Flight +
nights stay in a
star hotel / double room, is
Note
These values represent only an estimate of costs for travels from London, bought in
2015-01-16 with departure date in
2015-05-05 and return date in 2015-05-17 . These values refer the best quality and price according to parameters of selection set by Bananatrips. Prices may have changed since date of publication and will also depend on the specific date of reservation. The success in obtaining good prices is to make reservations in advance. For specific values in other dates please REQUEST A SEARCH BEFORE MAKING YOUR RESERVATION.
South Luangwa National Park is in eastern Zambia. Called by some as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, South Luangwa is one of Zambia's main draws. This 9,050-sq km park is centered around the Luangwa River and is home to one of Africa's largest concentrations of wildlife.
Thanks to its inaccessible location, South Luangwa manages to combine immense density of wildlife with limited visitor numbers, and it's also one of the few national parks that allow night safaris. However, visitor numbers are steadily marching upwards, and the best time to visit is right now — before it becomes the next Kruger or Serengeti.
History
Landscape
South Luangwa is dry woodland, watered by the meandering Luangwa River and its many oxbow lakes. The dominant tree is the mopane, but stately baobabs also dot the landscape here and there. In the dry season, most plants and trees seem to shrivel up and wildlife congregates around watering holes, allowing excellent viewing.
Flora and fauna
South Luangwa is home to a dazzling array of wildlife. You'll see hippos and crocodiles as soon as you cross the bridge over the Luangwa River, and elephants are hard to miss along the river's banks. Thornicraft's giraffe, with white legs and faces, and Crawshay's zebra, without the brownish "shadow-stripe" of common (Burchell's) zebra, are both endemic to the park and easily spotted. Herds of buffalo roam the park, along with several prides of lions. The density of leopards is among the highest in the world, although spotting these nocturnal creatures can be tricky. All sorts of antelopes abound: impala are ubiquitous, the puku — rarely seen outside Zambia — is almost as common and there are plenty of waterbucks and bushbucks too.
South Luangwa is a dream come true for birdwatchers, with over 400 species recorded. Depending on who you ask, the best times to go are November-December (when the rains start), April-May (when they end) or August-September (when the water levels are at their lowest).
Climate
The peak travel season is May to October. May to August it's still pleasantly cool and dry. September and October are very hot and the humidity is building up, but these are the best months to spot the game as they gather close to the river and watering holes. November to December is hot and humid and January to April is the rainy (or "green") season, some lodges close during this period, other give reduced rates. The rainy season is the best time to go birdwatching. From March to June is the best time to spot the elusive African wild dog.
Get in
There are two major access points for the park: Mfuwe Gate, near the village of Mfuwe and connected by bridge, and the less used Nyamaluma 50 km to the southwest, where a pontoon ferries vehicles across the river.
Most tour groups will offer either the option to fly into Mfuwe or have a private vehicle pick you up (i.e., from Lusaka, Chipata, Lilongwe, etc.). Although these options offer the most convenient and comfortable means of getting to the park, they are not the only means of entry--and one can also access Mfuwe by means of public transport through much of the year.
By plane
The nearest airport is in Mfuwe, which offers flights to Lusaka and Livingstone, as well as Lilongwe (Malawi). Note that flight schedules are cut down in the green season. The airport is about 30 minutes away by car from the park entrance, and most lodges offer free transfers.
By car
Mfuwe is 123 km by car from Chipata. The nearly 100 km of once untarred road is now completely tarred reducing travel times from 5-6 hours to just about 1.5 hours. From Chipata, it's 1.5 hours (2-3 hours public transport) to Lilongwe depending on the time it takes to cross the border and 8-10 hours to Lusaka.
There is a rarely used very scenic track from Petauke down the escapement and along the Luangwa northward to Mfuwe, but it's best not attempted unless you're traveling in convoy and can repair any problems that crop up. Expect 8 hours for this unforgettable trip of 180 km.
By public transport
South Luangwa remains one of the few national parks suitable for budget travelers. Lodges offer relatively cheap rates (some with dorms), and the park can be accessed by public transport as well. Although as has been mentioned above most travelers access the park by way of plane or private vehicle (and most tour companies only have information about these two methods), it is also possible to reach by public transport from Chipata.
GETTING TO CHIPATA FROM LILONGWE: Either (a) Take a minibus from the Lilongwe minibus stand toward Mchinji (~2 hrs: 1000 MWK in May 2012), then a taxi or shared taxi to the border (15 min: 500 MWK). After crossing the border, take a taxi or shared taxi to Chipata (15 min: 15000 ZMK or 15 ZMW rebased currency). (b) Take a bus from Lilongwe to Lusaka, but depart at Chipata. 'Zambia-Malawi' is a reputable company.
GETTING TO CHIPATA FROM LUSAKA: Take a bus to Chipata (~7hrs, 130,000 ZMK Apr 2012). Buses depart from InterCity Bus Terminal. Reputable companies include Zambia-Malawi, Johabbie, Juldans... You will need to catch the first bus out of Lusaka in order to arrive in time to catch the same-day minibus to Mfuwe. If you do this, it is advisable that you coordinate with the minibus driver so that he anticipates your arrival.
ONCE IN CHIPATA: There are daily minibuses that run from Chipata to Mfuwe, the town just outside the entry to the Park. The minibus usually departs in the early afternoon (11am-2pm) after collecting passengers and sometimes goods (i.e., to deliver to Mfuwe stores), and takes 2 hours. The ride from Chipata to Mfuwe costs 60,000 ZMK ($11 as of May 2012). To confirm your spot on the minibus and coordinate it's pick-up (can pick you up pretty much anywhere in Chipata), call the driver (John--a very friendly and honest Zambian) at 0967384620 (+260967384620 if calling from Malawi). Call 1-2 days in advance.
The return from Mfuwe to Chipata leaves around 7:30-8:00pm (~2hrs to Chipata by night) and costs 50,000 ZMK (<$10 as of May 2012). The minibus will drop you at the Chipata bus stand. If you are doing this with the intention of taking a morning bus to Lusaka, it is possible to buy your bus ticket when you arrive at the Chipata bus stand, then sleep on the bus until it departs in the morning. This is a safe (though can be cold) way to avoid the hassle of finding a hotel late at night upon arriving in Chipata.
Fees/Permits
As of November 2013, the basic park fee is 132 Zambian Kwacha per day for Internationals. Extra fees are levied for bringing in your own vehicles (79.2 foreign reg or 15 Kwacha for local).
Note: Entry permit is valid for a single calendar day (6:00 - 18:00).
Get around
By car
Most visitors tour South Luangwa by car, either on safari drives organized by their lodge, or by their own 4WD vehicle. If going on your own, there are plenty of trails but the signposting can be a little haphazard, so pick up a map from the gate.
The Personal Touch Ltd[7] (ben@tptouch.com) tel: +260 978 459965 has well equipped game viewing cars available for the hire to established lodges or individuals needing rental vehicles, transfers or transport in the valley. Beside high quality game viewing vehicles, Personal Touch offers a variety of transport options within the Mfuwe area. For volunteers assisting at various community projects wishing to hire a vehicle, to specific transfer needs to lodges, camps, or even researchers or filmcrews.
It is possible to rent 4WD open top Land Cruiser from a local company in Mfuwe (Hardies Engineering, near airport).
By boat
During the dry season the water levels in the Luangwa River are too low to permit travel by boat. In the green season, however, some operators arrange canoe safaris, but trying this on your own is not recommended due to the large number of hippos (which capsize canoes) and crocodiles (which attack capsized canoes) in the river.
On foot
Independent travel on foot is not permitted, but you can join a walking safari (see next section).
Stay safe
Even hippos watch out for crocodiles!
Walking in the bush at night is extremely dangerous, and lodges provide escorts to take their guests even around lodge grounds. Hippos, crocodiles, lions and buffalo kill many people every year — although the victims are mostly unfortunate locals, not tourists.
Get out
Mfuwe — village just outside the park, with some attractions of minor interest, namely it has a shop that is open most days and a fuel station. The fuel station is usually only open at around 8:00 am so if you are planning on heading in to the park or back to Lusaka early don't forget to fill up the day before.
North Luangwa National Park — a short flight (or arduous drive) away, offers wilder game and fewer visitors.
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