Lukusuzi National Park
Encyclopedia
Lukusuzi National Park is located in eastern Luangwa Valley in Zambia
, on the other side of the Luangwa River
from the more famous South Luangwa National Park
. It lies between the smaller Luambe National Park
(on the eastern bank of the river) and the Chipata
-Lundazi
road. Much of the park is plateau dissected by rocky ridges and rugged valleys. The main ecoregion in which the park lies is the Southern Miombo woodlands characterised by the Miombo
trees insterspersed with
grassland. At lower elevations, such as at the bottom of the Luangwa valley, Miombo give way to Mopane
trees.
The park is home to a sizable population of African Wild Dog
s, an endangered species.
A dirt road runs east-west through the park but there are no visitor facilities.
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
, on the other side of the Luangwa River
Luangwa River
The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the Zambezi River, and one of the four biggest rivers of Zambia. The river generally floods in the rainy season and then falls considerably in the dry season...
from the more famous South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park
South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, the southernmost of three national parks in the valley of the Luangwa River, is a world-renowned wildlife haven. It supports large populations of Thornicroft's Giraffe, and herds of elephant and buffalo often several hundred strong, while the Luangwa...
. It lies between the smaller Luambe National Park
Luambe National Park
Luambe National Park is located in the Eastern Province of Zambia. The park is situated north-east of the famous South Luangwa National Park, and south of the inaccessible North Luangwa National Park. Like its neighbours, it is located in the Luangwa River rift valley.The small park lies on the...
(on the eastern bank of the river) and the Chipata
Chipata
Chipata, population 98,416, is the capital of the Eastern Province of Zambia. The two languages spoken are Nyanja and English, though you might find some Indian languages, as there is a large number of Zambian Indians located in the town...
-Lundazi
Lundazi
Lundazi is a town in eastern Zambia, lying near the border with Malawi, around 110 miles from Chipata. It is home to an airstrip, schools and a hotel in the form of a Norman castle. The building of the castle was begun in 1948 by an Englishman called Errol Buton, who reputedly sketched out its...
road. Much of the park is plateau dissected by rocky ridges and rugged valleys. The main ecoregion in which the park lies is the Southern Miombo woodlands characterised by the Miombo
Miombo
Miombo is the Swahili word for Brachystegia, a genus of tree comprising a large number of species. Miombo woodland is classified in the tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands biome...
trees insterspersed with
grassland. At lower elevations, such as at the bottom of the Luangwa valley, Miombo give way to Mopane
Mopane
The mopane or mopani tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum...
trees.
The park is home to a sizable population of African Wild Dog
African Wild Dog
Lycaon pictus is a large canid found only in Africa, especially in savannas and lightly wooded areas. It is variously called the African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf...
s, an endangered species.
A dirt road runs east-west through the park but there are no visitor facilities.