The hook
The birthplace of the walking safari, a wild, uncrowded park along a meandering river where you explore on foot with an armed guide, and where night drives turn up some of the best leopard sightings in Africa.
01Why it's worth it
South Luangwa, in eastern Zambia, is a connoisseur's safari park: a rich wilderness along the winding Luangwa River, its oxbow lagoons and floodplains packed with wildlife, huge herds of elephants and buffalo, hippos crowding the river, and an exceptional density of leopards, best seen on the night drives the park pioneered. Its greatest claim, though, is the walking safari, developed here decades ago and still done superbly: setting out on foot with an armed guide and scout to track animals and read the small signs of the bush, an intimate, adrenaline-tinged way to experience Africa that no vehicle can match. The camps are often intimate and owner-run, the guiding is among the best on the continent, and the park remains far less crowded than the marquee destinations. For travellers who want their safari authentic, active, and wild rather than luxurious and busy, South Luangwa is one of Africa's finest.
02How to experience it
Choose a camp for its guiding and do both night drives (for leopards) and, above all, a walking safari with an expert guide. Go in the dry season, when the wildlife concentrates and walking is possible. It rewards a few unhurried days over a rushed visit, and pairs with the Lower Zambezi or Victoria Falls.