North Luangwa National Park sits on the western bank of the Luangwa River, enclosed by the Luangwa Valley with its dramatic Muchinga Escarpment rising 1,000m from the valley floor. This remote tract of untouched wilderness is solely accessible through one of the few safari operators granted permission to enter the area, allowing for an exclusive and private safari experience.
The park is renowned for its massive herds of buffalo trudging the open grasslands in a cloud of dust. Lion and hyena prowl the acacia thicket attracted by the rich pickings and leopard hide in the sausage trees. Zebra, warthog, and Cookson’s wildebeest also make an appearance alongside antelope such as impala, hartebeest, and eland.
Mwaleshi River is the park’s only permanent watercourse, cascading down the escarpment in a series of waterfalls. The dry season forces its waters to recede, leaving a string of pools along the way that draw the animals from the bush to its banks. Because of the dense vegetation and lack of roads, the emphasis is placed on walking safaris. The southern part of the park is set aside as a wilderness area with not many roads and only three smallish camps.
Highlights
- Remote tract of untouched wilderness, without any permanent lodges and not open to the public, except through a handful of safari operators
- Renowned for its herds of buffalo which can be up to 1000-strong
- A variety of antelope and plains game make an appearance, followed by their predators such as lion, leopard, and hyena
- Mwaleshi River is the park’s only permanent watercourse, drawing the animals from the bush to its banks
- Because of the dense vegetation and lack of roads, the emphasis is placed on walking safaris
