South Luangwa National Park

As one of the pioneers of guided walking safaris, South Luangwa has become synonymous with these thrilling African excursions. With excellent guides, and fantastic sightings, a walking safari here will be the highlight of any trip, and provides the perfect opportunity to observe the smaller details of the bush, while learning to track animals and identify the various plant species. Encountering big game on foot offers a thrilling contrast to viewing wildlife from the comfort of a vehicle.

The concentration of animals along the Luangwa River is reputed to be one of the densest in Africa, and this means you are virtually guaranteed great sightings. The dry season of June to October is the best to experience this, although there is a year round population of resident game. Luangwa is famous for leopard sightings, as well as offering another 59 mammal species and 400 bird species. Large elephant herds are usually seen, and buffaloes, hippos, crocodiles as well as 14 antelope species will keep you entertained for days.

Along with exploring the wilderness during the day, a wonderfully thrilling activity is heading out into the African night with a spotlight. Surrounded by the darkness, nerves tingle as you feel the tension of the night, and spot the wary eyes of both predators and prey as the battle for survival enters its most dangerous phase. Leopards in particular are often found hunting at night, and there is a great chance of seeing nocturnal animals scurrying through the moonlight.