Mfuwe Area
Regarded as one of Africa’s best safari parks and widely recognised as the home of the walking safari, South Luangwa National Park is Zambia’s prime wildlife destination. It is home to an abundance of game and beauty of habitat that is rarely seen in other game reserves. Mfuwe is the gateway to the park and arguably the area with the highest density of game.
Nestling at the southern end of the Great rift valley, the ‘South Park’ as it is known, is divided by the impressive Luangwa River that cuts from North to South; creating vast oxbow lakes that spread over the floodplains provide the lifesource to the region. The Park has become increasingly known over the past few years for its unspoilt beauty and varied, exclusive habitats.
Much of its reputation is owed in no small measure to one man, Norman Carr - he was the first to realise the photographic potential of the park and the first to start official ‘walking’ safaris. Whilst working to rehabilitate animals into the wild, Norman Carr created a network of bushcamps that he operated walking safaris between, placing a huge emphasis on the level of guiding. Fifty years later and the vast majority of operators in South Luangwa use his ‘bushcamp’ model and keep to his strict guideline on the incredibly high levels of guiding. Mfuwe, the gateway to the Luangwa valley, is home to a superb concentration of game and consequently has recently become increasingly busy. There are some fantastic lodges here that offer a somewhat ‘protected’ safari, away from the bushcamp idea. South Luangwa, Mfuwe: Accommodation choices
The Mfuwe area is home to the flagship properties of both Norman Carr and Robin Pope Safaris. Carr's Kapani lodge and Pope's Nkwali are both great value lodge that are well respected for their quality of guiding and general high levels of service. Given the choice we prefer Kapani, but they are both very similar lodges. Nearby is the most impressive lodge in the area, the famous Luangwa Safari House - a four roomed private house that can only be booked on a private basis. It is utterly beautiful and our number one choice in the whole country for small groups. Robin's House, also run by Robin Pope, is a similar private house but due to the fact the house shares its pool with Nkwali Lodge and has not such an attractive design, it is nowhere near as good an option as Luangwa Safari House.
Recommended lodges in this area:
South Luangwa
In the office here we just put Luangwa Safari House forward for the Good Safari Guide awards for 'best private home in Africa'. Needless to say, we think it is exceptional!
South Luangwa
Kapani is certainly one of the best lodges in the Mfuwe area of the South Luangwa. Built as a permanent lodge rather than a bush camp, Kapani is a great introduction to the Luangw.
South Luangwa
Nkwali competes with Norman Carr’s Kapani camp for title of the best camp in the Mfuwe area of the Luangwa. The Mfuwe area is great as an introduction to the Luangwa due to the quality of game viewing on offer.
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