The Luangwa valley
The Luangwa river cuts through the East of Zambia and meets the Zambezi river at the border point between Zambia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe more than 800km away from its source.
The Luangwa valley is the southern most part of the East African rift system. It is therefore enclosed by up to 1000m high escarpments. The most prominent rise is the Muchinga escarpment. It runs along the Western side of the South and North Luangwa National Parks.
Luangwa Bridge
A small settlement has developed near the suspension bridge of the Great Eastern Road crossing the Luangwa river. It consists basically of a few houses and a big market. A good place to have a break and some local food.
The Luangwa river at Luangwa Bridge
The Luangwa river at Luangwa Bridge
Dried tigerfish on the market at Luangwa Bridge.
Luambe National Park
The small Luambe National Park on the Easter side of the river lies between the big South and North Luangwa National Parks. Very little infrastructure, but always a good place to see animals.
Buffalos (Luambe NP)
Lions (Luambe NP)
Elephants (Luambe NP)
North Luangwa National Park
The North Luangwa National Park is very remote piece of land. Only few visitors make it there, most of them drive in and out from the Northwest. Coming from the South is an adventure by itself driving through a very sparsely populated woodlands over 200km on sandy tracks and finally over the river with a pontoon (or through the river, when its dry). Only a hand full of Safari Camps offer accommodation and activities. North Luangwa is the place to go when you want to see animals and not safari vehicles.
Entering North Luangwa NP from the East with the pontoon
The dried out Luangwa river in October (North Luangwa NP)
Fish eagles at North Luangwa NP
Hippos in the last remaining pools of the Luangwa river (North Luangwa NP)
Zebras (North Luangwa NP)
Buffalo Camp, North Luangwa NP
Buffalo Camp, North Luangwa NP
Lions just outside Buffalo Camp, North Luangwa NP
Buffalo Camp, North Luangwa NP
Zebras (North Luangwa NP)
Cookson's Wildebeest (North Luangwa NP)
Warthog (North Luangwa NP)
Buffalos (North Luangwa NP)
Zebras (North Luangwa NP)
Death toll (North Luangwa NP)
Elephants (North Luangwa NP)
South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park is one of the best-known national parks in Africa. Dozens of luxurious Safari Lodges and Camps are scattered mainly along the river. The park is relatively easy to reach by car or by airplane.
Zebras on the hunt for the last green grass, South Luangwa NP
Crowned cranes, South Luangwa NP
Puku antelopes, an ibis and crowned cranes, South Luangwa NP
Elephants under one of the few trees that provided some shade, South Luangwa NP
Giraffs near Mfuwe, just outside South Luangwa NP
Catch me if you can!