North Luangwa National Park- Zambia Safaris: Primate Safaris

About the Park

NORTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK

For travelers who find South Luangwa a bit too busy its northern neighbor offers an even deeper level of isolation. North Luangwa National Park is a rugged remote sanctuary covering just over four thousand square kilometers. For many years the park was closed to the general public and operated purely as a wilderness reserve which allowed it to maintain an incredibly wild character.

Access to North Luangwa is strictly controlled and there are only a handful of eco friendly camps permitted to operate inside its borders. The focus here is almost entirely on walking safaris with game viewing vehicles used sparingly. This creates an environment where animals are not accustomed to the sound of engines making encounters far more raw and unpredictable.

The park is famous for its massive herds of buffalo which can number in the thousands. These large herds naturally attract prominent prides of lions resulting in dramatic predator prey interactions.

North Luangwa has also become a critical success story for conservation through the reintroduction of the black rhinoceros. After being wiped out by poaching decades ago a heavily guarded sanctuary within the park has successfully brought these prehistoric creatures back to Zambian soil making it the only place in the country where visitors might catch a glimpse of the complete Big Five wildlife group.

Best Time to visit North Luangwa National Park

North Luangwa National Park can be visited anytime around the year although the best time to visit the Park is during the dry season in the months of June to October. During this time wildlife viewing is very possible.

Detailed Guide

June–August have cool, dry weather and animals are fond of gathering around rivers and waterholes to break their thirst. Walking safaris are comfortable too.

September–October are Hot and very dry with sparse vegetation, making animals easier to spot. These include predators too.

November–April is the rainy season hence making roads difficult to navigate on.

How to Get to North Luangwa National Park

Travelers on safari in Zambia at North Luangwa National Park can use both Road and Air Transport to get to the park to enjoy safari adventures.

1: By Air

Travelers can use Air to et to the Park as they fly into Kenneth Kaunda International Airport where they take a scheduled or chartered light aircraft to an airstrip near the park (such as Mwaleshi or another lodge-serviced airstrip). On reaching here, they shall transfer in a 4x4 vehicle to the Park.

2: By Road

Travelers can transfer to the Park by use of road as the drive from Lusaka or Mpika. Long travel times (often a full day or more) vis rough gravel and dirt roads. Road conditions can change significantly depending on the weather.

3: Fly to a nearby town, then drive

Fly to Mfuwe (the main gateway to the South Luangwa region) where you leave to North Luangwa with a pre-arranged transfer. This is a lengthy journey and is usually organized by a safari operator.