Average User Rating
Rating Breakdown
Write a User ReviewA memorable experience in every way
This was our first trip to South Luangwa, indeed our first to Zambia having usually visited Tanzania. We stayed at the Shenton camps - Kaingo and Mwamba and they were absolutely perfect. Small and very friendly with wonderful food, great accommodation and very knowledgeable staff and guides. We were collected from the airport and had a very enjoyable 'safari' to the first camp. We were blessed with good weather all the time we were there and enjoyed our twice (sometimes three) daily game drives from completely open vehicles which was very welcome as we are photographers with long lenses. The park is very well managed and maintained, and the wildlife sightings were phenomenal. Thanks to our brilliant guide/driver, we had 24 separate leopard sightings,and were fortunate enough to see the Pel's Fishing Owl several times. As for the Carmine Bee-eaters - well!! We thoroughly enjoyed our time in South Luangwa and will most definitely be returning.
South Luangwa: Beautiful place and Amazing wildlife
South Luangwa is my favorite national park. The accommodations are terrific and the wild life is amazing. I have been there over 4 times now, and it has never failed to be an amazing experience. The guides have so much knowledge about the park and the wildlife sitings are great in number, leopards, lions and hyenas being the most seen. The park is very beautiful and the sunsets are always so breathtaking. There are so many animals and birds, and it really is one of the best holiday destinations out there.
Shivakumar
GB
Visited:
April 2016
Reviewed: Apr 27, 2016
Email Shivakumar | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
One of my best safari experiences ever!
Read more
and then they can be heard munching grass right next to our tents! A hair raising experience for sure. The next day we went on two game drives, one of which was at night. And we saw so many animals that it was almost impossible to keep a track of all of them. We saw elephants, zebra, monitor lizards, all sorts of birds, lions, giraffes, hippos, hyenas, puku, impala, warthogs to name a few. We were lucky to get very close to some lions who posed for our cameras on trees. There was also an interaction between a hyena and lion, where the hyena unknowingly walked right up to a young male lion and then bolted for its life. But the real highlight was 4 separate leopard sightings on the evening drive! The first sighting was at dusk as we watched a leopard attempting to catch an impala. It got to within twenty five feet but still did not pounce. The Impala suddenly saw it and gave off its alarm call. The leopard stood up and walked off with its tail raised high. The other three sightings were in the night. In one instance we were watching a leopard relaxing next to a bush, when suddenly a huge lion appeared a hundred yards away roaring. The leopard disappeared in a flash. Even our safari guide was shocked and said he had never seen so many big cats during a wet season drive. At least for me, South Luangwa had lived up to its reputation for being the best leopard spotting game park in Africa. There were no rhinos here, though our guide told us it was only a temporary thing. And that they planned to reintroduce them into the park in the future. Another great selling point for South Luangwa was the relative isolation of the place. We never had more than two or three safari jeeps around an animal sighting at any one time. I have been to some of the more famous parks in other African countries, and you can easily have up to twenty vehicles around a popular animal. Our camp was more than good enough for me. Hot showers available at any time, good toilets, clothes washing basins, swimming pool, well stocked bar and plenty of space. It was also good to see electric plug points placed around the campsite. Safari jeeps picked us up from right next to our tents and dropped us back in the same place. Overall i was left feeling very satisfied with my experience here.
Jim Scarff
US
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: May 6, 2015
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Great for leopards, saw wild dogs, lions, very nice lodge
We stayed at Flat Dogs Camp just across the river from the Park for 5 nights. That is a lovely facility with great food. The elephants wander freely by the hatched-roof "tents". sometimes snacking on them. It was the dry season so most of the wildlife was crowded near the river which meant lots of wildlife sightings, but also quite a few other vehicles. Our drives away from the river had far fewer vehicles and found wild dogs, and other good wildlife. One nice feature is the park allows night drives (until 8pm) which were not allowed in Botswana parks. We greatly enjoyed seeing the nocturnal animals. The weather was warm but not too hot, there were almost no bugs. Everyone in our group of 7 had a great time there and highly recommend it.
Achim
Visited:
September 2014
Reviewed: Apr 8, 2015
A rough diamond of safari destinations
South Luangwa N.P. was the most developed destination of our Zambia Safari and we had our best sightings of wildlife there. Compared to the other parks, it was easy to get around (e.g. roadsigns, maps, good roads ). And even if a lot of lodges are near to the gates, it wasn't as crowded as other famous national parks in Kenia or Tanzania.
We had a great - but hot -time there, meeting nice people and enjoing the comfort of beautifully situated lodges.
Meg
AU
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: Aug 23, 2014
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Shenton Safaris in South Luangwa (Kaingo and Mwamba Camps) a must-do.
We have just come back from the most amazing holiday in South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi. We stayed with the Shenton owned small exclusive safari camps Kaingo Camp and Mwamba Camp in South Luangwa. We absolutely loved both camps. The wonderful staff and guides at both camps were amazing, the food absolutely delicious and the accommodation very good. I am dreaming of our return.
SafariGirl
US
Visited:
September 2011
Reviewed: Apr 4, 2013
Email SafariGirl | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
At that time the park was more exciting and less touristic than other parks in south and east Africa
The wildlife was abundant but it was the variety of tours that made the South Luangwa days outstanding. We went on ordinary day safaris, night safaris and hiking safaris. The old Landcruiser without doors and roof was an extra thrill booster. The guide Jason knew where to find the animals and also managed to avoid too close encounters while walking. Extremely exciting experience. Highly recomended!
Jaka
Visited:
August 2007
Reviewed: Apr 24, 2012
One of the most unique experience.
The wildlife was magnificant. We've seen all of the big animals, except for the Rhino (obviously:( ). Lodging was also fantastic and a hippo joined us at the breakfast once, until he was spooked away by one of the guards.
The guide was alright, knew the wildlife just fine, but his driving skills were quite bad. We got stuck in the pile of sand, and he literally had no knowledge how to use the winch... The jeep was also very old and got broken down quite a few times.
~lustedtowander~
US
Visited:
July 2011
Reviewed: Apr 1, 2012
35-50 years of age
The South Luangwa River attracts heaps of animals, and one can camp just outside the park, on the banks of the river. It is my ideal safari experience, to be immersed IN the wilderness. No need to drive all day. Just live in the outdoors and be an organic member of it all.