Luangwa River

The Luangwa River is a big tributaries of the Zambezi River. It is one of the largest rivers in Zambia.

The river changes a lot with the seasons. It floods during the rainy months from December to March, and then it gets much smaller in the dry season.

It is one of the biggest rivers in Southern Africa that still looks very natural. Many wild animals live near the river. The valley around the river is very large and stays a beautiful, wild place.

Source and upper-middle course

The Luangwa River starts in the Lilonda and Mafinga Hills in north-east Zambia, near the borders with Tanzania and Malawi. It flows southwest through a wide valley. As it moves, the river makes winding paths and many lakes.

The upper and middle parts of the valley include the North Luangwa National Park and South Luangwa National Parks in Zambia. The river is home to many hippos and crocodiles, with the largest group of hippos in the world living here. In the dry season, animals come close to the river and its pools, making them easier to see.

Lower course

The Luangwa River narrows into a steep valley between hills, almost like a gorge. Halfway along its path, it joins the Lukusashi River, which has already combined with the Lunsemfwa River. After this, the Luangwa turns south and reaches the wide valley of the Zambezi River, winding through sandy areas. Finally, it flows into the Zambezi near Luangwa town. This lower part of the river also marks the boundary between Zambia and Mozambique.

Rift valley

The Luangwa Valley is a rift valley or graben. It starts near the east African Rift and goes almost to Lusaka. The valley has many hot springs, which is normal.

Long ago, the Luangwa River flowed into a big lake called Madumabisa Lake. But the land changed, and now the Luangwa River flows into the Zambezi River.

Natural barrier

The Luangwa Rift Valley and its rivers act as a natural barrier. Because of this, along with the steep land and wildlife reserves, there are very few roads crossing the valley. Between the Lusaka-Kabwe roads in the west and the Isoka-Chisenga road in the north, which are far apart, no highways go through the valley. The only road that crosses the lower Luangwa Valley is the Great East Road at the Luangwa Bridge, located a short distance south of where the Luangwa and Lunsemfwa rivers meet.