South Luangwa National Park
INTRODUCTION
The South Luangwa national park* is east of Zambia. It is southernmost of the three national parks* of the valley Luangwa River and is a truth small paradise for fauna.
PRESENTATION OF THE PARK
The experts baptized the South Luangwa park like one of the largest sanctuaries of fauna in the world, And not without reason. The concentration of animals around the Luangwa river and these lagoons are among most intense in Africa.
The Luangwa river is the most intact system river of Africa. It is the blood of the life of the park which extends on a surface from 9 050 km². Founded as a reserve animal in 1938, it became a national park in 1972. The park extends in fact on two écorégions both made up of wooded savannas which are distinguished thanks to the dominant trees. The south of Miombo is covered with forests wooded which cover the highest slopes of the valley. The tree dominating is the mopane which tolerates high temperatures as well as the abrupt changes of temperatures of the night.
In these timbered savannas, one finds great zones of pasture which accommodate in profusion zebras* and giraffes.
Although the park is generally well protected from the poaching, the black rhinoceros*, to date, always is unfortunately threatened of extinction.
FAUNA OF THE PARK
The national park of the south Luangwa has a great varity of wild animals of which most famous are the elephant (that one can observe by herds going to 70 specimens), the zebra*, the giraffe, the hippopotamus or the buffalo.
Hippopotamus :
The hippopotamus is an animal which one cannot miss in the park. When the large bridge is crossed, there are generally approximately 30 specimens which are stretched out in the river downstream. The dambos and the lagoons are also their places of predilection. One estimates the population of hippos in the park at least 50 individuals per kilometer in the Luangwa river.
Zebra :
The zebra* belongs to these animals in the park which one cannot miss. One frequently meets it by small groups of a dozen individuals. The notable difference between the zebra* of Zambia and that of the east and the south of Africa they is the stripes of are body. Here, they are regularly spaced in opposition to broad band of light, with a pale band shades between the two.
Antelopes :
The park has 14 species different of antelopes whose majority can be easily observed. Largest among it is the Common Eland which one finds mainly near the sector of Nsefu. The antelope most common of the park is the impala. These are gregarious animals that one can see in herd through all the park. Most beautiful of the antelopes present in the park without any doubt the Kudu with its horns in spirals is.
Primates :
Among the primates, the baboon and the vervet monkey are prolific.
Hyena :
The hyena is rather common in all the valley and their plaintive cries, so characteristic of the African bush can be heard most nights.
Other carnivores :
Although the leopard* is in good number, it is more difficult to observe because it is rather careful. The lions* are them also very abundant in the park of Luangwa like everywhere else in Africa. The caracal*, the African wild dog* the serval or the striped jackal are also carnivores living within the boundary of park.
BIRDLIVE OF THE PARK
The avifauna of the park is superb in the valley. At the end of the dry season, when the river and the lagoons start to be withdrawn, of the hundreds of water birds can be observed wading in not very deep water. With vec approximately 400 species of birds, including 39 birds of prey* and 47 migrating species, the amateur photographer has what to be filled with wonder and fill his album whatever the season.
The birds which one can observed are generally the yellow billed storks, the pelicans, the saddle bill stork, the marabou stork, the black headed herons, the goliath heron which can be held in the same position during hours. Among most beautiful one finds the elegant crowned cranes, with their gold tuft which gather in large bands in the salt pans.
Around the same time, just before the rain season in November does not settle, migrating Europe and themigrating ones of Africa are able to exploit the resources of food which the hot rain season bring. It is in particular the white storks, the European swallows, of the Swifts, the hobbies, or of the bee-eaters. The birds of prey* are also of the part, such as the Steppe eagles and the Steppe buzzards which in particular make the voyage from Russia.
CONSERVATION
The South Luangwa Conservation Society is a non-profit community based organization. We are committed to the conservation of the local wildlife and natural resources of the National Park and surrounding Game Management Areas. The following are some of the projects they carry out ,:
Assisting the Community Resources Board with natural resources protection through the forest guards
Upliftment of local communities by alternative income generating projects such as chili farming.
Promoting the South Luangwa Anti-Snaring Campaign in local villages and schools.
Education of local children to appreciate their heritage and work towards sustainable wildlife utilization and a balanced coexistence.
Sponsoring and co-ordinating village scout training programs.
Anti poaching patrols and snare removal programs within the park and game management areas.
Management and sponsoring of Uyoba Community School.
Habitat and wildlife data collection through monitoring by village scouts.
EXTERNAL LINKS
