Destinations in Zambia

SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

area: 9.050 km2
location: east Zambia, 13°20′00″S 31°34′00″E
speciality: big five, abundant wildlife, bush walks, dense leopard population
best time to visit: dry season April-October
accomodation: KAPANI LODGE | LUWI BUSH CAMP | NSOLO BUSH CAMP | KAKULI BUSH CAMP | MCHENJA BUSH CAMP

South Luangwa as one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of game around the Luangwa river and it’s ox bow lagoons is among the most intense in Africa.
The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life blood of the park's 9050km2. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife birds and vegetation. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this park and is still one of the finest ways to experience this pristine wilderness first hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness ranging from dry, bare bushveld in the winter to a lush green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction.

LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

area: 4.092 km2
location: centr-eastern Zambia, GPS: 15°26′00″S 29°41′00″E
speciality: big five, big elephant herds, canoeing, very scenic
best time to visit: dry season June-October

This is Zambia’s newest Park and as such is still relatively undeveloped, but it’s beauty lies in it’s absolute wilderness state. The diversity of animals is not as wide as the other big parks, but the opportunities to get close to game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels are spectacular. The Park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the river is a massive wildlife sanctuary.
The rivers edge is overhung with a thick riverine fringe, mostly diasporus, ficus and other riverine species. Further inland is a floodplain fringed with mopane forest and interspersed with winterthorn trees Acacia albida. The hills which form the backdrop to the park are covered in broadleaf woodland.
With a river frontage of about 120km, the valley floor and the Escarpment combined with the plateau give the Lower Zambezi National Park magnificent picturesque scenery and the lush riverine environment is a hive of activity for wildlife and birds.
Most of the game is concentrated along the valley floor. There is an escarpment along the northern end which acts as a physical barrier to most of the parks animal species. Enormous herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the rivers edge. ‘Island hopping’ buffalo and waterbuck are common. The park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard and listen too for the ubiquitous cry of the fish eagle.