Description
Walking South Luangwa – 8 Days
Walking safaris in South Luangwa are one of the most incredible experiences you will ever have in your life. Besides Selous Game Reserve in Tanzania this is the number one destination for a safari on foot.
You will spend eight days with the complete focus on walking and game drives. Set out early each morning on an open Land Rover with your guide and armed scout before disembarking and walking to your next camp. The areas are rich in game and bird life. During late September the Carmine Bee Eaters return to the river banks to nest and fledge their young. Thousands of these bright red birds can be seen.
Elephant, Hippo, Lion, Hyena and Wild Dogs are common sightings in South Luangwa and interactions between predator and prey can be very exciting. We watched as a pack of Wild Dogs chased and killed a Bushbuck not ten meters from us on foot and did not take any notice of our presence. When a Hyena arrived to explore the commotion the Dogs were quick to chase it off.
On the steep river banks its possible to look down on pods of Hippo sleeping in shallow pools. Crocodile bask on sand banks but never let you get too close. These wily dinosaurs can live to over one hundred years and only need to eat once a year. Kudu and Impala grace the open areas and watch with animated curiosity as your group walks by. Discover why you never stop and rest under Sausage trees and feel just how solid and heavy the fruits are.
Walking is by far the best safari activity ever thought up and you are guaranteed to love this experience.
Consult our travel advice for your Zambia safari. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions.
If you would like to support conservation in South Luangwa National Park visit Conservation South Luangwa to get involved.
For walking in Selous (Tanzania), have a look at Jongomero, our CEO was a walking guide there for many years and recommends it highly.
Prefer to stay in Zambia? Explore the Kafue and South Luangwa 12 day tour.
How to Get There
Fly In
Fly directly into Lusaka with either Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways or South African Airways.
On arrival in Lusaka you will be met by your safari representative who will assist you on to your light aircraft for the flight to Mfuwe. Here you will be met by your guide for the transfer to your first camp.
Contact Us for travel advice.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 – Lusaka/Mfuwe
Upon arrival at Lusaka International Airport you will be met by our representative and assisted with immigration and customs procedures. You will then be directed to the domestic check-in counters for your flight to Mfuwe in the South Luangwa. The flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe will take 1hr 10 minutes.
Day 1-3 – Luwi Bushcamp
Luwi is set inside the National Park, 2 hours’ drive from Mfuwe Airport. It is a remote and what we would term ‘traditional’ bush-camp with only 4 rooms, each made of reed and thatch. Remoteness is the order of the day at this camp as no other tourists will be encountered in this area of the Park. Luwi is predominantly a walking camp with short night drives complimenting morning and afternoon walks.
Day 3 – 5 – Nsolo Bushcamp
Transfers from Luwi to Nsolo are usually done on foot as a morning walking safaris. The 4 rooms at Nsolo are very spacious, set on raised wooden decks with grass walls and thatch roofs. Each room is designed differently and has its own veranda and private views across the Luwi sand river bed.
Day 5 – 7 – Kakuli Bushcamp
You will have a choice this morning as to whether you walk or drive to Kakuli but it is quite common to do a bit of both, driving out of camp after dawn to a spot further down the Luwi River from where you start your walk, your bags are driven to Kakuliand will be awaiting your arrival as will a cool drink and a hearty brunch. This beautiful camp has 5 traditional walk-in safari tents each with en-suite bathrooms made with natural materials. The bar and dining chitenje (lounge) is constructed of reed and thatch forming the centre point of camp.
Day 7-9 – Mchenja Camp
Mchenja Camp is located a few kilometres up-stream from Kakuli again on the bank of the main Luangwa River, it is most common to walk from Kakuli to Mchenja as it is an easy, beautiful and usually pretty productive stroll. The camp is shaded by a grove of ebony trees (Mchenja is the local name for these trees), the rooms have canvas walls and thatch roofs and there is a small pool to one end of the camp. As has been the norm for the past week you will be given the choice as to whether you walk or drive and most people enjoy a mixture of both.
Day 9 – Mfuwe
Your drive back to Mfuwe Airport takes you through some of the best game-viewing areas in the Valley and this will be your opportunity to say farewell to the animals that have been your neighbours for the duration of your time in the Luangwa. A scheduled flight of 1hr 10 minutes will see you arrive at Lusaka International Airport where you will connect to your onward flight.
