National park · Zambia
North Luangwa National Park
Enter North Luangwa for a day: pay ZMW 100 entry (check), fly Mfuwe → Mwaleshi (45 min) and walk the Mwaleshi trail; for multi‑day walks book a lodge and guide, best in Jul–Oct; avoid the dry season crowd in June.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4,000 km² (1,544 sq mi)1,544 sq mi (4,000 km²)
approximate
Established
1972
Best months
Jul–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 10Nine African countries on this site have no trip line bec…Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive befor…
- Africa ↗When a route touches a yellow-fever country — even a transit of 12 hours or more — keep the original yellow card (ICVP) in your hand luggage; health desks and airlines can refuse boarding or entry without it.
- Africa ↗Nine African countries on this site have no trip line because governments advise against travel; several others have no-go regions. Read your government's advice for every country on the route before paying deposits.
- Southern Africa ↗A rental car may leave its home country only with the rental company's cross-border letter, the registration papers and paid road taxes at each post; driving into Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique or Angola without them ends at the border.
- Southern Africa ↗Across the subregion, plan every road leg to arrive before sunset: livestock, wildlife, pedestrians and unlit trucks make night driving the main cause of serious visitor accidents.
- Zambia ↗Check visa and entry rules for your passport on official Zambian government sources; if you will cross to Zimbabwe, ask about the KAZA UniVisa and whether it is available to you.
- Zambia ↗Do not photograph government buildings, police, the military, airports or bridges.
- Zambia ↗Many bush camps open only in the dry season; check opening dates before you fix flights.
- Eastern Zambia ↗South Luangwa park entry and vehicle fees are paid per person per day at the gate or by your camp; rates change yearly — check current ZAWA/DNPW figures before you budget.
- Eastern Zambia ↗Camps quote in US dollars; ATMs are in Chipata and Mfuwe only. Carry kwacha cash for fuel, gate fees and tips.
- Eastern Zambia ↗Drive on the left. The Great East Road Lusaka–Chipata is tarred; the Chipata–Mfuwe road is tarred but rough in places, and park tracks need a 4x4 in the wet season.
At a glance
- Country
- Zambia
- Area
- 4,000 km² (1,544 sq mi)1,544 sq mi (4,000 km²)
- Approximate area of 4,000 km²; figures vary by source.
- Established
- 1972
- Best months
- Jul–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
North Luangwa offers remote walking safaris with large buffalo herds, lion prides, and re‑introduced black rhinos, accessed via a short charter flight to Mwaleshi airstrip.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1972.
Size and age
4,000 km² (1,544 sq mi)1,544 sq mi (4,000 km²) · national park since 1972
Approximate area of 4,000 km²; figures vary by source.
Why go
- Remote walking safaris with large buffalo herds and lion prides.
- Rare wildlife such as Cookson's wildebeest, Crawshay's zebra and re‑introduced black rhinos.
When to go
- JanCaution
- FebCaution
- MarCaution
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunGo
- JulBest
- AugBest
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanCool but some roads muddy.
- FebCool, occasional rain.
- MarStart of rains, tracks can be slippery.
- AprRain increases, heat rises.
- MayHot, early rains.
- JunWarm, fewer visitors.
- JulDry, good wildlife viewing.
- AugDry, excellent walking conditions.
- SepDry, wildlife active.
- OctDry, cooler evenings.
- NovStart of short rains, still good.
- DecCool, occasional rain.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| African buffaloAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Lion (prides)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| ElephantAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Cookson's wildebeestAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Crawshay's zebraAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Black rhinoceros (re‑introduced)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Mfuwe Airport (South Luangwa)
Charter flight to Mwaleshi airstrip, 45 min.
45 min
From Lusaka
4×4 track down the escarpment; very rough, few services.
≈8 h (≈200 km (124 mi))≈8 h (≈124 mi (200 km))
Open the page →
From South Luangwa National Park
4×4 track north along the Luangwa River; remote.
≈8 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Mwaleshi airstrip & lodge area | Entry gate, small airstrip, Mwaleshi Camp, Buffalo Camp. | Open with entry permit. |
| Western community camp (Natwange) | Basic camping with shared ablutions; elephants may visit at night. | Permit required, open to day and night visitors. |
| Eastern community camp (Chifunda) | Enclosed campground on the Luangwa River bank. | Permit required, fenced for safety. |
Sketch map
- 1Mwaleshi airstrip & lodge area · Headquarters≈-12.000, 32.000Entry gate, airstrip, Mwaleshi Camp and Buffalo Camp.Map ↗
- 2Natwange community camp · Sleep≈-12.050, 31.950Western entrance; unfenced, elephants may visit at night.Map ↗
- 3Chifunda community camp · Sleep≈-12.000, 32.100Eastern side across Luangwa River; enclosed campground.Map ↗
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates are approximate centre points for navigation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (day visitor) | ZMW 100–150 | person | Exact fee varies; check at gate. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit permit or guide
Guided walk permit permit or guide
Park rules
- Camping
- Only in designated community camps; no open‑site camping.
- Fires
- No open fires; use provided stoves only.
- Guides
- Required for any walk beyond the airstrip area.
- Vehicles
- 4×4 only on park tracks; permits required for self‑drive.
Where to stay
In the park
Mwaleshi Camp
Basic lodge with rooms, meals and guided walks.
In the park
Buffalo Camp
Riverside camp focusing on buffalo viewing.
Near the park
Natwange community camp
Simple tents, shared ablutions, community‑run.
Safety
Elephant encounters at night medium
Malaria medium
Getting lost on remote tracks high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Airstrip and lodge area reachable by 4×4; walking trails are rough, not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Stay in community‑run camps and buy food locally.
- Do not litter; pack out all waste.
- Support anti‑poaching initiatives by paying park fees.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter North Luangwa National Park?
Day entry is about ZMW 100–150 per person (check exact price at the gate).
What are the best hikes in North Luangwa National Park?
The Mwaleshi River walk (3–4 h) and the guided buffalo‑herd trek are the most accessible; longer backcountry walks require a guide and stay at community camps.
When is the best time to visit North Luangwa National Park?
July to October offers dry weather and good wildlife viewing; June is also acceptable, while the early rainy season (Nov–Apr) can make tracks muddy.
Can I drive my own 4×4 into the park?
Self‑drive is allowed on the main tracks with a park permit, but roads are rough and services scarce.
Are there any accommodation options inside the park?
Yes – Mwaleshi Camp, Buffalo Camp and two community‑run camps (Natwange and Chifunda) provide basic rooms and meals.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about North Luangwa National Park
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