Mfuwe is the small Zambian town that serves as the gateway to South Luangwa National Park, the home of the walking safari and one of Africa's finest wildlife destinations. Almost everyone who visits South Luangwa passes through Mfuwe, and understanding how the gateway works makes planning the safari far easier.
Book an airport transfer to Mfuwe
Fixed-price private transfers with English-speaking drivers. Meet-and-greet included.
Getting to and around Mfuwe
## Getting to Mfuwe
The usual route is a seventy-minute flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe Airport with Proflight Zambia, which operates year-round and adds frequencies in the high season. Lodges collect guests at the airport, with onward road transfers into the park taking anywhere from minutes to a couple of hours depending on the camp. Overlanders can take the daily bus from Lusaka, about eight hours and thirty-five to forty US dollars, leaving early in the morning, or self-drive in roughly nine hours or more; a four-by-four is required for the park itself.
Things to see & do in Mfuwe
## The safari from Mfuwe
The Mfuwe sector of South Luangwa has all-weather roads and stays open year-round, which makes it the reliable base even in the rains. The park is celebrated for leopards, huge elephant and hippo populations, and above all for pioneering the walking safari, guided on foot through the bush. Game drives run by day and, unusually for African parks, by night, when leopards are most active.
Tours & experiences
Top tours & experiences in Mfuwe
Browse Viator’s catalogue of Mfuwe tours, day trips, and experiences. Most include free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.
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Neighborhoods & food in Mfuwe
## When to go and tips
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Practical info & when to visit
The peak season runs July to October, when the bush is dry and wildlife concentrates along the Luangwa River; earlier in that window is cooler for open safari vehicles and un-air-conditioned camps. The green season brings dramatic skies, birdlife, and lower rates, with the Mfuwe sector still accessible. Book flights and camps together, since lodge transfers key off the Proflight schedule, and plan at least three nights to give the park the time it deserves. Combining South Luangwa with Victoria Falls or the Lower Zambezi makes a classic two-stop Zambian itinerary, with Lusaka as the connecting hub between them.