Africa Easy’s Nadia Eckhardt is leading a small group of travelers deep into the wilderness of Southern Africa, off the beaten track and into some of the top game viewing regions in Africa. One of these, South Luangwa National Park, is one of Nadia’s personal favorites thanks to the variety of wildlife and the remote nature of the park. Only a few spots remain on our June 2012 Zambia – Zimbabwe Safari; call Africa Easy today to reserve your space on this unique wilderness journey.
The South Luangwa National Park covers about 9 050 square kilometres of the Luangwa Valley floor, which varies from about 500m to 800m above sea level. Near the banks of the Luangwa the land is fairly flat, and mostly covered with mature woodlands. There are areas of dense vegetation where bushbuck and leopard thrive and a number of large clearings that were once part of the mighty Luangwa River but were cut off, forming alluvium-filled oxbow lakes. Sausage trees with their pendulous fruit are often filled with the shrieks of Lilian’s Lovebirds or Grey-headed Parrots, adding surreal character to these clearings, while towering Ilala Palms highlight the backdrop of riparian forest.
On our Zambia -Zimbabwe Safari with Africa Easy, we will be based at Kalamu Lagoon Camp in a private concession in the Southern part of the National Park. The Luamfwa Concession is located in the wild and uncrowded (with people that is!) southern sector of the Park. Whereas for the most part the Luangwa River forms the eastern boundary of the National Park, separating the protected area from communal land and game management areas where hunting takes place, in the remote southern sector it meanders westward and both banks are protected. It is here that our camps can be found, on sites that are situated on the banks of the Luangwa River in a unique section of this exceptional Park, imparting a feeling of remoteness and exclusivity.
South Luangwa is renowned as the best walking destination in Africa and guests have the choice to explore the Luangwa riverine vegetation and adjacent dambos on guided walks. Other activities include day-and-night wildlife-viewing drives.
Accommodation at Kalamu Lagoon Camp consists of eight safari-style reed and canvas tents, each en-suite with both an indoor and outdoor shower. The camp’s dining and bar area under a canopy of giant ebony trees and a pool and viewing deck area located to the side of the camp all offer spectacular views of the lagoon that may once have been part of the South Luangwa River.
The highest concentration of wildlife is the Luangwa River and its rich vegetation. There are herds of elephant and buffalo, as well as dominant antelope species such as impala and puku. Other antelope include common waterbuck, bushbuck, eland, kudu, grysbok, oribi, reedbuck, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable and roan. Species such as Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest occur nowhere else in the world and the area’s leopard viewing is legendary. The main predators are lion, leopard, spotted hyaena and wild dogs. The dry season along the Luangwa River – when all game is forced to congregate along its banks as water resources dwindle elsewhere – is an experience every Africa fan should indulge in. High-density hippo populations dot the riverbanks while yellow baboon provide a contrast to their southern cousins.
One of the most entertaining residents of this area is the hippopotamus – found here in numbers unequalled anywhere else in the world, it regularly serenades guests to sleep with its repertoire of grunts, laughs and unintelligible croaks. Crocodiles too are commonly seen sunning themselves on the broad sandy banks of the Luangwa.
The birdlife is spectacular with numerous conspicuous species such as Saddle-billed, Open-billed and Yellow-billed Storks, African Fish-eagles and Bee-eaters being almost guaranteed. Lilian’s Lovebird is found here in flocks of well over a hundred and Böhm’s Spinetails, Western Banded Snake-Eagles and Collared Palm-Thrushes are some of the species that a visitor may be fortunate enough to see. Southern Carmine Bee-eaters arrive in August to dig their nest holes in the Luangwa’s steep banks and Giant Kingfishers and African Skimmers can be seen plying the river for a meal of fresh fish.
Photos by Africa Easy.
