Hi,
I'm Charl.
And I'm Sabine.
We are professional
wildlife photographers with
Pangolin Photo Safaris.
In this video, we will show you
what it's like to be on safari in
South Luangwa National Park from
the photographer's point of view.
We will tell you how to get
here, what we think is the
best time to visit to maximise
photographic opportunities, and
what you can expect to see here.
And as always, of course, we
will show you our favourite clips
and images throughout this film.
Our journey started off at
the Pangolin Chobe Hotel in
Kasane in northern Botswana.
After a short one hour
road transfer over the new
and impressive bridge that
connects Botswana to Zambia,
we reached Livingston Airport.
Livingston is situated right
at the Victoria Waterfalls,
and is great to include
on a trip to South Luangwa.
Alternatively, overseas
travellers can fly straight to
Zambia's capital, Lusaka, which
is well connected to a lot of
major cities around the world.
Our domestic flight from
Livingston to Lusaka took only
one hour, and from there, another
one hour flight brought us to
Mfuwe, the closest airport to
South Luangwa National Park.
Most lodges and safari operators
offer transfers from the airport to
the respected accommodation as part
of their services and we enjoyed
seeing the rural villages of
Zambia on our way to the park gate.
We've just arrived at South
Luangwa National Park and that
was a 45-minute drive from Mfuwe
Airport to reach the main gate
at Mfuwe and we're going to head
in now, checking out a few camps
and we are very excited to see
what this park has to offer.
South Luangwa National Park is
located in the eastern province
of Zambia, right at the tail
end of the Great Rift Valley.
Covering over 9,000 square
kilometers, this park is a true
wildlife paradise, renowned for
its incredible biodiversity and
its diverse ecosystems, including
lush woodlands, open grasslands
and meandering riverbanks.
One of the main highlights of
South Luangwa National Park is the
Luangwa River, a lifeline for the
animals that call this place home.
The river provides a constant
water source, and it swells
during the rainy season, leading
to flooding in certain areas.
This is why many lodges
operate seasonally.
While the lush and green emerald
season from November to April
certainly has its own unique
charm, We recommend a first visit
to South Luangwa during the dry
time of year, from May to October,
when the concentration of wildlife
near water sources increases
the chances of encountering
predators and other iconic species.
We chose May for our visit, where
temperatures are in the comfortable
20's and some of the lodges still
offer great deals during this time.
It also never felt crowded, which
can be an issue later in the year.
And wildlife sightings
were fantastic.
Just look a beautiful ebony
grove here right behind me.
One of the really spectacular, um,
habitats that South Luangwa offers.
While we were driving through
it, we just had a small
glimpse of a Pel's Fishing Owl.
Now, if you're a birder, you will
know that this is quite a special
sighting or special bird to see.
Big tick for any birder.
South Luangwa's aesthetic
and wilderness value
are a photographer's and
wildlife lover's dream.
The concentration of animals is
some of the most dense in all of
Africa, and the park is known for
its exceptional predator sightings.
From lions resting in the shade, to
leopards gracefully walking through
the bush, as well as packs of
wild dogs hunting their next meal.
South Luangwa provides
photographers with the
chance to capture these
magnificent creatures in their
natural habitats, exhibiting
their raw power and grace.
With the sad exception of rhino,
the valley is also home to all
of the large mammals, including
elephants, hippos, buffalo,
and the endemic Thornicroft's
giraffe, Crawshay's zebra,
and the Cookson's wildebeest.
There is also a variety of
antelopes, with the most
common being the Puku, the
impala's fluffier cousin
with a rich orange coat.
All these animals offer endless
opportunities for capturing close-
ups, behavioural interactions,
and stunning wildlife portraits.
Bird photography enthusiasts
will also find themselves
in paradise here.
With over 400 bird species recorded
in the park, South Luangwa offers
a vibrant tapestry of avian life.
From colourful Lovebirds and
majestic Martial Eagles to Ground
dwelling Hornbills, the park is
a bird photographer's delight.
The steep banks of the Luangwa
River offer perfect breeding
grounds for Bee-eaters that excavate
tunnels into these vertical cliffs.
At the moment, you can see some
White-fronted Bee-eaters, and a little
bit later in the year, around
August to September, they are being
joined by large colonies of the
striking Carmine Bee-eaters, which
also come to nest in this area.
Photographing these Bee-eaters is
a real challenge, but fun at
the same time, and a real gem
for any wildlife photographer.
When it comes to accommodation,
South Luangwa offers a variety
of options within as well as
outside the National Park,
ranging from high-end lodges
to comfortable bush camps.
We opted to stay in a few
different camps inside the
park, exploring the southern,
central, and northern areas.
As keen photographers, we do
feel the benefit of being able
to get out earlier and not having
to deal with the logistics of
passing through the park gate
every morning and evening>.
maximising our time in the field.
The park gate is located in
the Mfuwe area and because of
that, this region is the most
visited part of South Luangwa.
Whereas both the North and the
South have fewer camps and offer
a more exclusive experience.
Every night after the sun has
set, we embark on a two hour
night drive, which is fantastic,
having the chance to also
see the nocturnal animals.
And this is possible because South
Luangwa's gate only closes at 8 pm
all-year-round.
So whether you stay inside
a park or outside, you
can have this advantage.
Really, really cool.
We are back at Mfuwe Airport
because sadly our time in South
Luangwa has come to an end.
To sum up our experience, we
enjoyed every minute here.
South Luangwa is definitely one
of the most beautiful national
parks in the whole of Africa,
and we were astonished to see
so many different ecosystems.
In just a couple of days,
we managed to witness some
incredible wildlife behaviour,
growing our portfolios
with some beautiful images.
Plus, we were really blown
away by the night drives here.
We literally have never
seen so many genets, civets,
hyenas, and other little critters ever before.
We'll definitely be back.
Let us know in the comments
down below if you would
like to come on safari here.
And as always, if you like
these videos, give us the thumbs
up and then until next time.
Bye-bye.