Barefoot Safaris: South Luangwa

Mushroom Lodge

Website designed and maintained by Nathan Dixey

Last updated 26/10/2009

All Photographs © Nathan Dixey 2009

BAREFOOT SAFARIS & Adventure Tours

Discover the Africa of your dreams on a Barefoot Safaris Adventure

South Luangwa

Barefoot Safaris is a Member of the Malawi Tourism Association

For further information and for camp bookings please contact:

enquiries@barefoot-safaris.com

Tel: + 265 (0) 1 707 346

Exclusive Bush Camps

Barefoot Safaris is able to offer exclusive land based safaris from our own safari lodge in Malawi, which can take in Lake Malawi, some of Malawi’s own National Parks and of course the regions jewel in the crown, South Luangwa.

Barefoot Safaris can organise safaris designed to your own exact specification, including walking safaris based at remote bush camps to lodge based safaris in the central area of the park based around Mfuwe.

Mushroom Lodge offers an excellent base for our Safaris to South Luangwa. The Lodge is locally run and situated inside the park allowing visitors a truly wild experience whilst enjoying the comfort of their chalets, the bar or restaurant area.

For further information and for camp bookings please contact enquiries@barefoot-safaris.com

South Luangwa National Park is probably the foremost Safari destination in all of Africa; as one of Africa's best kept secrets, it has become a favourite amongst experienced safari goers and offers an experience not to be missed for first timers.

Zambia's Luangwa Valley at the end of the Great Rift Valley, is one of the last unspoilt wilderness areas, with arguably the greatest density of wildlife on the continent. South Luangwa National Park covers an area of over 9000 sq km through which the Luangwa River meanders, creating a myriad of oxbow lagoons, on it's way south to join the Zambezi. The woodland and plains of the valley pay host to a huge concentration and diversity of wildlife.

The valley boasts the largest concentration of hippo anywhere and the elephant herds, once badly diminished through poaching, are once again thriving. There are huge herds of buffalo and the area is home to the distinctive Thornicroft's giraffe.

Over 400 species of birds have been identified in the valley, including an impressive list of raptors, and migrant populations of brightly coloured carmine bee-eaters nest here in their thousands. There are many different species of antelope, the most common being the puku and of course the park is home to the big cat predators, lion and leopard. In fact South Luangwa is one of the best places in Africa to see the often elusive leopard with night game drives always an exciting option.

Whilst mobile fly camping and walking safaris are popular in the dry season, Luangwa is an all year round destination with some camps (mainly on the edge of the park) remaining open 12 months of the year. Some bush camps inside the park do remain open outside the normal 'dry' months of June to October, giving you the chance to stay in the park up to the end of the year.

Early in the year with the river is at it's flood, boat safaris are offered which is an amazing way to see an otherwise quite dry landscape - floating on the water through a flooded Ebony grove is one of the world's most beautiful things to do. The 'Emerald' season in Zambia during the main rains and the rivers floods (Jan - April) is gorgeous and perfect for keen birders and photographers alike. Many mammals are also usually seen at this time including the endangered wild dog, so although the grass at that time of year is normally to high for walking safaris, the landscape and vehicle based viewing more than makes up for it.