North Luangwa National Park

The North Luangwa National Park in Zambia covers almost 5000 sq km of pristine African wilderness, located in the northern region of the Luangwa Valley. The Luangwa Valley in Zambia is beautiful and remote and known as one of the few true wild destinations in Africa.

The North Luangwa National Park offers privacy and exclusivity with limited access to the public, keeping the park a protected and unspoiled area. It was initially only open to conservationists and researchers, but slowly, a select few walking safaris operators became available. There are very few roads and subsequently very few visitors and motor-operated activities.

One of the highlights of North Luangwa National Park is a trip to the Mwaleshi falls on the escarpment. Like the South Luangwa Park, it lies on the western bank of the Luangwa River bordered on the other side by the dramatic Muchinga Escarpment which rises over 1000 meters from the valley floor.

The rich vegetation of North Luangwa National Park offers a large and varied population of herbivores. The park is well known for its enormous herds of buffalo. Other common mammals found in North Luangwa National Park are wildebeest, bushbuck, zebra, warthog, baboon, vervet monkey, puku, impala hartebeest, reedbuck and eland.

North Luangwa National Park is also well known for its large prides of lion, regarded as the largest in Zambia. Leopard is common and Wild Dog can also be found, however very rarely. Hyenas also frequent the park and elephant and hippo are abundant. North Luangwa National Park is home to two endemic species: Thornicroft's Giraffe and Cookson's Wildebeest. Cheetahs have been recorded however are rare. Hippos and crocodiles are frequently seen along the rivers.

Over 400 hundred bird species have been recorded in North Luangwa including crowned cranes, purple crested loeries, broad billed roller, Lilian's lovebird, the carmine bee-eater, giant eagle owl and Pel's fishing owl.