South Luangwa National Park

Crisscrossed by the Luangwa River and sitting at the end of Africa’s Great Rift Valley, South Luangwa National Park was established in 1972 and has been a wildlife sanctuary ever since. The birthplace of the walking safari, South Luangwa National Park features one of Africa's greatest concentrations of wildlife—from elephants to hippos, rhinos, lions, buffalo, leopards, and bush babies to Thornicroft’s giraffes, Cookson’s wildebeest, and Crawshay’s zebras.

As well as walking safaris, the park offers night drives to see nocturnal animals like the elusive leopards and boat safaris, where you can see the Big Five congregating on the river banks and spot hippos and crocs in the water. Most of the park’s lodges are also clustered around the banks of the Luangwa River, with the area closest to Mfuwe being the most popular. Nsefu is more remote and challenging to reach, giving it a quieter, more exclusive vibe.

• South Luangwa National Park is not the most easily accessible park, but the abundance of wildlife makes it well worth the trek.

• Visitors on a budget can camp overnight, though staying in a park lodge is recommended for safety reasons. There are plenty of lodges to choose from, including tented camps, safari houses, villas, chalets, and even a treehouse.

• Bring light and airy neutral-colored clothes with long sleeves and pants, comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen, sunglasses, sun hats, insect repellent, and warm layers for cooler nights.

• Walking safaris usually occur at dawn or dusk, although multi-day hikes with overnight accommodation in temporary camps are also possible. Although animals typically keep their distance, visitors are accompanied by a guide and armed guards, just in case.

• Amenities in the park are limited, especially outside the lodges, so come prepared, especially if you’re camping.

Most of the year, South Luangwa National Park is accessible by road or air, although some roads are closed during the wet season. Visitors flying in will want to head to Mfuwe Airport, which is serviced by commercial flights from Lusaka, Lilongwe, and Livingstone. Most lodges offer pickup from the airport. Alternatively, you can rent a car (4WD highly recommended) and drive to the park. The journey from Lusaka to South Luangwa National Park should take around 10 hours.

Most travelers visit South Luangwa National Park between May and October, when the cooler, drier conditions are ideal for wildlife spotting and walking safaris. However, if you prefer birds to game, the hotter, wetter summer months are prime times for birdwatching, when migratory birds from around the world flock to the park. You’ll have to plan ahead, though, as most lodges close for the season, and some roads become inaccessible after heavy rain.

Known as the home of walking safaris, the first-ever walking safari in South Luangwa National Park took place over 65 years ago, when game warden and conservationist Norman Carr—who also set up the first public safari camp in the region—started taking guests on environmentally friendly walks through the park. Walking safaris have been a big draw to the park ever since, a great way to get up close to nature while minimizing people’s impact on the landscape and ecosystem.