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Allan_Grey
GB
Visited:
October 2014
Reviewed: May 24, 2015
Email Allan_Grey | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
If Remote, Luxury & Lions are the some of criteria you seek, then South Luangwa has it in spades!
Breakfast at Bush Camp was taken on old camp chairs circled around the braai over which we toasted the most delicious home baked bread, then it was off on a walking safari to learn about all creatures great and small that make up the local ecosystem, and of course the evening walks always finished adjacent to a
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river, with a sundowner, mine's a G&T please. The other delight of this remote camp, apart from there only being six guests there, was Klaus, the elderly German camp manager. What a wealth of knowledge about all things Africa, could just sit and listen to him for hours, very entertaining.Although I'm not a "Birder", I am a photographer and I was able to take many shots of my favourite bird, the Lilac Breasted Roller, such beautiful colours, and they do pose longer and allow you to get closer than some of the others, they are obviously the posers of the bird world, and don't they know it. On the other hand the Carmine Bee Eater, hundreds of them, just will not stay still, and I never managed to get any shots quite as good as those of the the Roller.
Plenty of elephants, some fairly docile, others quite aggressive, just hope your driver doesn't switch the engine off when they decide to come closer. Some of the most beautiful giraffe we had seen, large herds of buffalo, lots of antelope, especially Puku, and Kudu.
Then on to Lion Camp, about three hours drive through the park from Mfuwe, and as usual sitting in the jeep is like sitting behind a jet engine prior to take off, very hot air blasting through, hold on to your hat and make sure you have plenty of water. The reward for all this is an extremely remote camp in a beautiful corner of the park alongside the South Luangwa river, and of course the famous Hollywood pride. The pride was 19 strong when we visited, a dominant male, six or seven lionesses and numerous cubs from just a few months old to stroppy teenagers, always looking for trouble when the elders wanted to sleep. They are called the Hollywood pride because they have been featured in several wildlife films, and it was no different when we saw them, they were being filmed from afar by a seriously big camera outfit.
Five glorious days at Lion camp, being waited on hand and foot, served the most delicious food, along with a maximum of six other guests was heaven, well all except for one mega-opinionated retired US marine Colonel, just had to blank him out, tosser!
Game drives each morning and evening, each day concluded by the ubiquitous sundowner, with many sightings including one drive where we sat in the same riverbank position for two hours just watching the Hollywood pride resting and playing, and keeping their wary eyes on a group of five elderly buffalo; little did we know what awaited us the following morning, our last day and our last game drive.
Just two vehicles from Lion camp on an open plain looking for the first sighting of the day, and what a sighting, maybe a once in a lifetime sighting, the male and six lionesses chasing, catching and bringing down one of the elderly buffalo we had seen by the river the previous evening. If you haven't seen a kill before, or more to the point if you haven't heard a kill before, it's not easy viewing or listening, especially from a mere 20 metres away, for the hour it took the buffalo to succumb. In some parks there would have been dozens of jeeps homing in on such an event, here in South Luangwa, there was just the two vehicles from our camp, and the film crew, some mile away across the river.
We took a break and drove a safe distance for coffee and cake, and to look at the photos we had all taken. While we were doing this, the male and one of the lionesses strolled off across the river, and after a few rests along the way, brought all the cubs back for some grub, but woe betide they got in the way of the grown ups, if they did a swift thwack with a giant paw soon taught them some meal time etiquette.
We will never forget this spellbinding experience in South Luangwa National Park, shared with just the small number of friends we had made at Lion camp; the marine Colonel had left the previous day, such a shame!
michael heyns
Visited:
April 2014
Reviewed: May 19, 2015
Probably the most beutifull place I have been to.
There were many excellent sightings, beautifull landscapes, freedom of movement. It was no easy to get there by car, as we did, but I am sure there is other modes of travel
We went as a family with teenagers and they really enjoyed it as well. We camped and did not use the accomodation on offer, but it seemed good. We did a self drive excursion. No guides.
One night we did a night drive with guides, lots of animals, great knowlegeable guide.
Camping on the lUangwa river bend was definitely a highlight.
Jeff S
ZM
Visited:
October 2014
Reviewed: May 8, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful park with lots of cats, elephants, and birds. Stay on the river at Track & Trail Lodge
Park is known for it's cats. This park probably gives you the best chance of seeing lions and leopards. We drove into the park and immediately stumbled on 10 lions feeding on a carcass followed by a elderly leopard hunting. Birds are fantastic too, as always in Zambia. Lots of hippos, crocs and elephants. It can get crowded with safari vehicles in the busy season, but still enough lions to go around and the river at low water is beautiful.
Stay at one of the lodges on the river and you will not be disappointed -- I chose Track&Trail which was superb. I'm an avid photographer, but the owner is a real pro. Shooting with him, getting pointers, and most importantly having
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a photographer driving the vehicle made a HUGE difference. Elephants, hippos, and monkeys regularly walked through the camp. I packed my own food and camped on a platform at the lodge, but dinner at the lodge was great -- family style barbeque which was delicious and there was a great homemade aioli sauce.I've also heard there are some great lodges in this area if you have small children. Ask the lodge if they have babysitting or nanny services.
Philippe
FR
Visited:
September 2022
Reviewed: Oct 20, 2022
Email Philippe | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Very interesting place with a lot of different ecosystems. Bird's and obviously the marvelous leopard. Plan a stay of at least 3 or 4 days because he is not always easy to see !
Graeme
GB
Visited:
July 2019
Reviewed: Jul 29, 2019
Email Graeme | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Game density and diversity are both excellent in the park, with four of the Big Five present as well as hippos, giraffes, greater kudu, spotted hyenas and many other incredible species. The park's vistas over the river are beautiful, however it is scrubbier woodland further into the park, presenting a more complicated backdrop for photography. The bush vibe is largely great, however it was slightly undermined at times by self-drive vehicles crowding into view or ignoring the etiquette that drivers and guides overwhelmingly adhere to. Birding is similarly excellent- I spotted around 90 species while I was in the park, including stars like martial eagles, grey-crowned cranes and so many more.
Guillaume d'Autichamp
FR
Visited:
October 2018
Reviewed: Oct 31, 2018
Email Guillaume d'Autichamp | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
South Luangwa is Zambia's flaghsip park for so many good reasons :
Wildlife is extremely abundant and leopard sighting is probably the best in africa (not to mention the hippo density which at 25000 is the highest in the world)
We stayed at the very exclusive Mfue Lodge : everything was great here, except maybe the high number of visitors in the area: to avoid that we moved 86 km inside the Park in the Zungulila Bushcamp which has been our greatest safari experience so far (very exclusive bushcamp, amazing scenery, delicious food, very friendly staff, excellent guiding and hyenas laughing at night all around us): we saw a pack of 20 wild dogs and of course we had the traditionnal zambian sunset drink along the luangwa river !
Visitors numbers can seem high at the Mfue gate but as soon as you drive inside the park : wildlife is for yourself !!
Greg Sensei
CA
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: Aug 3, 2018
Email Greg Sensei | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wildlife immersion in its truest sense.
We stayed at the Kaingo lodge (www.kaingo.com) for a few nights.
While it was expensive and hard to access, it was a safari in its purest sense. We saw lots of wildlife, including many lions and our first leopards on our time in southern Africa(including one eating an impala in a tree at night).
Accommodation was at it should be, but be careful to not leave your room at night as there are no barriers to the wildlife coming through camp. I actually had an elephant walk just outside my window and start munching on leaves on a tree!
aniphone
BE
Visited:
June 2018
Reviewed: Jun 22, 2018
Email aniphone | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
One of the best
I stayed in two different places, one just outside of the park (Wildlife Camp - which is good value for money, situated in a preservation area) and one bush camp (Nkonzi - an affordable and very stylish lodging). It was the second time I came here for a whole week. Don't expect to see cheeta or rhino, but apart from those species you'll get to see almost every animal you can think of. Leopards almost every day, bunches of wild dogs, lions, southern grounded hornbill ... The night drives are incredible. especially our guide at Wildlife Camp knew sounds and tracks so well he managed to give us incredible sightings. Bushbabies, servals, a civet, leopards, chasing lions, ... The walking safari guides are also very knowledgeable and an absolute must if you visit this park.
Marc
US
Visited:
July 2017
Reviewed: Oct 20, 2017
Email Marc | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Absolutely Worth the Effort to Get There
South Luangwa is a bit off the beaten path but a rich reward for whomever makes the journey. Confined between a dense forest and a wide river, animals are plentiful in this park. I have seen more cats in one day then weeks at other flagship parks in southern Africa. I have made to trek's there because the photo opportunities and wildlife viewing are unparalleled; even in the wet season. I stayed at Mfuwe Lodge twice! The people, the food, the guides and the rooms are above and beyond. On my first night during my first trip we found a leopard in a tree right above us...amazing. On my first night during my second trip we came across a leopard moments before it took out a bush hare. It was over before I could understand what was happening. I love this park and will definitely go again.
Paul Sivley
US
Visited:
May 2017
Reviewed: Jun 9, 2017
Email Paul Sivley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris