Practical questions
South Luangwa: frequently asked questions
The questions first-time visitors ask, answered with current figures and without the myths that circulate about this park.
What does South Luangwa actually cost per day?
The gate fee is $25 per person per day in an operator vehicle, or $30 if you are self-driving, plus $15 a day for a foreign-registered car. But if you stay at a camp inside the park, expect a bundled levy of $75 to $110 per person per night, which covers park entry, a national park bed-night levy and the community conservation fund. That bundled figure is the one to budget with.
Is the road to Mfuwe still terrible?
No, and this is the most out-of-date claim about the park. The Chipata to Mfuwe road was surfaced years ago. Lusaka to Mfuwe is now tar the entire way, around 700 km in nine or ten hours, with fuel at Petauke and Chipata.
Can I do a night drive if I am self-driving?
No. Self-drive permits expire at 18:00 while licensed operator vehicles can stay out until 20:00, and that two-hour gap is exactly where night drives happen. If you want one, book through a camp. It is worth it: this is one of the few African parks where night driving is legal, and leopard is the reason people come.
Does the park close in the rainy season?
The park never closes. Most of the remote bush camps do, roughly mid-January to mid-March, and the loop roads become impassable. But Nkwali, Chinzombo and a handful of others stay open all year, and the green season brings boat safaris, superb birding and rates that are close to half the dry-season price.
When can I do a walking safari?
June to October is the reliable window; outside that the grass is too high and the river crossings too deep. Walks run in groups of three to six with a guide and an armed scout, usually from six in the morning for three or four hours, and most operators set a minimum age of twelve.
Can I visit on a budget?
Yes, if you stay outside the gate. Camping at Croc Valley, Wildlife Camp or Track & Trail starts around $15 a night, simple chalets from $40, and you buy activities individually at $60 to $85. That is a fraction of the $75 to $110 a night in levies alone that in-park camps charge, and the game viewing is the same park.
Will I see leopard?
Better odds here than almost anywhere. Research puts leopard density inside the park at 8.5 per 100 square kilometres, against 5.1 in the neighbouring game management area. Combine that with legal night drives and most camps report leopard on the majority of nights across a three-night stay.
How do I pay at the gate?
Cash, in US dollars or kwacha. Cards are not accepted at Mfuwe Gate, although camps take them without trouble. Bring dollar notes from series 2013 or later, since older or damaged notes are refused throughout Zambia.