North Luangwa National Park offers an unexploited safari wilderness, with beautiful camps offering unsurpassed walking safaris in the heart of the African bush.
African wild dog and cheetah are particularly good species to record in the area, with other major predators and game also well represented.
The park is also home to Zambia’s only black rhinos, having been reintroduced into the Luangwa in 2003.
Separated from its southern cousin by the Munyamadzi Corridor, North Luangwa is bordered by the Luangwa and Mwaleshi rivers and the Muchinga Escarpment It is generally reached by light aircraft from South Luangwa and makes a great addition to a safari there. Its 6,000 square kilometres of wilderness supports flora and fauna in diverse habitats, including forests of red mahogany and sausage trees.
For over 30 years North Luangwa was an official wilderness area with access restricted solely to the Game Department. Then Mark and Delia Owens, famed for their research in the Kalahari (recounted in their book Cry of the Kalahari) were granted permission to set up a research station and their experiences are poignantly narrated in another book Survivors Song. This led to the creation of a small tourist camp in the park and continuing conservation projects in the area.
The North Luangwa is one of very few areas left in the world where you can escape into a vast wilderness teeming with wildlife and untouched by human presence.
This small group trip visits Zambia’s sensational South Luangwa and North Luangwa National Parks to enjoy walking safaris, and is jointly led by author Simon Barnes and Wildlife Worldwide founder Chris Breen. Their shared passion for the area and its abundant wildlife guarantee an illuminating and fun experience! Find out more about Walking in the Heart of Zambia
Spend a week at Takwela – a beautiful camp in a wild and remote part of Zambia’s Luangwa Valley. This unspoiled wilderness receives few tourists and offers an authentic safari experience. Exploring both on foot and by day and night safaris, search for leopard, lion and wild dog as well as elephant and more. Find out more about North Luangwa – Off the Beaten Track
Located deep in the bush of North Luangwa National Park, this tiny seasonal camp stands on a beautiful stretch of the perennially flowing Mwaleshi River. It is a real wilderness retreat, and the abundant wildlife includes lion, elephant buffalo, plus herds of endemic Cookson’s wildebeest. Find Out More about Mwaleshi Camp
This intimate camp of just four chalets is perfectly located in a quiet area of the exclusive North Luangwa wilderness. Situated on the riverfront, Takwela offers you an ideal base from which to explore, combining day and night drives with walking safaris to richly enhance your wildlife experience. Find Out More about Takwela Camp
