South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa is a national park of Zambia, founded back in 1972 and covering an area of 9050 km2. In terms of its area, the park is one of the largest in South Africa. The groundwork for the park was given back in 1938, when a hunting reserve was founded here, which was later transformed into a national park.
But the South Luangwa Reserve has not fully become part of the national park, its remnants are adjacent to the park. The huge and rich fauna of the park attracts many tourists here, making South Luangwa one of the ten most visited parks in South Africa.
In terms of the richness of fauna, only the Serengeti and Ruaha National Parks can compete with the park. All this is due to the armed guards who ensure that poachers do not exterminate animals. Several ecosystems are found in South Luangwa Park, from swamps and flood meadows to savanna forests, which also led to a rich wildlife. Birds, of which there are more than 400 species, feel great in the water meadows. Among the birds, crowned cranes, marabou, saddleback storks and razini are most often found.
The park is also famous for its huge number of hippos that have chosen the Luangwa River. There are about 50 hippos per kilometer of the river. Also, until recently, all representatives of the "Big Five of Africa", which includes elephants, buffaloes, lions, rhinos and leopards, met in the park. This term is inherent in hunters, because trophies from these animals are the most desirable prey for them. Therefore, hunters have exterminated rhinoceroses, which are already endangered in Africa. In Southern Luangwa, there is also a giraffe species unique to this area, characterized by a brighter color. There are also 15 species of antelope in the park, as well as many small predators: hyenas, jackals, hyena dogs.
South Luangwa National Park has a fairly well-developed tourist infrastructure, including tent camps and dirt roads. The nearest airport is located near the town of Mfuwe. Well, the park itself opens its doors to visitors from June to November.
