Albert also recently came back from our Trade Route tour and had an amazing experience in South Luangwa National Park.  Here is what he had to say.

“It was our second day in the South Luangwa National Park in North Eastern Zambia which has the highest concentration of leopard. We had an excellent morning game drive in an open 4x4 with a local guide and spotted plenty of elephant, baboons and Thornicroft giraffe’s and to finish off 2 large male lions casually resting under some trees (typical male lions – never much action from them :) ).  After such a great morning we headed back to camp, but we couldn’t all help wondering if we were going to see leopard, especially here.

That evening we did a night drive in the concession next to the national park.  We had not been going for very long when we heard baboons going crazy!  They were barking and calling and we immediately headed off in the direction of the barks.  When baboons make so much noise there is usually something going on.  As we approached a large sausage tree were suddenly very large rain drops and lots of thunder – which was unusual because the weather was clear. We soon discovered that “this rain and thunder” turned out to be baboons that where making “bushi bushi” in fear of the leopard that was hunting them.

As we got closer to the tree I saw a large male leopard sitting on a dead stump below the baboons. The leopard approached the vehicle and with lots of clicks of the cameras and flashes the baboons saw the leopard and started to scream blue murder as if they were in its claws.

It was such an amazing experience and one none of us will ever forget.  South Luangwa delivered incredible game drives and game walks.  What a trip.

The below text is take from: http://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/south-luangwa-national-park

Experts have dubbed South Luangwa to be one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world, and not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa. The Luangwa River is the most intact major river system in Africa and is the life-blood of this 9059 km2 Park. The Park hosts a wide variety of wildlife, birds and vegetation. The now famous ‘walking safari’ originated in this Park and is still one of the finest ways to experience Africa’s pristine wilderness first-hand. The changing seasons add to the Park’s richness, ranging from; dry, bare bushveld in the winter, to a lush, green wonderland in the summer months. There are 60 different animal species and over 400 different bird species in South Luangwa National Park. The only notable exception is the rhino, sadly poached to extinction. With about 400 of Zambia’s 732 species of birds appearing in the Park, including 39 birds of prey and 47 migrant species, there is plenty for the birdwatcher to spot, whatever the season. An interest in the vegetation of Zambia will enhance your experience of the bush. Some magnificent trees and plants grow in the Luangwa Valley and it certainly adds to the richness of one’s experience to be able to recognize the different tree species and to discover exotic wildflowers. Among the more common trees in the valley are the mopane, Leadwood, winterthorn, the tall vegetable ivory palm, the Marula and the magnificent tamarind tree. There are some magnificent baobab specimens and a few large ebony forests to admire. Bird watching is superb in the Valley.