South Luangwa National Park is a protected area in eastern Zambia. It was established as a game reserve in 1938 and later became a national park in 1972. The park covers 9,050 square kilometers (3,490 square miles) in the Luangwa River valley, which forms its eastern boundary in Zambia’s Eastern Province. To the west, the park is bordered by the Muchinga Escarpment, located in the Muchinga and Central Provinces. The Luangwa Valley is at the end of the East African Rift valley. The winding Luangwa River and its lagoons support over 400 bird species and more than 60 mammal species, including the Rhodesian giraffe, African bush elephant, and African buffalo.

History

South Luangwa National Park was first created as Luangwa Game Reserve in 1904. British conservationist Norman Carr played a key role in establishing South Luangwa National Park. Norman Carr had new ideas for his time and changed how safaris were done by creating tourism focused on protecting wildlife. In the 1950s, part of tribal land was set aside as a game reserve, and the first game viewing camp opened to the public in Northern Rhodesia. Visitors used cameras instead of rifles, so South Luangwa became known for photographic and walking safaris. Money earned from this camp in the wilderness was used to support the local community.

Background

The park covers two eco-regions, both woodland savannahs, which are different based on the main type of tree. Southern Miombo woodlands grow on the higher parts of the valley, while Zambezian and Mopane woodlands are found on the lower parts. Mopane trees can survive in the hotter temperatures and less rainfall at lower elevations, unlike Miombo trees, which grow on higher plateaus. Within these woodland savannahs are larger areas of grassland, where animals like zebras (which eat grass) and giraffes (which eat leaves) live in large numbers. Near the river, there are areas of flooded grasslands (called floodplains), where hippos feed at night. The dung from the hippos enters the river and helps feed the water, supporting fish populations, which in turn support crocodiles.

The Luangwa Valley, which continues west into the Lunsemfwa River valley, is home to some animal species, such as Cookson's wildebeest and Crawshay's zebra, that are found only in this area or very rarely elsewhere. The valley also acts as a natural barrier to human movement and transportation, as no roads cross it. This has helped protect its wildlife.

Nsefu Sector

The Nsefu Sector is the northern part of South Luangwa National Park and one of the first officially protected wildlife areas in the Luangwa Valley. This area includes many different types of habitats, such as old riverine forests, ebony tree groves, mopane woodlands, floodplains that sometimes flood, and natural hot springs. Studies have found that this region has some of the highest numbers of leopards in southern Africa, as well as steady populations of lions, spotted hyenas, and African wild dogs. Traditional leadership in the Mwanya Chiefdom continues to shape how land is used and how wildlife is protected in the area, creating a long-term example of community involvement in conservation.

Although this park is mostly safe from poaching, black rhinos no longer live there, having been lost by 1987, and elephant numbers have faced serious challenges at times.

The main town near the park is Mfuwe, located outside the park’s eastern boundary. Mfuwe has an airport that connects to Lusaka, the Lower Zambezi, and Lilongwe in Malawi.

Since 2005, the protected area has been part of a Lion Conservation Unit along with North Luangwa National Park.