National park
North Luangwa National Park
Remote, little-visited Luangwa wilderness for walking safaris, big buffalo herds and Zambia's only black rhino.
4,651 km² · 1 gate · 4 campsites · Run by Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (North Luangwa Conservation Programme)
About the park
North Luangwa runs from the Luangwa River up onto the Muchinga Escarpment, with the Mwaleshi River cutting through the middle and a strict wilderness zone to its south. It gets a fraction of South Luangwa's visitors: a handful of small seasonal bush camps along the Mwaleshi run walking safaris, and wildlife is wilder and more skittish. Large buffalo herds with lion prides trailing them are the classic sighting, and black rhino were brought back in 2003, making this Zambia's only population. Most guests fly in by charter from Mfuwe; self-drivers come in through Mano gate on the western side, where there is a community campground, or down a slow 4x4 track from South Luangwa. The catch is the short season: the camps open only from about June to October and close when the rains arrive.
Highlights
- Walking safaris along the Mwaleshi River
- Following big buffalo herds and the lions that hunt them
- The drive down the Muchinga Escarpment
- Having a vast stretch of bush almost to yourself
Good to know
- 4,636 km² from the Luangwa River to the Muchinga Escarpment
- Few roads and only a handful of small seasonal camps; no shops
- Mano gate on the west side; Natwange community campground just inside, Chifunda community campground across the Luangwa in the east
- 4x4 track from South Luangwa takes about 8 hours for roughly 200 km
- Charter flights from Mfuwe to the Mwaleshi airstrip (about 45 minutes)
Wildlife you may see
- Buffalo
- Lion
- Black rhino
- Elephant
- Cookson's wildebeest
- Crawshay's zebra
- African wild dog
- Cheetah
Sightings are never guaranteed.
When to go
Open: 06:00–18:00; safari camps operate roughly June–October
Best time: July–October, when game stays near the rivers
Gates
- Mano GateOpen: 06:00–18:00 dailyPay park fees here, per person per day (2025–26): international US$20, SADC/residents US$15, Zambians K44.80; international self-drivers are listed at US$25. Vehicles US$15/day foreign-registered, K34 Zambian-registered. Under-5s free, 5–13 half price.Western entrance near Mano/Mukungule, reached by 4x4 track down from the Great North Road side. Natwange community campground is just past the gate; it is unfenced and elephants walk through at night. No shops or fuel in the park. Camps operate roughly June–October.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), with the Frankfurt Zoological Society (North Luangwa Conservation Programme) before you travel.
Campsites
- Lufila Falls CampBush camp4.9
- Mushika CampBush camp4.6
- Muzungwe CampBush camp4.9
- Nkholo CampBush camp4.9
Park fees
| citizen | K44.8 per person day |
| citizen (any) | K34 per vehicle day |
| resident | US$15 per person day |
| regional | US$15 per person day |
| international | US$20 per person day |
| international (any) | US$15 per vehicle day |
Category A park. 2025–26 national DNPW tariff per person per day (a day is 06:00–18:00); SADC nationals and Zambian residents pay the regional rate; under-5s free, ages 5–13 half price. Vehicle fee per day: US$15 foreign-registered, K34 Zambian-registered (under 3 t). Pay cash at the gate. The same table lists an international self-drive rate of US$25.