South Luangwa offers one of Africa’s most exclusive safari experiences. By day, immerse yourself in game drives rich with predators and plains wildlife; by night, venture on spotlight adventures or discover the park on foot in its birthplace of the walking safari. Expect refined lodges along the Luangwa River, impeccable guiding, and seamless fly-in access.
A South Luangwa National Park safari delivers everything you want from an African safari. You’ll sit back on drama-filled morning and afternoon game drives – spot-lit night drives too – and the accommodation ranges from super-luxurious to rustic-chic. Set around the teeming Luangwa River, Zambia’s premier wildlife destination is home to some of the highest densities of big animals in Africa – elephant, buffalo, lion and hippo – and has a well-earned reputation for amazing leopard sightings.
But the South Luangwa National Park has an extra advantage over other safari destinations: this is Africa’s best walking safari destination, and the on-foot experience is unforgettable.
You’ll be in the company of highly experienced guides and armed scouts, enjoying anything from a morning’s nature walk to a multi-day walking safari, moving between bush camps and game viewing by foot and 4X4. Accommodation is basic but comfortable – you’ll have proper beds, hot showers, cold drinks and delicious fire-cooked meals.
Easily combined with Zambia’s other heavyweight destinations Victoria Falls and the Lower Zambezi, the South Luangwa is a fly-in destination, leaving you with more time for game viewing or relaxation. Lodges are located both in and around the park on private concessions. Accommodation set on the Luangwa River itself may be able to offer boating in high water season.
There are classic safari camps, family-friendly lodges as well as honeymoon hideaways and it’s an easy destination to combine with Victoria Falls and other parks in Zambia and even Botswana. A popular combination is with Lake Malawi, easy to reach from Zambia and home to beachfront hideaways with golden-sand beaches and scuba diving on offer.
Talk to Safari Online about a South Luangwa National Park safari. We’ll recommend the best tour or accommodation for your requirements or will tailor-make an itinerary for you.
A South Luangwa National Park safari is best experienced during Zambia’s long dry winter. The May through August period has the most comfortable weather: warm sunny days and cool nights. (In June and July it can get extremely cold in the early mornings.) Wildlife is easier to see (and avoid when walking!) and animals are concentrated around water, making game viewing simple and highly rewarding.
September and October are very hot and dry but it’s when animal concentrations around water are at their most intense. The arrival of the rains in November needn’t put travellers off an early summer safari however: many antelope give birth, attracting predators, and the birdlife is magnificent. A ‘Green Season’ safari is highly recommended for returning safari travellers and wildlife photographers.
If you plan to include Victoria Falls on your safari, note that Victoria Falls is in full flow when the South Luangwa is at wettest and least accessible. And when the South Luangwa is at its game-packed best (late dry season), Victoria Falls is at its lowest levels – and almost completely dry on the Zambian side. Safari Online recommends combining the South Luangwa with Victoria Falls during the May to August period for a happy compromise.
South Luangwa lodges rank among the most authentic and remotely-set safari accommodations in southern Africa. Ranging from thatched lodges with sumptuous suites to candle-lit tented camps, lodges in the South Luangwa have matured over the years into eco-sensitive and beautifully designed camps with as much comfort and convenience as you need.
Several lodges are extremely small and intimate – perfect for honeymooners – while others are suitable for families and groups of friends. Activities at lodges focus on game drives and walks, and you’ll be in the hands of some of the best guides in the business. Lodges located outside the park are able to offer extra activities like boating, night drives and cultural tours. Note that some lodges have been designed as accommodation for extended walking safaris; these seasonal camps are basic but very comfortable and you’ll have a private shower and toilet.
Browse our recommended South Luangwa lodges below or simply contact us for more information on suitability and booking.
Tafika Camp’s location on the east bank of the Luangwa River, north of the Nsefu Sector of the South Park, makes it ideal for those who enjoy the serenity of the bush. Here, exceptional game viewing is combined with exciting activities including daily day and night drives, mountain bike safaris, walking safaris, visits to the local Mkasanga Village and microlighting in May (only offered in May).
Here three chalets are raised above the ground ensuring that they sit, rather romantically, within the surrounding tree canopies. The Chikoko Tree Camp's uniquely raised en-suite chalets enhance the views of the spectacular surrounding acacia grove, the array of wildlife that frequent it and the ongoing wildlife activity that unfolds throughout the day.
The design is African canvas/chic style and the camp blends in completely with its gorgeous, wild environment. This is a luxury camp with every comfort yet it is intimate and friendly with just eight tents, and offers the authentic safari experience that many people long for. This stunning area can also be explored on foot with park rangers and tracking guides, and at night offering a chance to see some of the more elusive animals, such as leopards, genets and honey badgers.
There are just three stilted chalets at this exclusive camp, overlooking the Luangwa River. Each has its own raised veranda to loll on during the heat of the day, and an open-fronted en-suite bathroom with the same magnificent views over the tranquil waters. There's nothing quite like showering under the stars and the grove of ebony trees surrounding you. The hide overlooks a watering hole frequented by a wide variety of wildlife.
Set beneath shady trees by the Manzi River, it embodies the authentic charm of old Africa with its cluster of traditional thatched grass huts and back-to-nature feel. There are 6 rondaval raised chalets with large comfortable beds under mosquito nets. As for the wildlife, you hardly need look for it as it will come to you. Settle down in the lounge and look out over the rippling grasses of the neighbouring plain where the drama of the African wilderness is played out each day.
A South Luangwa safari is best experienced as part of a more extensive itinerary in Zambia and beyond. Despite its remote setting, the South Luangwa is straightforward to access and there is a well-worked combination of this flagship reserve with Victoria Falls and the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Such a combination gives safari-travellers all the thrills and spills of the world’s greatest falling wall of water. At Victoria Falls you can choose from activities as varied as walking with lions and white-water rafting to sedate sunset cruises and scenic flights. The Lower Zambezi delivers heavyweight game viewing – hippos, crocodiles, elephants and big cats – by 4X4, boat and canoe. Other itineraries include classic wildlife destinations in Botswana and South Africa.
Browse our recommended tours below, each including a South Luangwa safari. If you’d like a more personalised approach, simply contact us and we will tailor-make an itinerary for you.
Our team of destination experts will design a holiday to meet your budget and interests. Let’s start planning your tailor-made African safari today!
A South Luangwa safari is usually part of a larger itinerary in Zambia, taking in Victoria Falls and the Lower Zambezi National Park via short domestic flights. International access to Zambia’s Lusaka and Livingstone (Victoria Falls) airports means that Zambia can also be combined with destinations further afield. It’s a one-stop flight to Cape Town or Johannesburg, putting you in easy reach of the Kruger, Garden Route or Cape Winelands. For a unique finale, the golden beaches of Seychelles are a popular way to finish a South Luangwa safari.
