eventually feeds into the mighty Zambezi River.

The main habitat of Luangwa is seasonal floodplains, oxbow lagoons and the Miombo and Mopane woodlands

National park fees and regulations

All park fees are payable directly to National Park at the main gate (as you enter the park) and none of these rates are included in any of our rates.

ZAWA published the following rates for 2010/2011 but these are due to change in 2012. As of December 2011 the new fees has not been made official yet, but please contact Retha here at Wildlife Camp for the latest news.

For guest joining one of our licensed game drive vehicles the entrance fee is US$25 per person for international guests and $20 for Zambian residents. This permit is valid for one whole day. For example, if you choose to book a morning drive / walk and a night drive with us, your park entry is only paid once that day.

For self drive vehicles entrance to the park is US$30 per person for both international guests and Zambian residents. Your permit is valid for one day only. Rates for vehicles are $15 per day

• Children under 12 enter the park at half price.
• Please note, amounts are only payable in US dollars or Zambian Kwacha in cash, no other currency or credit cards are accepted.
• Entrance regulations are subject to change without notice.
• PLEASE REMEMBER TO BRING ENOUGH CASH TO COVER YOUR PARK ENTRY!

As mentioned above, you may take your private vehicle into the park, gates open at 6.00am, but you must be out of the gates by 18.00 pm. Four-wheel drive is advised as many of the roads in the park are not passable by two wheel drive vehicles.

If you would like to stay later and view animals by spotlight, we offer game drives with our registered safari vehicle and guide which enables you to stay in the park until 20.00 pm.

A full set of regulations is located at the entrance to the park. Please make sure you are aware of these as you enter.

Maps (A3 size) of the Mfuwe area of the park are available at the entrance gate and are very informative, including lists and spoor prints of the main mammals to be found in South Luangwa.

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