WILDLIFE OF SOUTH LUANGWA, ZAMBIA - NEW TRIP!

I’ve just returned from a scouting trip to South Luangwa National Park in Zambia and based on my experience there, I’m excited to announce that it’s going to be a new wildlife photography destination for Photo Adventures from June 2026.

South Luangwa National park is one of the premier photography destinations in Southern Africa. What makes it such a special place is the unparalleled variety of wildlife who visit and gather around the meandering river and its many oxbow lagoons. The park covers an area of over 9000 square kilometers, with much of the game concentrated along the valley floor. But you don’t have to travel to the most remote areas to see some amazing animals. As soon as you enter the park, you might see rafts of  hippos wallowing in the river below the bridge, crocs sunbathing on the bank or herds of elephants crossing the river. Impala, puku, bushbuck, yellow baboons, zebra, Thornicroft giraffe and other animals are also common sights, along with a wide variety of bird species from fish eagles to bee-eaters.

South Luangwa National Park is also known as Leopard Valley, so multiple leopard sightings, while never guaranteed, are highly likely during our stay (I had three sightings in my first two days). Wild dogs are becoming rare, but there’s a pack of seven that roam the park in the area we’ll explore, plus several prides of lions.

This first trip will have a maximum group size of just five participants and we’ll travel around the park in a single safari vehicle with a guide who has years of experience working with photographers. All participants will have a ‘window seat’ so you’ll get a clear view of the wildlife we encounter.

Our base will be the fantastic Flatdogs Camp (www.flatdogscamp.com), which is located on the banks of the Luangwa River, just a few minutes away from the park entrance. We will stay at Flatdogs Camp for 8 nights on an all-inclusive basis (only drinks have to be paid for). All accommodation is en-suite and single occupancy and we’ll be staying in a mix of Luxury Safari tents and chalets. The quality of accommodation, food, service and guiding is top notch!

Each day will comprise of two game drives. The morning game drive commences at 6am (we may depart a little earlier being a private group) and lasts approx. 4 hours. If sightings of leopard or lions have been reported, we may go in search of them, or simply explore the extensive network of dirt tracks and see what we see. Emphasis will be placed on not only finding interesting subhjects, but also capturing them in the best light and from the best angles. On return to Flatdogs Camp, we’ll have a late breakfast, then it’s time to relax, edit images, swim in the outdoor pool or sit in the shade and enjoy the view.  It’s not uncommon for an elephant or hippo to wander into camp! Lunch can be taken whenever you’re ready as all meals are ordered a la carte and available any time. The afternoon game drives commence at 2.30-3pm and we’ll shoot in the park until the sun has set (approx 5.30pm). We’ll then return to the camp again for drinks and dinner and have an early night!

Getting to Flatdogs Camp from the UK involves a flight from London to Lusaka via Johannesburg, Doha or Dubai, then a short 45 minute flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe. Flatdogs Camp is a 30 minute drive from Mfuwe airport. We should arrive early evening on the first day.

Info on flights will be offered once the trip is sold out and advice on photographic equipment, clothing and anything else relevant to the trip will be issued a few months before departure. There are no visa requirements for UK residents. If you’re not a UK resident, check the visa requirements for your country of residence.

Check out the Zambia portfolio (https://www.leefrost.co.uk/portfolio/show/category/zambia) to see more images from my 4-day recce trip in June 2025.

If you have any queries, please email me on info@photoadventures.co.uk

• At A Glance...

• Deposit / Price

  £750.00 / £5,000.00

• Date

  21st - 29th June, 2026

• Included

  Airport transfers from Mfuwe to Flatdogs Camp, 8 nights accommodation on an en-suite and single occupancy basis, game drives, guide services, National Park fees, conservation fund contributions, all meals

• Excluded

  Return flights to Mfuwe, drinks (soft and alcoholic), gradfutity for the guides and staff (suggested $120 per person)

• Fitness Level

  Easy

• Location

  Zambia, Africa

• Max Group Size

  5