Luambe National Park
Overview
Zambia Parks
Philip has traveled through Zambia several times and is the author of more than 20 guidebooks to various African destinations.
The small, little-known Luambe National Park is located in the Luangwa Valley, between North and South Luangwa National Parks. Wildlife is quite skittish, but densities are increasing. Luambe Camp, the only accommodation in the park, consists of just four safari tents. Perched on the east bank of the Luangwa River, this remote hideaway offers the perfect bush retreat for those wanting to get away from it all.
Pros & Cons
Wildlife
All of the wildlife present in well-known South Luangwa might be encountered in Luambe. Numbers are lower though, and animals are less habituated. There are plenty of antelope around, including puku, impala, bushbuck, greater kudu and waterbuck. Even from your tent’s balcony you won’t miss the grunting hippos bobbing up and down in the river and maybe even elephants splashing the heat of the day away.
Scenery
The beautiful Luangwa River is the park’s lifeline. It floods strongly in the Wet season and it reduces to a trickle in the Dry season. At this time several lagoons holding permanent water attract lots of thirsty animals. Riverine forest flanks the waterways. Away from the river, the landscape is comprised of miombo woodland and open plains dotted with sausage trees.
Weather & Climate
Luambe has a tropical climate, which means there’s not much variation in temperature throughout the year. The main influences on the weather are the park’s two distinctive seasons. Days are warm and nights are cool in the Dry season (May to October). The hot Wet season (November to April) brings daily downpours.
Best Time To Visit
Luambe is very seasonal, and Luambe Camp only operates during the Dry season months of June through to October. This coincides with the prime period for wildlife viewing when animals gather around the Luangwa River and its lagoons. The park becomes inaccessible and waterlogged from November to May.
