North Luangwa National Park

A vast tract of undisturbed bush in the valley of the mighty Luangwa River.

The sister park to South Luangwa is very rarely visited as access isn’t easy and there are very few seasonal camps. I was lucky enough to experience North Luangwa on an adventurous self-drive safari and loved the solitude, varied landscapes and the sense that I had this vast piece of Zambian bush practically all to myself. The Luangwa River is the highlight; it gushes violently across the broad flood plains after the rains, is a mere placid trickle over pebbles and sandy furrows in the dry, and is always a beacon for animals. I count myself privileged to have seen a large pack of wild dogs here splashing in the shallows, numerous hippos and crocs while fording it in my four-wheel drive vehicle, and a couple of black rhino partially camouflaged in the acacia thickets on the steep riverbanks. For the latter, the North Luangwa Conservation Program (NLCP) is doing a sterling job protecting sizeable numbers in the park. North Luangwa is a great destination for a private well-guided safari, and is particularly good for walking. But more of an effort is needed to see game here than in popular South Luangwa, and the low-impact mobile camps maybe a little rustic and challenging for some. The reward however is enjoying exclusive wildlife-watching and the opportunity to appreciate one of this region’s last untamed wildernesses.