South Luangwa National Park
🇿🇲 Zambia
🐆 Leopard Twilight Hunts in LuangwaSouth Luangwa National Park sits in eastern Zambia, a ribbon of tropical savanna cut by the winding Luangwa River. Rolling grasslands meet mopane woodlands, and seasonal floodplains create a patchwork of water and dry ground that separates it from the neighboring parks of the region.
-12.743° S 31.735° E
Wildlife
⭐ Iconic Species
★ 
African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ 
Leopard
Panthera pardus
★ 
Lion
Panthera leo
★ 
Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
📊 Most Spotted
East African Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
Puku
Kobus vardonii
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
Yellow Baboon
Papio cynocephalus
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
⭐ Iconic Species
★ African Bush Elephant
Loxodonta africana
★ Leopard
Panthera pardus
★ Lion
Panthera leo
★ Common Hippopotamus
Hippopotamus amphibius
📊 Most Spotted
East African Giraffe
Giraffa tippelskirchi
Puku
Kobus vardonii
Plains Zebra
Equus quagga
Yellow Baboon
Papio cynocephalus
Waterbuck
Kobus ellipsiprymnus
African Buffalo
Syncerus caffer
Common Warthog
Phacochoerus africanus
Spotted Hyena
Crocuta crocuta
Northern Bushbuck
Tragelaphus scriptus
Impala
Aepyceros melampus
Greater Kudu
Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Painted Hunting Dog
Lycaon pictus
📊 Most Spotted
Meves's Glossy-starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia capicola
Egyptian Goose
Alopochen aegyptiaca
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
Little Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
White-fronted Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
African Sacred Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada
Bostrychia hagedash
White-headed Lapwing
Vanellus albiceps
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
Plocepasser mahali
Helmeted Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
Lilac-breasted Roller
Coracias caudatus
📊 Most Spotted
Nile Crocodile
Crocodylus niloticus
Nile Monitor
Varanus niloticus
Flap-necked Chameleon
Chamaeleo dilepis
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink
Trachylepis wahlbergii
Tropical House Gecko
Hemidactylus mabouia
Eastern Bark Snake
Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia
Cape Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus capensis
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus laevigatus
Spotted Bush Snake
Philothamnus semivariegatus
Rainbow Skink
Trachylepis margaritifera
Variable Skink
Trachylepis varia
Chobe Dwarf Gecko
Lygodactylus chobiensis
📊 Most Spotted
Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
Chiromantis xerampelina
Common Squeaker
Arthroleptis stenodactylus
Eastern Flat-backed Toad
Sclerophrys pusilla
Mutinondo Grass Frog
Ptychadena mutinondoensis
Margined Reed Frog
Hyperolius marginatus
Darling's white-lipped frog
Amnirana darlingi
Dwarf Squeaker
Arthroleptis xenodactyloides
African Common Toad
Sclerophrys gutturalis
Sharp-nosed ridged frog
Ptychadena oxyrhynchus
Pointed Long Reed Frog
Hyperolius nasicus
Moyer's River Frog
Amietia moyerorum
Rungwe puddle frog
Phrynobatrachus rungwensis
Recent sightings in South Luangwa National Park
LIVEiNaturalistAnimal Events
1Elephant river congregation
During the early wet season, massive elephant herds gather along the Luangwa River to drink and socialize, creating one of Africa's most impressive wildlife spectacles.
2Leopard twilight hunts
Leopards become highly active at dusk, hunting across the savanna and woodlands, offering prime opportunities for night‑time sightings.
3Hippo breeding season
Hippos intensify breeding activities, with increased vocalizations and territorial displays, making river crossings especially dramatic.
Sighting Calendar
Average chance of spotting the park's most-spotted species, month by month
- 1Elephant river congregation
- 2Leopard twilight hunts
- 3Hippo breeding season
Sighting Zones
Warmer areas are where all species together are recorded most often.
Essentials
Climate
What visitors saw
Then we found a pride of lions sleeping under a tree, with one lion that kept oddly hugging a sausage fruit like it was a stuffed animal or something.
Sitting on the balcony, I was treated to some great birding and I watched as hippo, buffalo, giraffe, baboons, puku and impala all made their way to the waterhole in front of the lodge.
Right at the water’s edge we watched pied kingfishers, malachite kingfishers, green-backed herons, and the unmistakable African skimmer, all against a backdrop of snorting hippos and a glowing river.
Quick answers
What animals can you see in South Luangwa National Park?
The most likely sightings are East African Giraffe (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Puku (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Meves's Glossy-starling (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Leopard (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by about 70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1295 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.
When is the best time to visit South Luangwa National Park for wildlife?
June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.
Can you see African Bush Elephant in South Luangwa National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 104 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Leopard in South Luangwa National Park?
Yes — about 70% of wildlife watchers report a Leopard sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 96 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Lion in South Luangwa National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 84 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Can you see Common Hippopotamus in South Luangwa National Park?
Yes — about 60% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 117 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data.
Where Wildlife Score
How good is this park for seeing wildlife?Biodiversity
Very goodHow rich is the wildlife?
Sighting
ExcellentHow likely to see animals?
Experience
ExcellentHow easy and pleasant is the visit?
