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An African elephant in South Luangwa National Park

398 · Further Horizons

South Luangwa National Park

The river and its changing channels organise a wildlife landscape whose character alters through the seasons.

PhotographGeoff Gallice · CC BY 2.0

Summary

South Luangwa National Park is a wildlife landscape in Zambia, organised around the Luangwa River. Changing channels, pools and floodplain habitats shape animal movements and the appearance of the park through the seasons.

The river explains the encounters. Wildlife, woodland and water form an interconnected landscape, making the ecological pattern as interesting as individual sightings.

301–400 · Further Horizons

The essentials

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Allow time

5 days as an initial allowance, excluding approach travel

Choose a base

Mfuwe or a verified South Luangwa camp

Getting there

Fly to Mfuwe and take a lodge transfer, or arrange a road approach suited to the season. Confirm the exact camp before booking onward transport.

Plan ahead

Reserve the camp and activities together. Ask which drives or guided walking safaris operate on your dates and whether park fees and transfers are included.

Practical notes updated 30 September 2026. Visitor information and sources

Zambia · Nature
Country guidesZambia
Open my 100Record a visit

The essential experience.

A detail that changes the visit

Walking, driving and seasonal river conditions are different experiences; select the camp and dates accordingly.

Luangwa River, view upstream, hippopotamus herd on the sand bank. Upper Lupande GMA, Luangwa, Zambia
Luangwa River, view upstream, hippopotamus herd on the sand bank. Upper Lupande GMA, Luangwa, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves · CC BY-SA 4.0

For the curious reader

History, landscape and context.

South Luangwa National Park is a national park in eastern Zambia that was founded as a game reserve in 1938 and became a national park in 1972. It covers 9,050 km² (3,490 sq mi) in the valley of the Luangwa River, which forms its eastern boundary in the Eastern Province of Zambia. It is bordered to the west by a steep escarpment, the Muchinga Escarpment in Muchinga and Central Provinces.

Abridged background from South Luangwa National Park, by Wikipedia contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0. Paragraphs have been selected and shortened; this adapted background remains under the same licence. Retrieved 23 September 2026. Source revision.

Elephants (Loxodonta africana) crossing the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Elephants (Loxodonta africana) crossing the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, ZambiaPhoto: Geoff Gallice · CC BY 2.0
Plaque at entrance to South Luangwa Nat'l Park at Mfuwe, Zambia
Plaque at entrance to South Luangwa Nat'l Park at Mfuwe, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves · CC BY-SA 4.0

From inspiration to a practical plan

Plan your visit.

Physical demands
Game drives involve rough tracks; walking safaris add heat, uneven ground and several hours on foot.
The consequential detail
Walking, driving and seasonal river conditions are different experiences; select the camp and dates accordingly.
Add to my travel workbenchResearch access requirements

Through the seasons

A place in the world.

Zambia.

A place in the world
South Luangwa National Park location mapSouth Luangwa National Park location map

Select the pin to open a detailed map. Use Closer look to see the surrounding region. Drag to move a zoomed map.

Map: Natural Earth
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In pictures.

Watch South Luangwa’s river channels shape the wildlife activity along their banks.

An African elephant in South Luangwa National ParkPhoto: Geoff Gallice, CC BY 2.0
Elephants (Loxodonta africana) crossing the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, ZambiaPhoto: Geoff Gallice, CC BY 2.0
Luangwa River, view upstream, hippopotamus herd on the sand bank. Upper Lupande GMA, Luangwa, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Plaque at entrance to South Luangwa Nat'l Park at Mfuwe, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Sunset over the Luangwa River, South Luangwa Nat'l Park, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wildlife of South Luangwa National ParkPhoto: I've Got It On Film!, CC BY 2.0
Sunset over the Luangwa River, South Luangwa Nat'l Park, ZambiaPhoto: Timothy A. Gonsalves, CC BY-SA 4.0
Wildlife of South Luangwa National ParkPhoto: I've Got It On Film!, CC BY 2.0
Open the complete galleryDiscover the world in photographs

Follow the connection

Keep exploring.

Explore more places in the same country.

The Bangweulu wetlands at Shoebill Island, Zambia

404 · Zambia

Bangweulu Wetlands

An extensive wetland connects open water, seasonal floodplains and distinctive wildlife within a working human landscape.

Useful links and further reading.

Choose a source for the job: official visitor information for access, the UNESCO record for the named property’s designation, and background or library resources for deeper reading.

Read · Wikipedia

South Luangwa National Park: background reading

Encyclopaedic context and its bibliography. Follow the cited research for a deeper examination of particular claims.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Books · WorldCat

Find books about South Luangwa National Park

Search library holdings and editions, useful for finding specialist histories, field guides and works beyond a general travel guide.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.

Maps · OpenStreetMap

Explore the local map

Inspect the surrounding area.

External resource. Check the provider for access and current arrangements.
Visitor information behind these practical notes