Unique animal species of the South Luangwa National Park – Zambia

The Luangwa River and its vast seasonal floodplains, oxbow lakes, and smaller tributaries nourish the South Luangwa National Park. This life-giving water and the park’s remote location are why it boasts such a high density of wildlife.

While elephant herds, hippo pods, and sleek big cats enchant you, look out for the wildlife species endemic to the greater region or unique to the South Luangwa Valley.

The Puku

The puku is a medium-sized antelope similar to an impala. It generally weighs about 75kg and is notable for its orange-tinged coat and short spiral horns. Its numbers are concentrated in Zambia and the Okavango Delta in Botswana, and the only other places to see puku are in the grasslands of Namibia, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Puku live in herds of 5 to 30 animals and are generally seen grazing very close to water.

The Crawshay’s Zebra

Crawshay’s zebra is a subspecies of the plains zebra, found only east of the Luangwa River, and in Malawi, south-eastern Tanzania and northern Mozambique. Compared to other plains zebras, Crawshay’s zebras have very narrow stripes. They live in small family herds consisting of one stallion, a harem of mares and their foals. They are generally spotted on the plains, where they graze on nutrient-rich grasses.

The Thornicroft giraffe

The jury is still out on the Thornicroft giraffe. As it is only found in the South Luangwa Valley of Zambia, some say it is a species in its own right, while others argue it is a subspecies of Kenya’s Masai giraffe. The Thornicroft giraffe is slightly smaller than other giraffe species and is identifiable by its lack of markings behind its knees. These giraffe live in sociable herds of up to 20 animals, and are generally seen on the plains or amongst the trees, stretching to eat the juiciest leaves at the top.    With so much vast open space in South Luangwa, the giraffe can run unhindered, reaching speeds of 35 km/ph. This giraffe species is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, with under 600 animals worldwide.

The Cookson’s Wildebeest (Gnu)

The Wildebeest is sometimes called the poor man’s buffalo, although it is smaller and differently proportioned, with a large head, broad shoulders, a narrow body and thin legs. These comical creatures are easily identified by the way they randomly burst into a bouncy run for no particular reason. The Cookson’s Wildebeest is a subspecies of the blue wildebeest and is only found in the Luangwa Valley in Zambia. It has a slightly bigger body and larger horns than the blue wildebeest. They are often seen with, or close to, zebra herds as the zebras graze on the top grass, leaving the juicier lower layer for the wildebeest.

When you visit one of our South Luangwa Lodges, ask your guides about these rare animals; they have a vast and intimate knowledge of their habits and behaviour.