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How to Get to South Luangwa

Getting to South Luangwa is simpler than it looks on a map: fly to Lusaka, hop to Mfuwe, and drive into the park. The only real decision is how you arrange the drive.

By the WalkingSafaris.com editors · October 2026 · 3 min read · Editorial standards

The Luangwa River winds through the valley, seen from the airPhoto: The Bushcamp Company

The short answer

  1. Fly to Lusaka (Kenneth Kaunda International Airport) from wherever you are.
  2. Take a domestic flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe, about 70 to 80 minutes [1], or fly in by private charter.
  3. Drive from Mfuwe Airport to your camp. The camps near the park's main gate are about 40 minutes away; camps deeper in the park are two to four hours or more.

That's it. Most people leave home, overnight on the way or in Lusaka, and are in camp the next afternoon.

Step 1: Getting to Lusaka

Lusaka is well connected through Africa's main hubs and the Gulf. Routes into Lusaka include [2]:

  • Johannesburg (South African Airways, Airlink and others)
  • Nairobi (Kenya Airways)
  • Addis Ababa (Ethiopian Airlines)
  • Dubai (Emirates)
  • Doha (Qatar Airways)
  • Dar es Salaam, Harare and other regional cities

From North America and Europe, that usually means one connection: through Johannesburg, Nairobi, Addis Ababa, Dubai or Doha. Pick whichever hub suits your airline and timing.

Tip: check that your international arrival leaves enough time for the afternoon flight to Mfuwe. If it doesn't, plan a night in Lusaka.

A safari vehicle stops beside a large herd of buffaloPhoto: The Bushcamp Company
Transfers inside the park double as game drives.

Step 2: Lusaka to Mfuwe

Scheduled flights. Proflight Zambia flies Lusaka to Mfuwe twice a day, on small aircraft such as the Cessna Grand Caravan or Beechcraft 1900, and the flight takes about 70 to 80 minutes [1]. Proflight also runs a daily connection between the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa, which makes it easy to combine the two parks [1]. Schedules vary by day and season, so check the current timetable when you book.

Private charter. If budget allows, a charter flies on your own timing, can connect directly with your international arrival, and saves waiting around.

Luggage. Small aircraft have strict limits. Pack in soft bags, and expect a limit of around 20 kg per person including hand luggage on light aircraft [3]. Check with your airline or camp.

Step 3: Mfuwe Airport to camp

This is where South Luangwa differs from many parks. The airport is close to the main gate, but the park is huge, and the camps are spread across it.

  • Gateway camps near the main gate at Mfuwe: about 40 minutes by road.
  • Camps deeper in the park, in the remote south or the north: roughly two to four hours, and sometimes more, according to the camps' own published transfer times.

Those longer transfers are not dead time. Most run inside the park and are done as a slow game drive, so the journey is part of the safari.

Why experienced travelers start at a gateway camp

Arrive on an afternoon flight and a four-hour drive means reaching a remote camp after dark, tired from the journey. That is why many experienced South Luangwa travelers do it in two stages:

  1. First night at a gateway camp, 40 minutes from the airport. Arrive in time for an afternoon drive and a sundowner, sleep well, and settle into the valley.
  2. Then head deeper, moving from camp to camp in a circuit. Each move is a game drive, and some camps are close enough to walk between.

You do the reverse at the end: finish at a camp within reach of the airport, or time your last transfer so you make your flight without rushing.

A multi-camp circuit also gives you more of the valley: different habitats, different walking country and different wildlife. See How a Multi-Camp Walking Safari Works in South Luangwa.

Coming from another park

Many visitors combine South Luangwa with the Lower Zambezi or Victoria Falls. The Lower Zambezi has its own daily flight to Mfuwe [1]. From Victoria Falls (Livingstone), you usually connect through Lusaka. If you are coming from another camp in the valley, the camps can usually arrange a road transfer between them.

Practical tips

  • Arrange transfers with your camp. Most camps meet you at Mfuwe Airport; a few charge for remote transfers, so ask.
  • Allow time on the way home. Most travelers fly Mfuwe to Lusaka on the morning of departure and connect to their international flight the same day, but check the connection carefully.
  • Visas. Check Zambia's current entry rules for your nationality before you travel.
  • Best season. For walking, June to October. See The Best Time of Year for a Walking Safari.

The bottom line

Fly to Lusaka, hop to Mfuwe, and let the camp drive you in. Start with a night near the gate, then go deeper into the park camp by camp. The getting there is easy; the hard part is leaving.

Related reading: The Birthplace of the Walking Safari – South Luangwa Walking Safari Guide · How a Multi-Camp Walking Safari Works in South Luangwa · South Luangwa vs Lower Zambezi: Which Is Better for a Walking Safari?

Sources

  1. SouthLuangwa.com, Proflight Zambia flights to South Luangwa — https://www.southluangwa.com/proflight-zambia-south-luangwa-flights.html
  2. AirportRoutes, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN) routes — https://www.airportroutes.com/airports/flkk/
  3. African Safari Mag, Safari photography (luggage limits on small aircraft) — https://www.africansafarimag.com/safari-photography

Spotted an error? Tell us. How we classify camps: our methodology.