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South Luangwa National Park travel info For scenery and variety of animals, South Luangwa (area of 9050sq kilometre) is probably the best park in Zambia. Walking safaris first began here, and are a thrilling way to experience Africa's wildlife at very close quarters. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species. Accommodation is available in a range of lodges, some of which are self-catering and small bushcamps.
Geography
The Luangwa Valley is an ancient branch off the Great African Rift Valley system. Flood waters from high up the Rift Valley deposit nutrients downstream in the Luangwa, resulting in the riparian soils being more fertile than the surrounding area which is poor leached soil. Thus, the areas close to the river supports a wide biodiversity of plant and animal life. The river is permanent but levels rise and fall dramatically which produces an additional seasonal flood-plain habitat which boosts grazer numbers and allows for the existence of puku which are highly dependent on the green belt along the water's edge.
The source of the Luangwa is in the hills of north eastern Zambia (Nykia plateau area). It flows for 1,000km until it reaches the Lower Zambezi River (junction of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique). The Luangwa River flows through 4 National Parks, including N. Luwangwa and S.Luangwa. This means that for almost the entire length of this river, there is no risk of river-bank subsistence cultivation causing degradation (unlike many large rivers in Africa which do, at some point, have cultivation on their banks which would have greatly changed the river). The valley floor is flat and sandy so the river is wide, slow-flowing and laden with silt. Flashfloods are common in the onset of the rains (800mm annual average). Erosion, therefore, is a prominent feature but it is a natural one and it gives rise to sandbars and eroding of bends to leave behind ox-bow lagoons. There are also many seepage depressions ("dambo's") which produce succulent graze and standing water late into the dry season. These lagoons and dambos allow wildlife to drink in more seclusion than the river bank and in the dry season, they are a good conglomeration point for wildlife viewing.
This area would provide high-quality soil for subsistence cultivation and would no doubt have been lost to that long before the area became a National Park. The main reason why it was not heavily settled was the presence of the tsetse fly. Livestock accompany agriculture as symbols of wealth, or sources of protein and labour. With tsetse flies, livestock could not survive, and hence agriculture did not proliferate.
Seasons
The dry season begins in April and intensifies through to October, the hottest month when game concentrations are at their height. Warm sunny days and chilly nights typify the dry winter months of May to August.
Wildlife
You may see: hyaena, lion, hippos, crowned cranes, grazing antelope and scurrying baboons, buffalo, zebra, Thornicroft's Giraffe, bushbuck, common duiker, eland, impala, Puku, kudu, reedbuck, roan, sable, hartebeest, grysbok, klipspringer and oribi, baboons, vervet, bushbaby, crocodiles, Maloney's monkey, leopard, caracal, wild dog, serval and side striped jackal, genets, civets, servals, honey badgers
Birdlife
400 bird species, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species.
Precautions
Tsetse flies: Although bites can be irritating, the type of Tsetse found in Zambia does not cause sleeping sickness in humans (only in livestock). Take along some antihistamine or appropriate medication if you are prone to allergic reactions from insect bites. Wear loose fitting clothing on game drives, a waterproof jacket will also help.
Malaria area: take appropriate precautions.
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