South Luangwa - Wild Animal Species |
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The animal wildlife of the South Luangwa Valley is amongst the richest in the world. Further out on the plains you're bound to see the large elephant herds, reaching up to 70 in number. Buffalo are abundant and spread throughout the valley. The hippopotamus is one animal you won't miss. As you cross over the bridge into the park there are usually between 30 and 70 hippos lounging in the river below and most of the dambos and lagoons will reveal many more. It is estimated to be at least 50 hippos per kilometre of the Luangwa River! Zebra can be seen running in small herds of about a dozen. Thornicroft's Giraffe, unique to Luangwa Valley should be easily spotted. The park has 14 different antelope species, most of which are easily seen on game and night drives. Watch out for the elusive bushbuck, preferring to inhabit densely covered areas. The common duiker is not that common near the Luangwa river but inhabits the back country of the Luangwa Valley. The largest of the antelope is the eland. The most numerous antelope is the impala, these gregarious animals can be seen in herds all over the park. Not to be confused with the Puku, of similar size but a much fluffier buck with a rich orange coat that is also prolific. Perhaps the most beautiful is the Kudu, with its majestic spiral horns and delicate face. Reedbuck, roan, sable, hartebeest, grysbok, klipspringer and oribi are all here although they tend to stay deeper in the remote parts of the park. Of the primates, baboons and vervet monkeys are prolific. More scarce is Maloney's monkey. Hyenas are fairly common throughout the valley and their plaintive, eerie cry, so characteristic of the African bush can be heard on most nights. South Luangwa has a good population of leopard. Many of the Lodge's game trackers are skilled in finding leopards on night drives however, and often visitors are rewarded with a full view of a kill. Lions are plentiful in the Luangwa. Very often they roam in prides of up to thirty. Of the other carnivores present but not often seen is the caracal, wild dog, serval and side striped jackal. The Luangwa river also has an extraordinarily high number of crocodiles. It is not uncommon to see several basking on the riverbanks or even floating down the river tearing at a dead animal. Night drives are fascinating in the Luangwa. Not only for the chance of seeing a leopard but for the many interesting animals that only come to life at night. Genets, civets, servals, hyenas, and bushbabies as well as owls, nightjars, the foraging hippos, honey badgers and lion. |