The South Luangwa is Zambia's best-known national park and is widely regarded as the home of the walking safari as well as being one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world. With some of the highest concentrations of wildlife in Southern Africa, its reputation for being Zambia's wildlife capital is well-founded.

Most of the wildlife action occurs along the seasonal Luangwa River and its oxbow lagoons, becoming more concentrated as the dry season sets in and these pools of water begin to dry up. This is where you'll see thousands of hippos congregating in ever smaller pools of muddy water, along with huge numbers of crocodile. It's also the realm of the ambush predators who stay close to the water, picking off animals as they come down to drink - which they must do every day to survive the harshness of the dry season each year.

Lion, leopard, hyena... All are present in large numbers, along with more than 400 bird species, making the South Luangwa one of Southern Africa's top birding spots, especially in the emerald season from November to April when the area is a lush, green wonderland thanks to the life-giving annual rains. There are also huge herds of elephant and buffalo to be seen throughout the year.

This is walking country where you can explore on foot with ease, discovering the secrets of the African wilderness on day walks or on multi-day walking trails, sleeping in fly-camps under the African stars and immersing yourself in the raw, untamed beauty of this outstanding African wilderness.