Safari to South Luangwa North

with large areas reserved for walking safari

The South Luangwa North area may not have quite the same level of scenic backdrop as the South Luangwa South sector, but it does have substantial tracts of very pretty riverine forest and seasonal marshlands set amongst an extensive network of oxbow lagoons along the main river.

The area is therefore very rich in wildlife, especially during the Jun-Oct dry season, when the animals migrate in towards the river.

It is particularly good for lions, leopards and elephants, but there is a very broad range of other animals on show.

The area contains some superb owner-operated camps and is particularly renowned for excellent walking safari and night vehicle safari.

The area only experiences about 20% of the visitor traffic of the South Luangwa Central sector and, despite the number of camps, feels considerably more remote.

The best time to visit South Luangwa is during the May-Oct dry season, when the wildlife is focused on the riverine areas and easy to find.

Within that period, May-Jul is pleasantly cool at night, but the animals may not yet be fully migrated back into the river.

Towards the end of that period, Oct-Nov the wildlife should be at its strongest, but the weather is likely to be uncomfortably hot, especially at night. Bear in mind that most camps do not have air-conditioning.

Getting around

South Luangwa lies to the east of the country and is usually accessed by light aircraft services from Lusaka or Livingstone.

Once at Mfuwe Airport it is a road transfer of 1-2 hours to the camps. Travelling between camps in the central, northern and southern parts of the reserve usually involves a safari transfer of 1-5 hours.

Where to stay

The South Luangwa North area contains around a dozen decent camps, almost all of which are small and relatively outdoorsy.

During the Jul-Sep dry season we generally like to combine a camp in the nearby South Luangwa North with another in South Luangwa South, with a total stay of six or more nights. We tend to avoid the South Luangwa Central area, since they tend to experience greater visitor traffic. However, if you are looking for a larger lodge (especially if you need air-conditioning), then it might be worth making an exception.

During the remainder of the year we are more likely to include a camp in the South Luangwa Central area. In fact in the wettest months (Dec-Mar) we may even reduce down to only recommending a single camp in the central area.

renowned for remote and authentic camps