South Luangwa National Park

South Luangwa National Park is one of many national parks in Zambia, and the most popular, because its filled with abundant wildlife. Its a short flight or a ten-hour drive from Lusaka via Eastern Province. Flying is more convenient but can be expensive. The daytime and nighttime game drives in South Luangwa are fabulous. For high-end lodging, stay at the Chichele Lodge, the presidential retreat of former Zambian president Kenneth Kaunda 1964-91, or at Mfuwe Lodge. There are numerous less expensive lodges and bush camps in and around the park.

Most of the animal species in Luangwa inhabit very specific vegetation zones. Depending on where you are in the park, you are sure to come across elephant, buffalo, impala, puku, bushbuck, waterbuck, eland and kudu. Endemic to the valley are Crawshay's zebra, Luangwa is also home to the wonderful Thornicroft's giraffe with its striking contrastive colouration and white legs. In the grasslands, you might see oribi and, at night, the small grysbok. Away from the river, there are reedbuck and Lichtenstein's hartebeest and if you venture further towards the hills near Muchinga, you could catch a glimpse of sable.

Night drives yield excellent sightings of leopard but you are unlikely to see cheetah as sightings are extremely rare in this area. Rivers are infested with great numbers of hippo and crocodile. Luangwa attracts prolific bird-life and in the rainy season pockets of the park are home to frenzied breeding colonies.