Overview
Take a trip to South Luangwa National Park on your Zambia Vacation
Located in eastern Zambia, South Luangwa National Park is the southernmost (of three) national park found in the valley of the Luangwa River. World-renowned for its wildlife on Zambia safaris, the park was pivotal in the development of the now popular African walking safari.
In May 1938, three reserves were established in the valley of the Luangwa River: North Luangwa Game Reserve, Lukusuzi Game Reserve and South Luangwa Reserve. The following year, Norman Carr, a British conservationist, was appointed as a game ranger within South Luangwa. He was a pioneer when it came to commercial walking safaris and helped build the strong reputation that South Luangwa maintains today. With the help of new legislation, the reserve was designated as a national park in 1972.
While South Luangwa remains popular with tourists on a Zambia safari, its inaccessible location ensures that visitor numbers never get too high at any given time. The concentration of games found around the river and its lagoons are some of the most intense in Africa. The park supports large herds of Thornicroft’s giraffes, elephants and buffalo while it is estimated that there are around 50 hippopotami per kilometre of the river. The density of leopards is among the highest in the world, and with South Luangwa being one of a few parks to allow night safaris, there is a chance that visitors may spot these elusive creatures on a Zambia vacation.
At a Glance
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Zambian Kwacha (ZMW)What do the experts say?
Compared to some other African safari destinations like Kenya or South Africa, Zambia offers a more off-the-beaten-path, less commercialized experience. Its a hidden treasure.
If you looking for the best time to visit then pick June to October for prime wildlife viewing and ideal weather conditions.
Zambia still feels like visiting a hidden gem.. It feels authentic, rugged and unscathed by tourism. South Luwangwa has stunning landscapes, high levels of biodiversity, and expert guides who openly and expertly share their knowledge of the wildlife and ecosystems.
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ExcellentBased on 5,217 ReviewsOur 2-week trip to Normandy, Switzerland and Italy after we disembarked from the Queen Mary 2 in Southampton in mid-May was superb. Michael Keon did an amazing job of putting together highlights for us to see and visit with the short time we had. All the train reservations, private and small group tours and transportations were very well coordinated, on time, and usually exceeded our expectations. Drivers were courteous and knowledgeable. Mike did a wonderful job getting everything coordinated, in spite of our almost “last minute” booking. I booked a month-long trip through GOWAY back in 1989 for Australia, New Zealand and Fiji, and they were superb then. So I tried them again, and found the entire organization to be even better. Mike was quick to respond to any questions that came up regarding booksings and times, regardless of the 6-hour time difference. Just superb! Although we had a nasty experience in Milan, GOWAY was very responsive and saw to our requests and our needs. Again, Michael Keon is the person who coordinated our travel. I will ask for Mike when I travel again with GOWAY. I recommend GOWAY highly. PJ WheelerA BIG THANK YOU to Goway Travel, Brooke Theron and all of the partners onsite. Our trip to Africa was incredible, memories that will last forever.
Everything planned and more went perfectly. The guides, the excursions, the accommodations, everything, was just spectacular. Fortunately, everything ran on time, no delays, no problems.
Thank you again!!
Linda IriasI have been blessed to have an amazing rep, Farooq Qaisar!
He has helped me find the best spots for my clients to experience and when I am looking for something and just can't figure it out, he is able to put together something better than I was thinking. He my go-to and I am thankful for all his help over the years!SherriGoway helped plan our two week trip to Peru and they (Virginia in particular) did a great job. The on-site logistics with Condor Travel went very smoothly, and the trip exceeded our expectations overall. They proactively suggested changes to our initial itinerary which were welcomed. I would recommend them and would work with them again in the future.Kate O'NeillWe entrusted Goway with every detail of our trip from start to finish and they came through for us superbly! Every single detail was smooth sailing. It was a joy to plan our travels with Goway!! We had an amazing trip of a lifetime!
E&DI recently went on an African Safari with my brother-in-law and sister and another couple who I knew. The entire experience was absolutely unbelievable. The complete details were flawlessly coordinated from the transfers to the breathtaking lodges. Our guides Peter showed us Kenya and Maulid Tanzania were very knowledgeable and very sharp eyes for finding the animals.
We were able to see the animals up close, learn a lot about the people, birds , vegetation etc.
We had several sundowners in the bush really added to a magical experience with beautiful sunsets.
I would highly recommend Goway to all my friends, they will not be disappointed.
Thank you to Bijal for the excellent African Safari that you put together for us. You were wonderful.Nancy HayWe enjoyed our trip very much. I was very pleased by the hotel, tours, and itinerary selections that Alice Teramoto made for us. It was all well organized and easy to follow.
Thank you very much for helping us have a great experience in Peru.INEverything was planned perfectly. The excursions were so small and personal. ClaireGoway planned a custom 2 week safari trip for my wife and I which was beyond perfect. Extremely satisfied with the entire process from planning, booking and follow up. Special thanks to my Travel Specialists, Brooke Theron and Angela DonnellyNeil RWorking with Allan is absolutely a dream. He is one of the most responsive people I’ve had the pleasure of working with and his attention to detail is unmatched. I truly wish I could just use him for every single trip I need to book.Liz Poore
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