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Annual Tiger Fishing Competitions take place on the lake
shore at Sinazongwe
of an elephant control department. Norman Carr
and Bert Schultz were appointed as game rangers
in 1939 to pursue such an initiative. Villages within
the reserves were eventually moved to the periphery
of the reserve. In 1973 the elephant population was
estimated to be 100 000 and found to be negatively
impacting the surrounding areas. However, simul-
taneously, poaching was increasing in popularity,
which sent the numbers of elephant and the endan-
gered rhino into a steady decline.
The privately funded Save the Rhino Trust was
established in 1980 and extensive anti-poaching
patrols were carried out. Elephant poaching was
curbed to some extent but rhinos unfortunately could
not be saved and today they are entirely absent from
the area.
Today there are about 20 operators in the valley,
spread out along 150 kilometres of the Luangwa Riv-
er. They range from budget camps to sophisticated
lodges and offer walking safaris, game drives, night
drives and photographic safaris.
NORTH LUANGWANATIONAL PARK
This remote tract of land covering 4636 square kilo-
metres offers one of the finest wilderness experienc-
es in Zambia. Only recently opened to the public,
there are no permanent lodges there. Access to the
park is granted only by travelling with one of the few
safari operators granted permission to conduct walk-
ing safaris in the park.
Like the South Luangwa National Park, it lies on the
western bank of the Luangwa River bordered on the
other side by the dramatic Muchinga escarpment
which rises over 1000 meters from the valley floor.
There are a number of tributary rivers running
through the park and into the Luangwa River. The
crystal clear Mwaleshi River trickles down the es-
carpment in a series of small waterfalls, receding
in the dry season, leaving many pools along its
former path. Riverbanks of the Mwaleshi in the
Rainy season, and the pools it leaves behind dur-
ing the Dry season, attract animals from the bush
in search of water. No game drives are permitted
in the Mwaleshi area, thus, access is by organized
walking safaris only.
GETTING THERE
Although this park was officially opened to the pub-
lic in 1984, the infrastructure within and en route to
the park is not sufficiently developed to cater to the
independent traveller. Special permission to enter
the Park must be obtained from the Department of
National Parks and Wildlife Services. The best way
to experience this park is with one of the operators
running safaris here. One can fly in to either Mfuwe
International Airport, about four hours away and be
picked up, or be brought in from the Mpika side of the
escarpment. There are two airstrips that are open for
charter traffic.
WHAT TO SEE AND DO
The park is well known for its massive herds of buf-
falo, a spectacular sight if they’re seen on the run,
kicking up dust for miles behind them. Large prides
of lion inhabit the territory and it is not uncommon to
witness a kill. Other common mammals that can be
found in the park are hyena, Cookson’s wildebeest,
bushbuck, zebra, warthog, baboon, vervet monkey,
puku and impala. Elephant and leopard are also
seen, but not as frequently as in the South Park.
WHERE TO STAY
There are no lodges open to the public in the North
Luangwa National Park but several operators run
pre-booked, organized safaris and removable bush
camps there.
Kutandala Camp
info@kutandala.com
www.kutanda.com
It’s Zambia’s smallest owner-operated camp, cater-
ing to only six guests per safari. All of the rooms have
an unrestricted view of the Mwaleshi River and its
flood plain throughout the day. Kutandala specializes
in spectacular walking safaris.