Zambia is well known for adrenaline tourist hot spots, with popular destinations such as Livingstone and Devil’s Pool on the edge of Victoria Falls. But few outside Zambia know of one of the country’s best-kept secrets – South Luangwa National Park.
The South Luangwa National Park, endearingly known as the ‘Valley of the Leopard’, is a destination that needs to be marked on your travel radar, especially if you are a wildlife lover. However, in case you still need a jump start, here are a few more reasons to consider loading the bakkie and heading to northern Zambia.
Easy Access
The access roads to South Luangwa National Park are well maintained, and self-drive enthusiasts can stock up on provisions in Chipata before arriving in Mfuwe. The roads within the park aren’t paved; however, they are compacted and incredibly well maintained. Nevertheless, for the simplest way to quickly access South Luangwa, check out flights with Proflight Zambia, which links Mfuwe with Johannesburg via Zambia’s capital, Lusaka.
Sundowners
A safari is incomplete without a sundowner, and a sunset on the Luangwa riverbank teeming with wildlife is hard to beat. Imagine enjoying your favourite tipple while watching hippos, crocodiles, and elephants coexist along the Luangwa River as the African sun takes a glorious dip in the distance. Now that is a show worthy of a standing ovation.
Retail Therapy, With a Purpose
Mfuwe is exceptionally fortunate to have a selection of retail shops that create and design stunning products that give back to regional conservation efforts. Be sure to plan a stop through the Project Luangwa Craft Workshop for a few locally made souvenirs and learn what initiatives this charitable organization has set up within the community.
Sneak in Some Snaps
There are plenty of good reasons we could list to choose a stay at Kafunta River Lodge, but the wildlife hide vies for the top position for photography enthusiasts. Even for beginners on safari, It’s the perfect spot to flex your camera skills, relax and wait for the myriad of animals to wander past. Kafunta’s hide is situated beside a floodplain and waterhole. It is the meeting point for a massive variety of birds and predators, though watching giraffes drink is one of our favourite pastimes. Later, head back to the lodge and take a dip in the natural spring hot tub, where hippos often wallow mere meters away.
Enjoy the Delicious Eats
No safari holiday is complete without treating your taste buds. One of the most notable resorts is found right near the entrance to South Luangwa National Park, so don’t be surprised if you share your lunch view with a herd of elephants. Flatdogs Camp knows that a great safari holiday is more than a fabulous room and friendly guides (though they have those, too!).
The camp offers an enticing, home-grown, homemade menu. In fact, the Chief Gardener at Flatdogs Camp grows a bewildering variety of herbs and vegetables to supply their restaurant. He battles monkeys with sticky fingers and curious elephants to deliver the freshest produce money can’t even buy. This ‘farm to table’ way of enjoying food is not only sustainable but also gives back to the local Zambian farmers and artisans.
Walking Safaris
Did you know that walking safaris originated in Zambia’s South Luangwa National Park? A walking safari is a way to experience the bush on a sensory level: every smell, sight, sound and texture are all the more striking when you’re on foot.
During the 2-to-4-hour walking safari, expert guides lead safari-goers through the bush. Safety is their top priority; however, the guides continuously chatter about the marvels of the surroundings, from recognizing spoor to answering all your questions. A walking safari typically involves a much-needed tea break, offering a chance to experience the quiet rumbling of the African bush. It is also a great way to walk off all the delicious food you’ll indulge in on your holiday!
Night Drives
Not many parks in Southern Africa offer the opportunity to partake in both walking safaris and night drives, so both are fantastic drawcards for South Luangwa National Park. The bush comes alive at night. The animals that hide from the heat during the day come out to eat, play and hunt when the sun goes down.
In addition, night drives are the ideal time to witness the elusive leopard, one of the infamous Big 5. Leopards shelter in shady trees and dense shrubs, evading notice better than a celebrity hiding from the paparazzi. Spotting a leopard in the wild is genuinely unforgettable. Luckily, South Luangwa National Park has been dubbed “The Valley of the Leopard” for a reason. It is home to the largest naturally occurring population of leopard in the world!
Star Gazing
If you are a natural night owl yourself, then you know that early mornings on safari can be tiring. However, in addition to offering night drives, South Luangwa is also famous for star gazing. If you like to experience the bush at night but can’t be bothered to leave your room, it’s well worth venturing to your front porch with a nightcap. So much so, in fact, that visitors of the South Luangwa National Park have noted that it was difficult to sleep with so much stargazing to do. Oh, what a hardship but someone has got to do it, right? Might as well be you!
Mfuwe town and South Luangwa National Park offer so much more than one can hope to fit in a single trip. But luckily for you, many of the lodges in South Luangwa offer excellent off-peak season specials that are hard to pass up.
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