Luangwa River

The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the Zambezi River, and it is one of the four biggest rivers of Zambia. This river has special patterns, generally flooding during the rainy season from December to March and then shrinking a lot in the dry season.

It is one of the biggest rivers in Southern Africa that has not been changed much by humans. The valley around the river covers 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) and is home to many wild animals. In the Nsefu sector in South Luangwa, there are many leopards and the area remains a beautiful, natural wilderness.

Source and upper-middle course

The Luangwa River begins in the Lilonda and Mafinga Hills in north-east Zambia, close to the borders with Tanzania and Malawi. It flows southwest through a wide valley. As it moves, the river creates wide, 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 gather near the river and its pools, making them easier to see.

Lower course

The Luangwa River suddenly narrows into a steep valley between hills, creating almost a gorge. About halfway along its path, it joins with another river called the Lukusashi, which itself has combined with the Lunsemfwa River. After this, the Luangwa turns south and soon reaches the wide valley of the Zambezi River, winding through sandy areas. Finally, it flows into the Zambezi near a place called 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 that extends from the east African Rift and reaches almost to Lusaka. It has many hot springs, which is normal for rift valleys.

Long ago, the Luangwa River used to flow into a huge lake called Madumabisa Lake. But changes in the land made new rivers form, and today 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 about 800 kilometres (500 mi) 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 about 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) south of where the Luangwa and Lunsemfwa rivers meet.