Back to the Wild: A Month in South Luangwa

I've just landed in Lusaka and are heading east, bound once again for the remarkable South Luangwa Valley — a place that has drawn us back year after year, not just for its extraordinary wildlife, but for the sense of belonging it offers from the moment we arrive.

Thornicroft's Giraffe, South Luangwa © Ian Dawson

Over the coming weeks, we’ll be leading three photographic safaris based deep in the Zambian wilderness, staying at the Bushcamp Company’s remarkable network of remote camps. These camps are tucked away in quiet corners of the park allowing us to explore the Luangwa Valley in the way it should be — slowly, attentively, and with space to truly absorb what’s around us.

Though simple in spirit, the bushcamps are exceptionally comfortable — hot showers, good food, and the warmest of welcomes. They strike that rare balance between immersion and comfort. Each one opens out onto the landscape, with wildlife passing through on its own terms. Elephants regularly wander between the tents; falling asleep to the unique sounds of the bush at night. These are places shaped by nature, not imposed upon it.

More than that, these camps feel like a home-from-home. Many of the staff we’ve known for several years - guides, spotters, camp managers, chefs, scouts. Their knowledge of this place, and the pride they take in sharing it, is something we value hugely. Our guests often say the same: it’s not just the animals they remember, but the people who helped them see more clearly.

South Luangwa is one of Africa’s most rewarding wildlife areas. It is rich in predators — leopard sightings here are among the best on the continent. Large herds of elephant, giraffe, and buffalo. One of Africa's rarest carnivores, Wild dogs, while often elusive elsewhere, are regularly seen. The birdlife is extraordinary. The park is the birthplace of the walking safari. On foot, everything sharpens: tracks in the dust, the scent of a carcass on the wind, the subtle signs of a story that has just unfolded.

No two days are ever alike. One morning may bring the drama of lions hunting; the next, a quiet hour spent watching a family of elephants feeding in golden light. That’s the real joy of working here, each safari is shaped by the movements of the animals, the tracks we find, and the intuition of our brilliant guides. The longer we return, the more we learn, and the deeper our understanding becomes — not just of the wildlife, but of the delicate balance that sustains it all.

June is a wonderful time to be in the Luangwa. The rains have passed, the bush is still green but beginning to thin, and the animals are starting to gather around the rivers and waterholes. It’s a time of clarity — for photography, for exploration, and for seeing the land as it begins to shift into the dry season.

We feel incredibly lucky to be here again — guiding, photographing, and continuing to learn from this remarkable landscape and the people who call it home.

It’s not just a place we work. It’s a place that continues to teach and inspire us,.

Ian Dawson & Sue Flood