The now famous walking safari originated in South Luangwa, and it remains celebrated as one of Africa’s finest wilderness experiences. On foot the scale of the valley changes: tracks, birdsong and the smaller detail of the bush come into focus in a way they cannot from a vehicle.

Walks are led by guides who read the ground ahead, and the most rewarding are run from mobile camps out in the remote reaches of the park. The park holds 60 animal species and over 400 bird species, and game concentrates along the Luangwa River and its ox-bow lagoons through the dry months from April to October.