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Sunset over the Luangwa River, wide view, South Luangwa Nat'l Park, Zambia
Photo: This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves . Feel free to use my photos,..., CC BY-SA 4.0

Safari · Zambia

South Luangwa National Park Animal Checklist

South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia is known as the home of the walking safari, and as one of the best parks in Africa for leopards, seen on night drives. The Luangwa River is packed with hippos and crocodiles. Four of the Big Five live here (there are no rhinos). This checklist covers 68 animals. The dry season, May to October, is best.

Walking safaris in the Luangwa Valley date back to the 1950s, and night drives are allowed, which is rare in an African national park. The valley also has its own forms of giraffe and zebra found nowhere else.

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See all 68 animals
The South Luangwa checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked
Animals to find
68
Where
Zambia
Best time
May to Oct
Big Five
Four (no rhino)

South Luangwa's headline animals

All 68 animals to spot in South Luangwa

Grouped the way you'll meet them. Tips show where to look.

Big game 5

Grazers and browsers 10

Hunters 7

Smaller mammals 6

Water birds 19

Birds of prey 7

Land birds 12

Reptiles and amphibians 2

  • Last reviewed September 2026.
  • Sources are listed below the questions.
  • Wild animals only. Please give them space.

Best time to see wildlife in South Luangwa

The dry season, May to October, is the best time to see wildlife in South Luangwa. As the bush dries and the lagoons shrink, animals gather along the Luangwa River, and the grass is short enough for walking safaris. August to October is the peak, with September and October very hot and the carmine bee-eater colonies at their busiest. From November to March the rains turn the valley bright green, which is why it is called the emerald season. Many bush camps close from about November to April because roads flood, but lodges around Mfuwe stay open. It is excellent for birds, newborn animals and dramatic skies, and in the wettest months some lodges run boat safaris instead of drives.

  • Jan-MarEmerald season; lush and green, top birding, boat trips in the floods
  • Apr-MayRains ending; camps reopen, wild dogs often active
  • Jun-AugCool and dry; walking safaris and easy game viewing
  • Sep-OctHot; game packed along the river, carmine bee-eaters nesting
  • Nov-DecFirst rains; newborns, migrant birds, many bush camps closing

Tips for spotting wildlife in South Luangwa

  1. Book a walking safari

    Walks are led by a licensed guide with an armed scout from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife. They are best from June to October and show you tracks, dung and birds you never notice from a vehicle.

  2. Stay out for the night drive

    Afternoon drives continue after sunset with a spotlight. This is your best chance of leopard, plus genets, civets, white-tailed mongooses and hunting hyenas.

  3. Watch the river at midday

    In the dry season, sit by a lagoon or the river in the heat of the day. Elephants, buffalo and puku come to drink, and Nile crocodiles bask on the sandbanks.

  4. Visit the Nsefu sector

    This older part of the park, on the eastern bank, has open floodplains and salt pans. Grey crowned cranes gather here in flocks, and it is quieter than the Mfuwe area.

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The South Luangwa checklist in the Wilder app, started as a trip with the first animals ticked

South Luangwa wildlife FAQ

What animals can you see in South Luangwa?

You can see leopards, lions, elephants, buffalo, hippos, wild dogs, Thornicroft's giraffe and Crawshay's zebra in South Luangwa, plus more than 400 bird species. This checklist covers 68 animals. The park is known for walking safaris and night drives, and for its very high numbers of hippos and leopards along the Luangwa River.

Is South Luangwa good for leopards?

Yes, South Luangwa is one of the best places in Africa to see leopards. The riverine woodland supports a high density of them, and night drives are allowed, so guides can watch them set out to hunt after dark. Many visitors see a leopard on their first or second night drive, though nothing is guaranteed. August to October is often the most reliable time.

What is a walking safari in South Luangwa like?

A walking safari in South Luangwa is a slow, quiet walk of two to four hours in a small group, led by a professional guide and an armed wildlife scout. You focus on tracks, plants, birds and smaller animals, and may watch elephants or buffalo on foot from a careful distance. Walks run mainly in the dry season, from about June to October.

When is the best time to visit South Luangwa?

The best time to visit South Luangwa for game is the dry season, from May to October, with the peak in August to October. That is when animals gather at the river and walking safaris run. The emerald season, November to March, is best for birds and lower prices, but many bush camps close and some roads flood.

Are there rhinos in South Luangwa?

No, there are no rhinos in South Luangwa today. Black rhinos once lived in the Luangwa Valley in large numbers, but poaching wiped them out by the late 1980s. Black rhinos have since been reintroduced to North Luangwa National Park, which is a separate park further up the valley, but they are not part of a normal South Luangwa safari.

Sources

Last reviewed September 2026

Photo credits

All photo credits. Photos from Wikimedia Commons, resized.

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