South Luangwa July2027 | RAW Photographic

LUXURY PHOTOGRAPHIC SAFARI

JULY, 2027

SOUTH LUANGWA

ABOUT SOUTH LUANGWA

Very few places in Africa can offer the unique combination of South Luangwa National Park's open, grassy plains and mature, mesmerizing woodlands, crowned with the pristine, impressive Luangwa River. This area's reputation for abundant wildlife and unspoiled vegetation is well earned, so whether driving around or walking through, the intense beauty calls to you from every corner.

South Luangwa National Park is the highlight of eastern Zambia. Known to locals as simply 'the South Park,' it was initially founded as the Luangwa Game Park in 1904, and converted to one of three game reserves in 1938. The impressive park covers an area of about 9050 square kilometers of the Luangwa Valley floor, and lies anywhere from 500 meter to 800 meter above sea level. With its western and northwestern edge bounded by the Muchinga Escarpment, and the southern border lined with the meandering Luangwa River, there's no shortage of dramatic and fascinating topography in this stunning game-rich park.

Experts have dubbed South Luangwa to be one of the greatest wildlife sanctuaries in the world and not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa River, and its oxbow lagoons, is among the most intense in Africa.

WHAT WE HOPE TO SEE

If you look at the flora in South Luangwa National Park, you immediately understand why this is such a great place to see a lot of wildlife in a relatively small area. While much of the park is covered with thick bush – which makes game viewing difficult – there is little permanent water in these areas. So, where does wildlife go? It gathers around the Luangwa River. On the fertile banks of the river, elephant herds and other herbivores feast on juicy green leaves. Rich soil, tall green trees, elephants, birds and other wildlife: the result is a stunningly beautiful rich landscape, a true utopia for anybody seeking pure Africa.

There is a strong, diverse population of of big game in the Luangwa River valley and surrounding areas. Elephant and Cape buffalo sightings are common (and trust us, seeing them never gets old) as they like to swim between the mosaic of islands on the river. A delightful variety of antelope can be found grazing throughout the park, along with the startling patterns of Crawshay’s zebra. Vervet monkey and baboon have made their homes in various parts of the park, and can be heard calling to each other in the canopy of trees. Lions, spotted hyenas, wild dogs (which just reappeared in 2015) and leopards are the main predators in the areas. Leopards feel especially at home in this area because of the many large trees, in which this slightly elusive cat likes to hide. And don’t forget the Thornicroft’s giraffes and Cookson’s wildebeest, which are found only in this region.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Game drives are conducted at optimum viewing times when game activity is generally at its peak, i.e. early morning and late afternoon into evening. The morning safari departs at sunrise, and the evening drive leaves late enough in the afternoon for guests to enjoy a bush sunset and the opportunity to view nocturnal animals after dark.

We will be utilising a private 4x4 landcruiser and field guide, meaning we have complete control and maximum flexibility to get the best photographs possible. Our photographic group will comprise of 4 - 6 guests, to ensure extra space and comfort whilst on game drive. A smaller group also means that more attentive and focused photographic guidance and tuition is possible. This includes in-the-field guidance and support, making sure you not only don’t miss a beat, but also discover new creative skills and techniques to elevate your photography.

Back at the lodge between drives is the perfect time and location to look at photo cataloging and processing. Open up your laptop and we can look for ways to further improve and streamline your editing skills in Adobe Lightroom and Photoshop... or alternatively we can go over photography basics such as creative composition, the exposure triangle and freezing the action depending on your needs and wants. Your game drives will be conducted by one of the local field guides with plenty of experience and knowledge of the flora and fauna of the area. They will be the one sharing animal information to help build your knowledge and appreciation of everything you come across. This, plus photographic guidance, means you get the best of both worlds for an unparalleled photographic safari experience in one of South Africa’s best game reserves.

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Behind the banner of RAW Photographic is Samuel Cox, a professional wildlife photographer who spent many years in the field living in South Africa and teaching wildlife and conservation photography to international guests, volunteers and interns alike.

This gave him not only unparalleled access to the wildlife on his doorstep, but more importantly - the skills and years of experiences in teaching the specifics of ethical wildlife photography. This wealth of diverse, yet powerfully coupled traits, makes Sam unique amongst the crowd.

With RAW photographic safaris, Sam insist on delivering nothing but the best experience possible for his guests. Not only does he want to ensure a fun, educational and meaningful experience - it’s also important that we do so in a way that’s driven by authenticity and ethics.

A lot of research and effort goes into designing and building the products on offer and Sam only partners with those who mirror his ambitions in delivering great experiences whilst also remaining respectful to the land, wildlife and cultures we’re visiting.

For more about Sam and his photography, check out his website and socials via the icons below

ACCOMMODATION

Newly renovated with no aspect left unattended, this South Luangwa safari lodge blends style and comfort seamlessly with nature. Recently updated, Puku Ridge is wilderness, refined – from the elegant architectural lines to the thoughtfully outfitted game viewing vehicles and the perfectly-positioned photographic hide in front of the camp’s private watering hole.

Located well inside the incredible South Luangwa National Park with an outlook onto a private floodplain and watering hole, this remote and elevated landscape is enriched by the rolling gait of giraffe, the heart-shaped nose of the puku, and the midnight whoop of the hyena.

Each of Puku Ridge’s 8 luxury safari tents are set on an elevated ridge overlooking plain and woodlands, full of wildlife.

A super-king or large twin bed configuration for the ultimate sleep with air conditioning (which is a rare and welcome luxury in the Luangwa valley) and overhead fans, all within a stylish take on the mosquito net. Ensuite facilities include an private wc and indoor shower plus “his & hers” washbasins and huge bathtub with view. A multi-level veranda with plunge pool overlooking the plains and wildlife, plus a tower with star bed perfect for nights under the vast African sky. Inside the luxury tents you’ll of course find a minibar with tea + coffee station, complimentary wifi, 24/7 220v power, and international charging facilities.

The main area of Puku Ridge offers indoor and open-air lounge with various dining options, as well as a campfire and viewing hide overlooking the waterhole.

ITINERARY

DAY 1

The safari starts in Lusaka where you will be met at arrivals area and be taken to a local hotel for the night. This will be the place where you will meet Sam and get to know everybody in your small group. Take the time to relax after your long flight and enjoy a dinner with new friends before getting a good night sleep.
* Breakfast is included - but drinks, lunch and dinner is not included in the price.

DAY 2

After a relaxed start to the day and and a hearty breakfast, we will then start the journey to South Luangwa. We will head to the airport and catch a short 45min domestic flight to Meuse, and from there will be picked up and taken to the National Park itself. The drive is approximately 2 hours and upon arrival you’ll be welcomed and have time to settle into the lodge before regrouping for lunch and our first afternoon safari. The game drive will see us exploring and being introduced to the game reserve, and after a quick drink stop, will take us into the early evening where we’ll lookfor active predators and nocturnal wildlife. We’ll get back to camp around 19:00 to enjoy drinks before dinner shared with quality conversation.

DAY 3 - 9

Game drives start early in Africa. We’ll head out around sunrise to take advantage of first light and the ensuing morning golden hour. Our focus will be on finding the best photographic subjects and wildlife experiences we can get; from looking for the large herds of elephants, occasional birding and of course, keeping on the lookout for predators. Having a private vehicle means the world is our oyster and we’ll decide as a groupwhat’s the best focus for each game drive.

We’ll get back to camp in the mid to late morning for a delicious breakfast and some time to relax. This is also the perfect time to work with Sam on your photography and editing skills. Alternatively, the rooms are luxurious and cool, the pool is inviting, there’s a bar for drinksand don’t forget about lunch in the early afternoon - there’s certainly alot of food involved! Our second daily game drive will see us following up any sightings or information from previous drives - making sure that we stop at sunsets for the iconic sundowners experience. Dinner will follow as usual later in the evening upon return back to the lodge.

DAY 10

We’ll head out for our final game drive and have a short breakfast stop along the way before heading back to the lodge to pack up and check out. We aim to head out at about 9:30am so as to arrive back to Mfuwe airport in time to catch the noon flight, so it’s a good idea to pack the night before to save time and further enjoy your final hours at the lodge. After arriving back at Lusaka, we’ll say our goodbyes.