many areas are not really accessed at all. North Luangwa is noted for being very undeveloped. Depending on the time you have, your fitness level and your need for modern creature comforts, you can choose between a classic 8-day walking safari, sleeping in luxury tents in temporary camps in the middle of the bush, or short nature walks between other safari activities. Walking safaris will provide you with a freedom incomparable to any other safari activity. Once on foot, you are not constrained by roads and can go almost anywhere you like. The guides each boast an extensive knowledge of the flora and fauna in the area. A pile of bones on the side of the trail or an interesting insect can lead into an in-depth explanation, often coupled with fascinating first-hand guide experiences and stories. You can learn more about the African wilderness on a walking safari than you’ve learnt in your whole life, and walk away with a newfound respect for even the smallest of creatures and plants. For instance, for every ‘Big Five’ animals there is an equivalent ‘Little Five’ from the insect and beetle world! Of course, safety comes first in a walking safari. Guides track animals using signs and clues to unravel the story of their recent movements in an effort to provide you with fantastic encounters and sightings. A safe distance is always maintained and respect for the wildlife in their territory is upheld as the primary rule and predicting animals’ likely behaviour is central to a good guide’s job. In South Luangwa you will discover the world’s largest concentration of leopards, but these elusive creatures require expert tracking, especially in the daytime, but once located it is a definite ‘bucket list’ moment. The Luangwa is a classic dry-season reserve, with the game getting progressively better, the later you travel. June through to October sees large herds concentrate around the rivers. It is throughout this season that the game viewing on offer will rival anywhere in Africa. As the game viewing improves, the heat increases, with October the hottest month. If you travel outside this period, you will find many of the camps closed due to the seasonal flooding of the Luangwa itself. Travelling in the early parts of the year, sees boating safari as the only way to get around the floodplains that guides were driving over six months before. Mobile walking safaris take place for a limited time between June and October so plan well in advance. Short walks from camps can happen all year round. 75
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