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The South Luangwa National Park is by far the most developed park in Zambia. Its lifeblood is the pristine Luangwa River that is known as the most intact river system in Africa. There are few other rivers of this size that have been so unaffected by man. The Luangwa has the world’s highest concentration of hippos and there’s no pollution or any commercial agriculture along its banks. Have a look at the river bank and you can guess the natural seasonal fluctuations of water levels and flooding. Every year new sandbanks arise and the river’s course changes with the floods.

Light, heat, rain and volcanic soils are the reasons for strong vegetation growth with tall trees like mopane, leadwood or winterthorn. With this rich vegetation, the Luangwa supports large numbers of a wide variety of animals. As the park wasn’t as badly affected by poaching in the past, game densities are the highest in the country. Today the game includes huge herds of elephants or buffalos and very healthy populations of giraffes, pukus, lions, zebras or waterbucks. These can be observed on foot or by vehicle, even at night.

The park covers an area of 9050 km² and receives much more visitors than any other Zambian park. Very few of them visit the unspoilt Nsefu sector in the north of the park. Most of them concentrate in Mfuwe area, the park’s centre, where game is fairly relaxed. Although there’s no comparison to Kenyan or northern Tanzanian parks, the African bush may feel wilder or more remote in Kafue or North Luangwa.