South Luangwa National Park

🇿🇲 Zambia

🐆 Leopard Twilight Hunts in Luangwa
🌍 #5 Global · 4.9 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ #4 in Africa #4 in Savanna & Grassland
Southern Africa, Zambia 1295 spp. recorded

South Luangwa National Park sits in eastern Zambia, a ribbon of tropical savanna cut by the winding Luangwa River. Rolling grasslands meet mopane woodlands, and seasonal floodplains create a patchwork of water and dry ground that separates it from the neighboring parks of the region.

-12.743° S   31.735° E

Wildlife

SIGHTING PROBABILITY Share of citizen-science records from the park that report this species
<5%
Rare5–20%
With luck20–40%
Possible40–70%
Likely>70%
Very likely
ACTIVITY PATTERN
☀️ Diurnal 🌙 Nocturnal 🌅 Crepuscular ☀️🌙 Day & Night

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely
Leopard ★
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

60–70% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely
Meves's Glossy-starling
LC

Meves's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis mevesii

60–70% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Puku
NT

Puku

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus vardonii

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

60–70% · Likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
African Sacred Ibis
LC

African Sacred Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Threskiornis aethiopicus

50–60% · Likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

50–60% · Likely
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

50–60% · Likely

⭐ Iconic Species

African Bush Elephant ★
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely
Leopard ★
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

60–70% · Likely
Lion ★
VU

Lion

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera leo

50–60% · Likely
Common Hippopotamus ★
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

East African Giraffe

East African Giraffe

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Giraffa tippelskirchi

60–70% · Likely
Puku
NT

Puku

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus vardonii

60–70% · Likely
Plains Zebra
NT Endemic

Plains Zebra

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Equus quagga

60–70% · Likely
Yellow Baboon
LC

Yellow Baboon

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Papio cynocephalus

50–60% · Likely
Waterbuck
LC

Waterbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

50–60% · Likely
African Buffalo
NT

African Buffalo

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Syncerus caffer

50–60% · Likely
Common Warthog
LC

Common Warthog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Phacochoerus africanus

50–60% · Likely
Spotted Hyena
LC

Spotted Hyena

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Crocuta crocuta

50–60% · Likely
Northern Bushbuck
LC

Northern Bushbuck

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus scriptus

50–60% · Likely
Impala
LC

Impala

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Aepyceros melampus

40–50% · Likely
Greater Kudu
LC

Greater Kudu

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

40–50% · Likely
Painted Hunting Dog
EN

Painted Hunting Dog

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Lycaon pictus

40–50% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Meves's Glossy-starling
LC

Meves's Glossy-starling

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Lamprotornis mevesii

60–70% · Likely
Cape Turtle Dove
LC

Cape Turtle Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Streptopelia capicola

60–70% · Likely
Egyptian Goose
LC

Egyptian Goose

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Alopochen aegyptiaca

60–70% · Likely
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
LC

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Turtur chalcospilos

60–70% · Likely
Little Bee-eater
LC

Little Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops pusillus

60–70% · Likely
White-fronted Bee-eater
LC

White-fronted Bee-eater

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Merops bullockoides

60–70% · Likely
African Sacred Ibis
LC

African Sacred Ibis

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Threskiornis aethiopicus

50–60% · Likely
Hadada
LC Endemic

Hadada

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Bostrychia hagedash

50–60% · Likely
White-headed Lapwing
LC

White-headed Lapwing

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Vanellus albiceps

50–60% · Likely
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver
LC

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Plocepasser mahali

50–60% · Likely
Helmeted Guineafowl
LC

Helmeted Guineafowl

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Numida meleagris

50–60% · Likely
Lilac-breasted Roller
LC

Lilac-breasted Roller

☀️ Diurnal Bird

Coracias caudatus

50–60% · Likely

📊 Most Spotted

Nile Crocodile
LC

Nile Crocodile

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Crocodylus niloticus

50–60% · Likely
Nile Monitor
LC

Nile Monitor

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Varanus niloticus

40–50% · Likely
Flap-necked Chameleon
LC

Flap-necked Chameleon

🌅 Crepuscular Reptile

Chamaeleo dilepis

30–40% · Possible
Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

Wahlberg’s Striped Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis wahlbergii

30–40% · Possible
Tropical House Gecko
LC

Tropical House Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Hemidactylus mabouia

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Bark Snake
LC

Eastern Bark Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Hemirhagerrhis nototaenia

20–30% · Possible
Cape Dwarf Gecko
LC

Cape Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus capensis

20–30% · Possible
Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko
LC

Fischer's Thick-toed Gecko

🌙 Nocturnal Reptile

Chondrodactylus laevigatus

10–20% · With luck
Spotted Bush Snake
LC

Spotted Bush Snake

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Philothamnus semivariegatus

10–20% · With luck
Rainbow Skink

Rainbow Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis margaritifera

10–20% · With luck
Variable Skink
LC

Variable Skink

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Trachylepis varia

10–20% · With luck
Chobe Dwarf Gecko
LC

Chobe Dwarf Gecko

☀️ Diurnal Reptile

Lygodactylus chobiensis

10–20% · With luck

📊 Most Spotted

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog
LC

Grey Foam-nest Treefrog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Chiromantis xerampelina

40–50% · Likely
Common Squeaker
LC

Common Squeaker

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Arthroleptis stenodactylus

20–30% · Possible
Eastern Flat-backed Toad
LC

Eastern Flat-backed Toad

🌅 Crepuscular Amphibian

Sclerophrys pusilla

10–20% · With luck
Mutinondo Grass Frog

Mutinondo Grass Frog

☀️ Diurnal Amphibian

Ptychadena mutinondoensis

10–20% · With luck
Margined Reed Frog
LC

Margined Reed Frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Hyperolius marginatus

Insufficient data
Darling's white-lipped frog

Darling's white-lipped frog

Amphibian

Amnirana darlingi

Insufficient data
Dwarf Squeaker
LC

Dwarf Squeaker

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Arthroleptis xenodactyloides

Insufficient data
African Common Toad
LC

African Common Toad

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Sclerophrys gutturalis

Insufficient data
Sharp-nosed ridged frog
LC

Sharp-nosed ridged frog

☀️🌙 Day & Night Amphibian

Ptychadena oxyrhynchus

Insufficient data
Pointed Long Reed Frog
LC Endemic

Pointed Long Reed Frog

Amphibian

Hyperolius nasicus

Insufficient data
Moyer's River Frog
LC

Moyer's River Frog

Amphibian

Amietia moyerorum

Insufficient data
Rungwe puddle frog
LC

Rungwe puddle frog

Amphibian

Phrynobatrachus rungwensis

Insufficient data

Animal Events

🦌

Elephant river congregation

JunJul

During the early wet season, massive elephant herds gather along the Luangwa River to drink and socialize, creating one of Africa's most impressive wildlife spectacles.

African Bush Elephant
EN

African Bush Elephant

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Loxodonta africana

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Leopard twilight hunts

MayJun

Leopards become highly active at dusk, hunting across the savanna and woodlands, offering prime opportunities for night‑time sightings.

Leopard
VU Endemic

Leopard

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Panthera pardus

60–70% · Likely
🦌

Hippo breeding season

SepOct

Hippos intensify breeding activities, with increased vocalizations and territorial displays, making river crossings especially dramatic.

Common Hippopotamus
VU

Common Hippopotamus

☀️ Diurnal Mammal

Hippopotamus amphibius

60–70% · Likely

Sighting Calendar

Chance of spotting each species, month by month

Months
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Species Total
40–50
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
40–50
African Bush Elephant
30–40
20–30
30–40
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
50–60
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
Leopard
30–40
60–70
60–70
40–50
70–80
70–80
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
Lion
30–40
20–30
40–50
30–40
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
30–40
Common Hippopotamus
30–40
20–30
30–40
50–60
50–60
60–70
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
40–50
East African Giraffe
50–60
20–30
50–60
60–70
40–50
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
70–80
70–80
60–70
Meves's Glossy-starling
50–60
40–50
70–80
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
80–90
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
Cape Turtle Dove
50–60
50–60
70–80
60–70
80–90
70–80
60–70
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
60–70
Egyptian Goose
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
70–80
80–90
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
Puku
30–40
40–50
20–30
50–60
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
40–50
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove
50–60
60–70
50–60
70–80
70–80
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
50–60
50–60
60–70
Little Bee-eater
50–60
50–60
40–50
60–70
70–80
60–70
50–60
70–80
40–50
50–60
60–70
50–60
White-fronted Bee-eater
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
50–60
50–60
40–50
Plains Zebra
30–40
20–30
40–50
50–60
50–60
60–70
60–70
50–60
60–70
60–70
60–70
30–40
African Sacred Ibis
40–50
40–50
40–50
50–60
60–70
70–80
70–80
70–80
50–60
40–50
40–50
40–50
Hadada
40–50
50–60
40–50
40–50
70–80
60–70
60–70
70–80
40–50
40–50
60–70
50–60
Yellow Baboon
30–40
20–30
20–30
50–60
40–50
70–80
60–70
40–50
60–70
50–60
60–70
30–40
Animal Events
🦌 Elephant river congregation
🦌 Leopard twilight hunts
🦌 Hippo breeding season

Sighting Zones

Warm areas are where all species together are recorded most, so they track where people go as much as where animals are. For one species, see the map on its own page.

0.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★ World-class
🐆 Leopard Twilight Hunts in Luangwa

Where Wildlife Score

How good is this park for seeing wildlife?
🦜

Biodiversity

Excellent

How rich is the wildlife?

4.3 Global avg
4.7 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
Species by taxon
🦅 Birds
908
🐒 Mammals
210
🦎 Reptiles
116
🐸 Amphibians
61
1295 Total Species
850 Global average across 296 parks
42 Threatened 5 Endemic
🔭

Sighting

Excellent

How likely to see animals?

3.6 Global avg
5.0 ★★★★★ ★★★★★
🎯
Top-12 Avg Probability
62% Global avg
63%
📊
Coverage (301 species at ≥5% of 1295 in the inventory)
24% Global avg
23%
🔀
Taxon variety in top 12 (6 mammal, 6 bird)
46% Global avg
67%
🔭
Species per 10 outings (distinct species a visitor would meet over 10 outings — effort held equal across parks)
134 Global avg
189
🌟
Iconic-group species (≥15%) (every species from the 19 iconic groups — monkeys, cats, toucans, macaws, sloths, crocodilians… — not just the 4 highlighted above)
15 Global avg
37
⭐
High-prob species (>40%)
27 Global avg
45

Quick answers

What animals can you see in South Luangwa National Park?

The most likely sightings are East African Giraffe (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Meves's Glossy-starling (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Cape Turtle Dove (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Egyptian Goose (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers), Puku (seen by 60–70% of wildlife watchers) — among 1295 recorded vertebrate species, based on citizen-science data from GBIF.

When is the best time to visit South Luangwa National Park for wildlife?

June has the highest combined sighting rate for the park's top species in our month-by-month GBIF data. The full sighting calendar on this page shows each species' best months.

Can you see African Bush Elephant in South Luangwa National Park?

Yes — about 61% of wildlife watchers report a African Bush Elephant sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 61 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Leopard in South Luangwa National Park?

Yes — about 63% of wildlife watchers report a Leopard sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 66 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Lion in South Luangwa National Park?

Yes — about 56% of wildlife watchers report a Lion sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 51 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

Can you see Common Hippopotamus in South Luangwa National Park?

Yes — about 62% of wildlife watchers report a Common Hippopotamus sighting in South Luangwa National Park, based on 63 days of visitor records from GBIF citizen-science data.

⚖️

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