Chikunto Safaris Lodge
Ideally located inside Zambia’s world-renowned South Luangwa National Park (know as the Valley of the Leopard), Chikunto Safari Lodge / Camp delivers an authentic ‘bush’ experience that is...
Starting from
$1000PP
South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, is the southernmost of three public parks in the valley of the Luangwa River. It is an incredibly famous wildlife paradise. It is known to local people just as "the South Park and the most visited park in Zambia. This is because it offers an exceptional blend of open, grassy fields and developed, mesmerizing forests, delegated with the immaculate, noteworthy Luangwa River. This region's reputation for bountiful wildlife and pristine vegetation is very much procured, so regardless of whether driving around or walking through, the extreme excellence calls to you from each corner. Four of the Big five animals can be spotted here aside from Rhino.
Wildlife29 Animals
High SeasonJuly to October
Best Time to GoJuly to November
South Luangwa National Park is an incredibly famous wildlife paradise. Four of the Big five animals can be spotted here aside from Rhino. Sadly, the rhino was poached to extinction here and is no longer seen. It supports large populations of Thornicroft's giraffe, and herds of elephants and Cape buffalo often several hundred strong. The river teems with hippos and crocodiles and provides a lifeline for one of the greatest diversities of habitat and wildlife. Also, when you're on a night drive, you might spot a leopard, spotted hyena, genet, bushbaby and perhaps porcupine.
South Luangwa National Park is the place to encounter numerous large animals here - elephant, Cape buffalo, hippo, lion, Nile crocodile, warthog, puku, impala, spotted hyena, greater kudu and eland are all common. South Luangwa has some animals that you cant encounter anywhere else such as Thornicroft's giraffe, Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra. You can tell a Thornicroft giraffe from other giraffes by the unusual pattern on its coat. Same with the Crawshay's zebra with their distinctive stripes.
South Luangwa has very seasonal wildlife viewing. The best time to visit the South Luangwa National park is in the Dry season from July to November when water is inadequate and animals gather to drink. At this time the vegetation is also thinner making sightings easier. During the Wet season, from December to April, animals tend to congregate around the pans in the interior.
South Luangwa has excellent bird-watching opportunities with more than 400 species recorded so far which includes Resident and migratory species. The sun-scorched riverbanks play host to immense colonies of carmine bee-eaters, which along with various raptors, lovebirds, weavers and kingfishers loan in excess of a sprinkle of shading to this excellent place. Pelicans and yellow-billed storks accumulate in the last puddles of water in the Dry season to scoop out the fish, and sometimes grey-crowned cranes can be found in groups of up to 300. Owls and nightjars are regularly spotted on night drives.
South Luangwa National Park offers a great birding experience throughout the year. However, the best time to visit is during the wet season from November to April. It is also the time when migratory birds are available and a lot of birds can be seen in breeding plumage.
The best time to visit South Luangwa National Park is from July to November. This is the middle and end of the Dry season and water in the shrub has evaporated, so animals assemble around the streams and watercourses. However, Weather in October and November is extremely Hot and certain individuals might find conditions hard to adapt to in these months.
Best Time
June to November
High Season
July to October
Low Season
November to May
Best Weather
April to August
Worst Weather
October to March