South Luangwa National Park Holidays

Walking safaris are the showstopper of the South Luangwa National Park but they are far from the only experience to be enjoyed in this densely populated wildlife sanctuary. Spot lions, leopards, wild dogs, and Thornicroft Giraffe on a 4x4 game drive. Look for basking hippos, drinking elephants, and waterside wildebeest on a boat cruise along the Luangwa River. Sleep under the stars in an exclusive lodge hideout or nomadic park camp.

Go shopping for locally-crafted jewellery made from recovered poachers’ wire at Mulberry Mongoose, or find African fabrics at Tribal Textiles. Get peddling on a mountain bike safari or soar over the park in a microlight from Tafika Camp. Pamper yourself at the Bush-Spa in Mfuwe Lodge. Grab the binoculars and look out for more than 400 bird species. Or, simply relax in the quiet wilderness at your lodge’s swimming pool, bar, and viewing deck.

Dawn and dusk game drives in ranger-guided 4x4s are the classic African safari image. In South Luangwa, the birthplace of the walking safari, things are done differently. Keeping a safe and respectful distance from the animals at all times, follow in the footsteps of your trained guide as they track everything from big cat predators to the tiniest creatures most wildlife experiences miss.

Wander for an hour or two close to your lodge, plan a multi-day safari trek between luxury accommodations, or feel fully immersed when you sleep in makeshift camps on the savannah. See a spider weave its web, watch birds dancing between trees and flowers, or follow giraffe prints until you find their owners grazing in a grove of trees. With no engines to cause disruption, walking safaris allow a more natural safari adventure than any other.

Dozens of lodges along the Luangwa River leave you spoilt for choice when it comes to exceptional national park accommodation. Choose laidback luxury with the walking safari and boat cruise specialist of Time + Tide Chinzombo, see resting prides from the elevated decking of Lion Camp, or watch in wonder as elephants pass right through the lagoonside grounds of Mfuwe Lodge.

Head to the quieter south side of the park for a true wilderness experience at Chindeni Bushcamp, or the tranquil hideaways of Kapamba and Zungulila. Get incredible snaps from the photographic hides of Kaingo Camp, including a sleepout elephant hide. Stay where the wildlife is most abundant at Time + Tide Kakuli, spend lazy afternoons in the hammock of your treehouse chalet at Chamilandu, or enjoy a truly intimate stay in the three-room lodge of Mwamba.

June to October is peak season in South Luangwa National Park and offers the largest selection of accommodation and walking safari experiences. Low rainfall during this time causes wildlife to gather around watering holes, at the riverside, and in lagoons beside the lodges. Temperatures are mild in July and August but rise steadily through September to an average of around 35°C in October when the wet season begins.

Better described as the green season, November to March brings rain, an explosion of colour and growth, and an amazing time to spot migrating birds and young mammals. Some lodges and activities are closed during this time creating a more exclusive atmosphere for those who choose to visit. April to June sees fewer showers and comfortable temperatures as the climate moves back toward the long and popular dry season.