Site logo

South Luangwa National Park

Country: Zambia
south-luangwa-logo

Welcome to South Luangwa National Park, one of the great remaining unspoiled regions of Africa. Even as Zambia’s reputation as a spectacular safari destination grows, it retains its essence of true wilderness; South Luangwa National Park is a place that still feels relatively untouched by modern humans, and is therefore uniquely able to provide an unpredictable and exhilarating safari experience. Because of that protected quality, it is important that you enter this country with a deep respect for the sanctity of the wildlife habitats and an appreciation for the ecology that supports this special environment. The Luangwa River is the most intact river in Africa, and its tributaries and lagoons are the lifeblood of this region. And the changing seasons, from the ‘dry’ season in the winter to the ‘emerald’ season of the summer months, make this a vibrant and charismatic part of the world that you don’t want to miss.

It is important to note that alongside the beautiful scenery is also a beautiful culture. The people of Zambia are kind and friendly, and will welcome travellers with warmth and genuine hospitality. The local people are also some of the best guides in the entire country, and their passion for sharing their knowledge while working in these camps, which can be incredibly remote, makes the safari experience that much richer and more memorable.

Wildlife in South Luangwa National Park

At this point you may be wondering what it is that draws so many wildlife enthusiasts and safari connoisseurs to this particular area, often returning to the same camps many times over. Accompanying the reputation for a very high quality of guiding in this area, South Luangwa’s concentration of animals is some of the most dense in all of Africa. The park offers a multitude of game that will satisfy any safari bucket list: from predators like the famed African wild dogs, majestic lions, and lean leopards to big game favorites like elephants, buffalo, and hippo, this park has them all. South Luangwa also offers unique animal sightings, such as Zambia’s beloved Crawshay’s zebra herds (whose stripes are more distinct than those found further south and west); 14 different species of antelope, including the elusive bushbuck; and the attractive kudu, with its spiral horns and delicate face. Did we mention there are also 400 species of birds in the park, including 39 birds of prey? You’ll want to pack your binoculars and a camera so you can capture your sightings of these amazing creatures. And because this park offers day and evening game drives, which is unique in the world of safari, a whole other nocturnal realm is opened up for your viewing excitement.

History of South Luangwa National Park

The country of Zambia lies landlocked in the tropics, located at the northern edge of the region known as ‘southern Africa.’ Shaped like a butterfly and covering about 752,610 square kilometers, Zambia is roughly three times the size of the United Kingdom. South Luangwa National Park – located in eastern Zambia – was declared a national park in 1972. As a protected game reserve for over 65 years before that, the park was never subjected to the degradation of unregulated mass tourism, thus sustaining its pristine wilderness. It was here, in this park, that the now famous ‘walking safari’ originated, when Norman Carr, who was originally a ranger in the game reserves in the 1940s, began to operate wilderness safaris in the area. Carr recognized the limitations of the early format of hunting safaris, and developed the walking safari to increase tourism to the area, as well as species conservation.

Vital Information

south luangwa national park Vital Information

Activities

Etosha National Park Gates

south luangwa national park gates

Vital Information

South Luangwa’s climate

South Luangwa’s climate is hot, and it has a Dry and Wet season. The average temperature remains reasonably uniform all year. Nights are much cooler though in the Dry season, and daytime temperatures do rise before the rains commence, peaking in October.

Inside the park, variations in climate are present due to the changing altitudes (from 482 to 1,687m/1,581 to 5,535ft). As altitude increases, temperatures fall by about 6.5°C for every 1,000m you climb (or 3.5°F per 1,000ft).

 

Dry season May to October

There is literally no rain at all in the Dry season. It’s hot during the day, but it’s cool at night. The bush becomes drier and drier as the season advances. Animals gather around remaining sources of water. This is the best time for wildlife watching.

  • May – While the bush may be lush, and there’s water everywhere, rain has slowed to a trickle. This is the beginning of the Dry season.
  • June & July – Now the rain stops completely, and the bush dries out. June and July are the coolest months – daytime temperatures are about 28°C/82°F. Cold nights have average temperatures of around 11°C/52°F. Warm clothing for morning game drives is advisable.
  • August & September – The bush is starting to look parched – there’s no rainfall at this time of year. Temperatures are on the rise and September days average 33°C/91°F. Mornings are warming up too.
  • October – The first rain usually falls in October cooling things off. Until the rains begin, temperatures keep increasing and average 36°C/97°F. It can peak higher with the heat becoming excruciating during the day. Mornings are lovely with temperatures of 20°C/68°F.

Wet season November to April

Some remote areas are difficult to reach as roads deteriorate, and many camps are closed during the warm Wet season. There are normally afternoon showers and impressive thunderstorms. It doesn’t often interfere with activities though. The park’s vegetation is lush.

  • November – The average temperature during the day is a very hot 35°C/95°F. The rain is a relief because the bush is extremely dry and the sky has a hazy, gray color. Rain mostly falls in afternoon thunderstorms, and it doesn’t rain every day.
  • December, January, February & March – Daytime temperatures reach 31°C/89°F, while warm nights average 20°C/68°F. These are the wettest months with rain falling most days, although it rarely continues for the whole day.
  • April – A great month in the park, the rain is easing, and the landscape is many shades of green.

Serengeti Park – Rules and Regulations

Serengeti Park is a natural habitat that is protected by the Tanzania Parks Act. Please take careful note of the rules and regulations below to ensure that you are not fined and/or prosecuted.

  • The Serengeti Park allows guests to drive their vehicles inside the park between the hours of 6 AM and 6 PM. Guests found driving inside the park outside of these hours may be removed from the park and/or prosecuted.
  • Adhere to the 50km/h speed limit. Failure to do so may result in a fine.
  • Unauthorized firearms are strictly prohibited.
  • Give way to the Animals. The park is their home and they have right of way.
  • Never feed the animals. Feeding animals may cause serious disruptions to their natural ability to find food. They may also become dangerous to humans as they lose their fear of humans. This always results in the animal being put down. Feeding animals may result in a fine and/or prosecution.
  • Only move along the authorized tracks. People who move along roads and areas which are not designated to guests may be liable to a fine and/or prosecution.
  • Leave everything as is. Do not pick any plants, remove any bones or pick up any firewood. Removal of natural items from the park is strictly forbidden and may results in a fine and/or prosecution.
  • Camping is only allowed in the designated camping areas.
  • Picnicking is only allowed in the designated picnic areas.
  • Do not disturb the natural wildlife in any way. Loud noises, throwing objects, loud music and imitating animal sounds are strictly forbidden.
  • These include hooting and also throwing items at an animal.
  • Littering is strictly prohibited as it can cause various sicknesses, poison or choke the animals. It also adversely affects natural plant growth.
  • While on game drive, smoking is prohibited. Please ensure that you dispose of your cigarettes responsibly at your lodge or camp.
  • Irresponsible disposal of cigarette buds can cause wild fires.
  • Do not light a fire or cause a fire to be lit. If you are camping, ensure that your fire is monitored at all times and extinguish it carefully.
  • Only leave your vehicle in designated areas. Do not leave your vehicle when close to any game animal, at least 200 meters for small game and much further for larger game.
  • Discourage your game ranger/driver/guide from approaching animals too closely. A good rule of thumb is at least 25 meters away. Some animals such as leopards, cheetahs and lions can be very skittish and approaching too close may result in their abandoning a kill, stop hunting or alter their natural behavior. If you see a guide/driver/game ranger not adhere to this rule, please report them to the first park official that you come across.
  • The Serengeti Park is not pet friendly. Any and all pets are forbidden in the park.
  • Drones are strictly forbidden. Use of a drone may result in a fine and/or prosecution.

Access
You can reach Mfuwe by public transport, 4×4 vehicle and by plane (Mfuwe International Airport). A map of the park which shows routes and tourist information is available at the main gate. Chipata is the closest town to Mfuwe Gate which is the main entrance to the South Luangwa National Park in Zambia. The road from Chipata to Mfuwe is bumpy and rutted and it takes about 2 hours to drive. Chipata is connected by road to Lusaka in Zambia and Lilongwe in Malawi.

Airport
International Airport is about 30 minutes drive from the Mfuwe Gate of South Luangwa National Park. Most lodges provide airport transfers. Mfuwe Airport offers flight connections to Lusaka, Livingstone and Lilongwe (Malawi), with higher frequencies of flights in the dry season. Private Charter flights to Mfuwe connect many top destinations in Zambia and surrounding countries.

Park entry fees

In our experience, the further north you travel in East Africa, the more expensive the park fees become. This said, the fees for South Luangwa were somewhat more reasonable:

  • US$25 per person
  • US$15 per vehicle

For one day in the park (note that the fees are valid for one calendar day, not 24 hours), we paid $75. We managed two game drives – one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The park gates are open from 6am to 6pm.

Tipping in Zambia

“Who should we tip, when and how much?” is a question we are asked regularly by guests travelling to Zambia. The information below will hopefully outline the points and issues involved, in order to help you sidestep any potentially uncomfortable situations regarding tipping.

Tipping in Zambia and the effects on local economy.

Gratuities are of course always voluntary and tend to be dependent upon the quality of the services provided. We do believe that great service should be appreciated but whilst we encourage travellers to feel the same, you should be aware of the potential impacts that tipping may have on the local community.

Tips obviously make a significant difference to the salary of those working in the service industry, including waiting staff, guides and scouts. There’s a fine line, however, between the right amount to tip and tipping too much – it might not seem like it has an impact, but it can really tilt the balance of the local economy.

To better appreciate this, consider the jobs of the rangers within the parks. These obviously are vital roles, requiring sufficient knowledge of the area. It’s important to have someone competent and educated carrying out this role and as such, posts usually require a high level of education and are generally occupied by those who have worked for several years within the national parks. Salaries are reasonable but not at the high end of the scale.

On the other hand, you have the general assistant staff of the camps. Their responsibility is to help out, perhaps carry luggage. Whilst this is still important, the levels of education and experience required for the job are not as high and thus the responsibility and wages are significantly less than those of the rangers. Consider then the result if such an employee receives much higher tips, perhaps up to US$500 a month. The likelihood is then that they will be making more than the rangers.

In this situation, higher than average gratuities can tip the balance of responsibility and remuneration. If this is a regular occurrence, rangers may well have less motivation to work as hard or take on as much responsibility, possibly quitting their jobs to take on a role that would (with tips included) end up paying them more. This then has severe impacts on the park and the visitors.

Consequently, we would ask that you consider the importance of the work of each individual and tip accordingly.

On safari in Zambia, which members of staff do you tip?

  • Tipping your guides

Guides are the main factor to a successful safari. Bearing this in mind, they are generally tipped separately.

  • Tips for the back of house team

There are many people working to make sure your trip runs smoothly, many of whom you may not even see, including kitchen, maintenance and housekeeping staff. Most lodges have a general tip box that is then split equally between this team.

  • Should you tip the managers?

Occasionally we’re asked if the managers should get tips. They’re obviously important to your trip, but consider, would you tip the manager of a restaurant you’d visited? There may be exceptions to the rule but in general we wouldn’t usually recommend tipping the camp managers.

In conclusion, in Zambia we would suggest that you tip the guide separately to the back of house team, as you spend the majority of your time with them. It would be uncommon to tip your camp manager.

When to tip

Occasionally we get asked when is the right time to give the tips. There are a few options:

After each activity
At the end of each day
At the end of your stay

General rule of thumb: just tip once, always at the end of your stay at each safari camp or lodge. Not at the end of each activity, or each day.

Guides wouldn’t expect you to tip after each of the daily activities, as it could create the impression that the guides need to ‘perform’ for the person giving the tips, which can distort the relationship between them and the other guests. Imagine the position other guests might find themselves in should you be offering tips this frequently and they were not.

How to tip

In general, Zambian camps will have a main ‘tip box’ that is shared out between the staff equally. Some camps will exclude the guides and spotters from this, others won’t.

The majority of the camps will explain their own tipping policy in their camp literature, but managers will be able to explain if this isn’t the case. It’s then up to you as to how you’d like to split your tips between the different members of the team – in Zambia you’d usually tip the guides and scouts directly, then the other staff split the ‘tip box’. The practice does vary between camps, so please ask if you’re not sure!

We do get asked if it’s possible to tip by credit card. This is not normal practice, and many safari camps in Zambia won’t be able to process this, so we would recommend that you take cash for tipping. You’ll find that this is most common anyway, with the preferred currency being US dollars, easily exchanged into Zambian kwacha by camp staff if necessary.

If you want to be incredibly well prepared for your trip then a great idea is to bring envelopes, possibly with thank you notes, to prepare individual tips for the staff. Towards the end of your trip you can name each envelope, add the appropriate tips and then either put them into the main tip box or hand them to the individuals.

How much to tip

We can only offer our own advice on this from our experiences in Zambia. Tipping is not compulsory but always appreciated and depends entirely on your own opinion and your personal satisfaction, moderated by the topics mentioned above.

Having said that, we’d recommend that for good service our travellers tip around:

  • US$5-10 per guest per day for a group guide
  • US$5-10 per guest per day for the general staff
  • US$5-10 per guest per day for a scout


Bearing in mind the issues above, the Gross National Income (GNI) is approximately US$10.44 per person per day in Zambia. This is a reflection of the average income of Zambia’s citizens.

In contrast, the equivalent GNI in the UK is about US$118.74, in the United States about US$150.58, in New Zealand about US$109.80 and in Germany about US$125.45.

In conclusion, although tipping is a sensitive issue, it’s a normal part of Zambia’s service industry so there’s no need to be embarrassed by it. Remember that more affluent visitors can potentially have a large impact on the local community: tipping can influence the social and economic balance, so do bear that in mind when you’re tipping staff during your safari in Zambia.

 

Tap water in the major towns is purified and perfectly safe to drink. In the more remote areas always boil it first, except if you’re staying at a lodge or hotel where drinking water is boiled already. Bottled water is readily available in the bigger towns.

Some campsites will let you know if their borehole water is safe to drink – but if they don’t – then be sure to ask before drinking it.

Best Time to Visit – South Luangwa NP

July to November are the best wildlife-viewing months. This is the middle and end of the Dry season and water in the bush has dried up, so animals congregate around the rivers and watercourses. However, October and November are extremely hot, and some people may find conditions difficult to cope with in these months.

May to October Dry Season

  • Animals gather around the river and vegetation thins, prime wildlife-viewing time
  • Lots of sunshine, rarely interrupted by rains
  • Fewer mosquitos means less risk of malaria
  • The Mfuwe area, where most lodges are situated, can become busy
  • High season rates apply from July to October
  • The sky is very hazy, and the bush looks parched
  • October is unbearably hot
  • Mornings are cold from June to August; pack warm clothing

November to April Wet Season

  • This is the ‘emerald season’ – the scenery is green and the air fresh
  • There are very few tourists, and rates are lower
  • Best time for birding enthusiasts with migrants present
  • There are many newborn animals
  • Wildlife viewing is superior in the Dry season
  • It is very hot and humid
  • Some lodges close from December to March
  • Malaria is a bigger concern than in the Dry season
  • Some dirt roads become difficult to drive and are even impassable

CURRENCY

The official currency of Zambia is the Zambian Kwacha (ZMK) which fluctuates quite regularly. As of Jan 2013, Zambia rebased the currency dividing by 1000.

  • Kwacha note denominations are K100, K50, K20, K10, and K2
  • Coins are in denominations of K1 and 50, 10 and 5 Ngwee

CURRENCY REGULATIONS

By law – payments within Zambia can only be made in Kwachas, even if the price is quoted in USD, however some establishments will still accept USD. Therefore, it’s always best to enter the country with the required amount of Kwacha for your trip, or else bring with you USD or GBP which can always be exchanged.

There is no limit to the importation of foreign currency, provided it is declared on arrival through a currency declaration form.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE

Preferably use only the services of a designated Bureaux de Change and keep up-to-date with the most recent exchange rate.

At most southern African border posts, you can exchange USD at the border for local currency – but you won’t get a favourable exchange rate, and are bound to come across informal money changers. Be very aware of scam artists, fake bills, and paper fillers!

PAYING AND WITHDRAWING

Bank operating hours:

  • Monday to Friday 08:15-15:30
  • Saturdays 08:15-11:30

Most hotels, restaurants, travel agencies and the bigger shops will take credit cards, and bigger banks will usually advance local currency against a credit card.

ATMs are available within Lusaka, Livingstone and other major towns in Zambia. Most banks have ATM’s which accept Visa cards for cash. Visa is more readily accepted than MasterCard or American Express

TRAVELLERS CHEQUES

Travellers cheques are widely accepted, though no longer commonly used. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US dollars, Euros or Pounds.

Activities

Game Drives in the South Luangwa

Game viewing from one of our custom built, open 4WD vehicles aren’t just exciting, it’s comfortable too. High seats allow excellent all-around vision and easy photography. The vehicles have been modified to assist photographers with camera rests, super-clamp stabilisers and bean bags. Our qualified and experienced guides will take you to game-rich areas deep within the park which is not commonly visited by other vehicles.

We maintain and modify our own game viewing loops with our own tractor and grader, so we’re confident that we can show you the best that this fantastic area has to offer without the discomfort caused by bumpy roads. We’ve developed an excellent network of ‘loops’ that make the most of the forests, lagoons, plains and “Wafwas” (old courses of the river). Our guides pos

game drives

ition the vehicle in just the right spot to catch the morning sun on the source of activity – perhaps a leopard or a pride of lions.

 

Game-viewing starts from camp as we are in the park and our guides are quick to react to the alarm calls of Baboons or impalas. They last approximately three and a half hours and are offered morning and afternoon. Morning game drives leave around sunrise, with a tea break on the route. While evening game drive departs after afternoon tea, with a stop for a sundowner around sunset time, the drive will continue into the night to observe the nocturnal animals.

While walking safaris are a thrilling experience – the wildlife is more at ease when viewed from a vehicle providing closer encounters and spectacular photographic opportunities.

It goes without saying that our drives are the place to get close to the action – when we head out during the day, our guests are treated to a range of animals, birds and photo opportunities they’ll talk about for years to come.

But it’s a whole new world when the sun sets.south luangwa national park Activities Night Drives

Our evening drives go into the night, becoming an adventure that plays on your heightened senses. We spot many animals around this time, with every sighting and hunt all the more thrilling under the cover of darkness.

Our guests have said night drives have been some of their most special sightings – and we couldn’t agree more.

 

Photographic Hides

Our bush camps are special, thanks in large part to our photographic hides. These hides are regularly used by National Geographic, BBC and Discovery Channel for numerous photographic shoots and the making of wildlife documentaries.south luangwa national park Activities Hides

But it’s not just about for photographers and filmmakers. They’re an incredible experience for anyone who loves wildlife. They allow our guests to get close to the animals, enabling you to watch them undisturbed in their natural environment. That said, we are well equipped to take care of our photographers – we can provide specialist bean bags, dust covers and charging facilities.

Our unique photographic hides of Derek’s design are a unique feature of Shenton Safaris. These hides are guaranteed to get you close enough to the wildlife to take a whole host of stunning photos – in complete safety.

Walking Safaris in the South Luangwa

Get Closer on Foot

The South Luangwa National Park is famous for its guided walking safaris. This was initiated in the late 60s by National Parks and Wildlife Service. Derek’s father, Barry Shenton, was at the time a warden of Kafue National Park and introduced the same walking safaris there.

A Zambian walking safari is a unique way to experience the African bush and observe its wildlife. Setting out from camp, a group of no more than six guests are escorted by a professional walking guide and an armed ZAWA scout. This system of two people leading the walk has proved to be very safe over the years, and in Derek’s opinion as a guide, makes it possible to make sure our guests get the most out of the experience while maintaining the highest possible levels of safety.south luangwa national park Activities Hides

A typical walking safari from Kaingo or Mwamba has a duration of approximately 3 hours, there are some beautiful walks around both of our camps that highlight the specialities of the area. Including a 3km long several hundred-year-old Ebony Grove, various waterholes, tributaries of the Luangwa River, and beautiful Mopane woodlands to name a few.

A large part of a walking safari revolves around tracking animals – from big cats to a multitude of wildlife such as Kudu, Eland, Elephants, Giraffe, and the endemic Cookson’s Wildebeest. Of course walks bring you closer to the smaller things, the incredible flora, bird life, and arthropods. You will see most of the big game, but not always necessarily as close as you will from the vehicle. The wonderful thing about being on walking safari is you get to touch, feel and smell the environment that the wildlife inhabits, including looking closely at tracks and droppings, nests, insects and particularly a good look at our native flora including the majestic old trees that are found in the riverine areas of the Luangwa.

 

Get Close to the Night Sky

Each of our sleep out options are truly unique in their experience; either raised above the Luangwa, in midst of Numbu Plains, or immersed in the wilderness at Kapanda Lagoon.

Kaingo’s Elephant Hide Star Bed

Available for guests at Kaingo, this Star Bed has an incredible view of the Luangwa River, and with only a mosquito net to separate you from the African night.

Mwamba’s Numbu Star Bed

Available for guests at Mwamba, this Star Bed is placed in the centre of Numbu plains, with only a mosquito net to separate you from the wilderness surrounding you.

Shenton Safaris’ Camp Out

Guests from both camps are able to enjoy a Camp Out night provided they are staying a minimum of 7 nights across our two camps. The camp out is a private affair, designed for 2 to 4 guests and is quite adventurous.

Guests leave camp in a game drive vehicle after their afternoon tea, with their private guide and armed scout, and head out northwest towards the Baobab Forest. After a short drive, they will continue on a walking safari for about one hour. The walk will end at the campsite, set up by a team of up to 4 staff.

The setup is a traditional fly-camping one: a comfortable sleeping mat, a mosquito net, a wash basin and cold drinks for sundowners. The staff takes care of preparing a delicious bush dinner while guests enjoy sitting around the fireplace recalling the various animals met during the walk or trying to identify the nocturnal bird calls or other noises heard as the sun is setting.

It’s a very special experience, with a sense of remoteness rarely experienced. After the night under the stars, a morning walk will open up the appetite for a hearty bush breakfast, before heading back to camp in time for the midday activity.

Safari Cuisine

We are fortunate to have beautiful herbs and seasonal produce from our plot which form the inspiration for all our meals. Menus are focused on fresh flavours, and classic dishes with a twist! Following the traditional ‘safari’ mealtimes of brunch, afternoon tea and 3-course dinner the focus is always homegrown and fresh! Although we do offer many indulgences (afternoon tea been a particular highlight), we pride ourselves on keeping up to date with international food trends, in particular, the demand for nutritious food that feeds the body and soul.south luangwa national park Activities Safari Cuisine

The plot allows us to offer an array of quality fresh herbs, vegetables and fruit which would simply not be available to us otherwise! Not only do we have an ongoing fresh herb supply throughout the season we also enjoy seasonal crops of vegetables and fruit which make up the bulk of our fresh supplies for guests and staff. Our happy hens supply us with eggs used for baking and brunch! The hard work our gardening team do before the season has even begun has untold rewards and we are truly blessed.

Our food does become a topic of discussion for our guests, and also when presenting the menu, our Exec Chef does reiterate which of the meals are created solely from the Shenton Plot. Some guests also get the chance to stop by at the plot and see the lush gardens and meet the hens, on either their arrival or departure to see the team at the plot at work as we briefly stop to collect fresh produce for the camp.

Shenton’s Plot

The Shenton Plot is an organic plot, and all waste goes into compost which then becomes fertilizer for the plot. In camp, our waste is removed down to our plot outside the park. Garbage collection has not previously been available, but we are collectively as an industry looking at recycling solutions for the materials that would be recyclable in other countries.

Serengeti National Park Gates

National park gates in Serengeti national park, Tanzania

Naabi Hill gate
Altitude: 1600 m.a.m.s.l.
An administrative checkpoint and the location of both TANAPA and NCAA offices that is located in the eastern part of the Serengeti national park.

What to do there?
Pay for and get new permits, for either Serengeti national park or Ngorongoro conservation area.It is also an exit point for either park, where you could get your permit scanned for checkout.
There also is a viewpoint in the area that gives an amazing 360 degree view of the surrounding ‘endless plains’ or Serengeti, as well as a coffee shop and normal shop where you could buy snacks, souvenirs, maps etc.

Fort Ikoma gate
One of the official exit or entrance points into the Serengeti national park of northern Tanzania. It has a security gate, shops, toilets, and TANAPA administration offices where one can get a park permit or sign out one.
Most of the payments here are done electronically, using either an internationally recognised debit or credit card, or TANAPA pay cards.

What to do there?
complete the required documentation for entrance into or exit from the national park. The place is a bit far from the nearest civilization, but there are a few shops, and a campsite that is rarely used nearby.
For a list of other attractions in the vicinity, please see section below after map or the attractions page.

Ndabaka gate
The westernmost gate into the Serengeti national park, located along the Musoma – Mwanza highway. It is mostly used by tourists from Mwanza as it is a lot closer than the fort Ikoma gate.
Despite its location, the gate is surrounded by endless plains, on all but one side where lake Victoria is. Common animals that may be seen in the area include buffalo, hippo, zebra and Thompson’s gazelle.

What to do there?
Check out of the park or get permits for entry, or get information about it such as maps, or directions and even a ranger if needed. Most payments being done using electronic methods, either internationally recognized credit or debit cards, or TANAPA pay cards.
For a list of other attractions in the vicinity, please see section below after map or the attractions page

Handajega gate
A seldom used entrance point into Serengeti national park, that sits on its south western end, with nothing but rural Mwanza villages and farms nearby.

What to do there?
Get your permits checked before entry or exit from the park, or even acquire permits and information. Also game drives of it and nearby areas. For a list of other attraction in the nearby areas, please see our attractions page.

Bologonja gate
Altitude: 1720 m.a.m.s.l.
A security check point near the northern border of Serengeti national park – where the Maasai Mara game reserve begins. It is seldom used when compared to others due to it being remote.

What to do there?
Get your permits checked before entry or exit from the park, or even acquire permits and information. Also game drives of it and nearby areas. For a list of other attraction in the nearby areas, please see our attractions page.

Klein’s gate
An exit or entrance point near the north eastern border of Serengeti national park. Completely remote, it is used by those going to or coming from the Loliondo game controlled area, a rural Maasai teritory — with lake Natron on the eastern end.
The gate and the route is seldom used due to it being remote and the Loliondo route being uncharted territory, when compared to the TANAPA controlled parks. Still, part of the area is a wildebeest migration route, with some tented camps being situated there.

What to do there?
Get your permits checked, or pay for them before entering or exiting the park. For a list of other attractions that you could see in the area, please see the map below.

South Luangwa National Park lodges

Kaingo Camp

In this intimate, family owned South Luangwa camp, stunning vistas are combined with warm, friendly vibes and a cosy atmosphere. Venture out for exhilarating safaris or simply enjoy the variety of wildlife-viewing possibilities right around the luxury lodge.

Flatdogs Camp

With a manager that has over twenty years of touring experience and a mission to make a ‘luxurious’ South Luangwa safari accessible for everyone (including your little ones), you know you came to a place were enjoyment is taken seriously.

Nsefu Camp

Step back in time and into another world with the vintage charm and intimate appeal of this remote camp. Nsefu Camp’s accommodations, attentive hosts, and stunning wildlife experiences (by land or by water!) will exceed every expectation you have.