South Luangwa National Park, situated in the Eastern Province of Zambia, a one-hour internal flight from the Capital Lusaka to the local airport of Mfuwe, has rightfully earned its reputation as one of Africa's premier national parks. The story of this 9,050 km2 park, Zambia’s premier National Park, is woven into the fabric of African conservation and showcases the beauty of its diverse ecosystems.
It was in 1938 that South Luangwa was declared a game reserve by the British colonial authorities, recognizing its ecological significance, with one of the park's defining moments occurring in the 1950s when visionary conservationist Norman Carr pioneered innovative wildlife protection strategies, including the concept of walking safaris. His efforts laid the foundation for sustainable tourism and the preservation of South Luangwa's unique flora and fauna.
Today, South Luangwa National Park is celebrated for its incredible biodiversity, including over 60 animal species and over 400 birdlife species. The park, known to many as the Valley of the Leopard is especially renowned for its large populations of predators, including lions, wild dogs and the eponymous leopards. In addition, large numbers of elephants, buffalos, hippos and a variety of antelope offers visitors unparalleled opportunities for wildlife viewing.
South Luangwa's commitment to responsible tourism and community engagement ensures that the park remains a model for conservation and sustainable development and firmly cements its position as one of Africa's premier national parks and a must-visit destination for any nature enthusiast, photographer or wildlife lover.
There is no ‘wrong’ time to visit South Luangwa National Park, with each season having its own attractions: The Cool Dry – mid-to-late-April / to late-July; the Hot Dry - August to October; the Early Rains – early / mid-November & December and the Peak Rains - January to March.
At Chikunto Safari Camp & Lodge their Emerald Season runs from mid-February to the end of May, with a combination of water-based and land-based safari options available (subject to water levels) with fabulous light conditions and an ideal time for ‘birders’. For details on your preferred dates or for a more detailed description contact Chikunto directly.
The peak safari season runs from June to the end of September, with what is known as the ‘shoulder season’ running from October to the middle of November. As the Luangwa River starts to dry the concentration of animals around the dwindling water sources grows ever higher.
We joined a group from Naturetrek and were treated to an excellent week by the wonderful staff at the Lodge who looked after us all so well. The rangers gave us the chance to see all the animals as well as a great number of birds. Highly recommended, and we are planning to return.
One of the best stays of my life. From the moment we arrived they puty the needs of our family top of their list, making every moment special for us and especially my little girl. The room was beautiful and they created a safari experince that flowed around our needs. This was my 15th visit to South Luangwa and as an experienced safari travller it was great to see how they made our safari special...
Chikhunto and South Lungwe were a stunning experience. The safari experience is breath taking with varied landscapes and amazing safari. Sometimes the guides tracked down animals, sometimes you turned a corner and....wow! I won't repeat the comments people have already written. The quality of our experience here significantly contributed to us rating our trip to Zambia as the best ever travelli...
Stunning place to stay! The staff were incredible - especially Irene as she was a ray of sunshine! The food was also delicious and we had some fabulous game drives. Manny was our guide with a trainee called Harry and they were both true professionals that made the trip very fun and very informative. We saw lions, leopards, elephants and so much more. This place is such a hidden gem.
Chikunto Safari Lodge is definitely a gem in South Luangwa Park. Wonderfully comfortable accommodations, Michelin-worthy meals, a welcoming friendly staff, and some of the best bush guides I've ever met. I have stayed at other safari lodges in Africa at nearly triple the cost and Chikunto easily met those standards. My room was extremely clean and comfortable, the showers were wonderful with amp...