| A pristine river runs through the lush rift valley | | | | from April to October. As the river dries up the |
| that is known as Luangwa National Park, Zambia. | | | | animals visit the lagoons and oxbow lakes to drink |
| The Luangwa river is one of the major tributaries | | | | more frequently. Seeing them here in their natural |
| of the Zambezi River, and one of the four biggest | | | | environment is breathtaking. |
| rivers in Zambia. Surprisingly, it is largely | | | | As short rain showers begin to fall in November |
| unaffected by man - there is no commercial | | | | most animals give birth to their young and since |
| agriculture along its banks, no sections of the river | | | | the grass is still short spectacular sightings of |
| have been dammed and there is little/no pollution | | | | mothers and their young can be seen. The |
| problem. The result is a very natural and | | | | landscape begins to change from a golden brown, |
| untouched river, deep in the African countryside | | | | dusty and dry land to an emerald green - known |
| where natural seasonal fluctuations of water | | | | as Zambia's green season. |
| (flooding through to the vision of crisp river bed in | | | | Zambia's Luangwa River also means that the |
| the dry season) can be witnessed together with | | | | valley can boast very rich populations of tropical |
| teaming wildlife during an African adventure | | | | bird life, including birds that live close to water and |
| holiday. | | | | birds that prefer drier habitats in the forests and |
| The river is so natural that oxbow lakes are | | | | on the plains. The best time to see these birds is |
| scattered across the valley from where the river | | | | in the rainy season (November to March) since |
| course has changed with the floods. Over the | | | | the rain provides abundant food supplies for them. |
| years river side camps and lodges have had to | | | | Summer migrants are also present in the |
| move. Here the river is king! | | | | Luangwa valley at this time. Flocks of birds can be |
| It is said that the Luangwa River in Zambia is the | | | | noted and a special site is a breeding colony of |
| most unaltered and significant river system in | | | | yellow-billed storks with their pink breeding |
| Africa and it certainly is the key ingredient that | | | | plumage. The rain does not fall consistently and |
| keeps all 9050km2 of the park with over 60 | | | | rarely lasts for more than a few hours, so you |
| different animal species and over 400 different | | | | can still enjoy game drives and birding to the full. |
| bird species alive. | | | | In April and May, the rains will have stopped and |
| A large quantity of game can be found here since | | | | the landscape begins to dry out. The Luangwa |
| Zambia remains largely untouched by the tourist | | | | rivers water level begins to drop and sandbanks |
| rush. Water results in rich vegetation that feeds | | | | (the signature of the Luangwa River) are |
| varying herbivore animals and herds including | | | | exposed. Once drenched roads begin to dry out |
| buffalo, elephant, puku, impala and the more rare | | | | and the main safari season beings once more. As |
| subspecies of Thornicroft giraffe and Crawshay's | | | | the lush green grass begins to turn golden brown |
| zebra that are found here. Healthy and large | | | | one truly understands the Luangwa River really is |
| populations of herbivores feed predators like lion, | | | | the life blood of this untouched landscape in the |
| hyenas and leopard. In fact a BBC documentary | | | | Luangwa National Park, Zambia. |
| suggests an average density of one leopard per | | | | Note: If you wish to publish this article on your |
| 2.5km2 - twice the density recorded in Kruger, | | | | website, blog, etc. you can as long as the article |
| South Africa. | | | | remains in its full entirety; including the links and |
| The best time to see game is in the dry season | | | | the author resource box. |