Zambia info request: Lower Zambezi and South Luangwe NP

[stephanie...@gmail.com]

Hello T4A community!

We are plannig our road trip in Zambia, and will be in Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa early to mid November 2024.

I am looking for information about the following:

•  We would like to exit Lower Zambezi via the Makumba Gate in the North of the park and then continue to Petauke on our way to South Luangwa. 
  

Any feedback on the status of the road between the Zambezi River up to the T4 junction?

• From South Lunagwa, we'll b on out way to Bangweulu and would like to exit the park via the Chifungwe Gate and then reach the T2. We are planning to overnight at the Munyamadzi Community Campsite. 
  

Any feedback on that road between Mfuwe and the T2?

Thanks a lot!

Stephanie

[Lizette Swart]

Hallo Stephanie,

From Mukamba gate to the T4 is a fair gravel road, though it may be a bit exciting (muddy) when it has rained. 

Wrt to the 05 road between Mfuwe and the T2 -  Zambia's rains usually arrive in November (sometimes sooner, sometimes later), and there is a river crossing that may not be passable. But it all depends on the rains - mid-November it may still be passable, you will only know once you are there. You will definitely require 4x4 to do this track.

Regards/Groete

Lizette

Lizette Swart

liz...@tracks4africa.co.za

+27 (0)21 880 8660

--
--
To STOP getting T4A Mail, make sure that you are sending mail from the SAME ADDRESS that you used when you joined the T4A list and then click on this link:
mailto:tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com
If that does NOT work, then please try mailto:mode...@tracks4africa.co.za

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tracks4Africa" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com.
To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/20be09cc-6e38-4722-9314-f99cc71d985cn%40googlegroups.com.

[Johann Groenewald]

The track in Lower Zam to T4 goes up the escarpment, expect washouts and potentially low range work to get up. It depends on rain and if raining while you are there, then be very careful. We came down this track a few years ago and it was not too bad, but I am not expecting road maintenance to be up to date on this track.

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/CAPpYDkQYaBPuqQv-RTvqRQJjc1n_MVuR2ta8Jh%2BxMi0N5Y7L0w%40mail.gmail.com.

[Johann Groenewald]

Forgot to say, Route 05 in South Luangwa may be passable, but as Lizette suggested the river crossing at the park boundary is normally a problem.

Once you make it across the river there is a steel bridge on the next big river crossing (mutinondo I think) which is a lovely spot for a bush camp. The road from there north winds up the escarpment and it is a rocky low range business getting up it. Not too serious, but slow driving so allow time.

[Michael Edwards]

Hi Stephanie,

I’ll help as far as I can - we travelled in early July. Road conditions will change markedly by mid November.

Lower Zambezi national park is the most stunning place. We entered from Chamitondo gate in the east. We had friends who entered via Mukamba. Both roads were passable, rocky in places. We agreed the chamitondo route was maybe slightly more travelled, and possibly a shorter route to Bridge Camp/Petauke. From bridge camp to the river it took us 5 hours. If you are camping outside the park (mvuu?) then give yourself 10+ hours to reach the Luangwa bridge/bridge camp.

Chamitondo gate did have a ranger, we bought our park permit there - contrary to what we has heard, and the gate was kept locked. Our friends who travelled via Mukamba also purchased their permit at that gate, so it’s also staffed. This may just be a high-season thing, again might be very different in November.

On 11 Aug 2024, at 10:03, stephanie...@gmail.com <stephanie...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello T4A community!

[Lizette Swart]

Hi Michael,

Thank you for the update - I've seen mention of the gate in the east a few weeks ago but could not get confirmation, so you have just confirmed it for us, thank you!

If you perhaps have GPS coordinates for the gate, it would help to put it in the right place in our data.

Regards/Groete

Lizette

Lizette Swart

liz...@tracks4africa.co.za

+27 (0)21 880 8660

To view this discussion on the web, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/AC5327E9-F860-4498-9047-E78B10D0096A%40gmail.com.

[Stéphanie Périquet]

Thank you guys so much for all your super helpful answers!

Much appreciated.

 

Best regards,

Stephanie

[raffaelafoetschl]

Hi Michael,

thank you for providing details about your trip through Lower Zambezi. Can you confirm the road from Chamitondo gate is now better since obviously 2023 this road was described as tight, overgrown, and full of tsetse flies (refer to  Botswana Zambia feed back)? In the same chat ( Botswana Zambia feed back) msyeadon wrote that there is no gate and one cannot get a permit. Did it change from 2023 to 2024?

Furthermore, you recommended 10+ hours from bridge camp to mvuu camp when crossing Lower Zambezi - is T4A trip planner here too optimistic (it says 6,5h driving time)?

Thank you for your feedback and helping us planning our trip for next August!

Kind regards,

Raffaela

[A.M. Butzelaar]

Hi

All depends on the rains....

The rainy season has only just started in earnest.

So, any reasonable advice can only be given afterbthe rains have ended.

When are you planning on travelling?

Anne-Marie

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/ecf52a7b-c1ad-4720-ab4a-a0375d097569n%40googlegroups.com.

[raffaelafoetschl]

Hi Anne-Marie,

we plan do be there mid August 2026.

If anybody has news, I am happy to receive any info.

I think we will try the road anyways, so at least after my trip I'll be able to share information on road conditions ;-)

Best,

Raffaela

[A.M. Butzelaar]

August is normally fine

I will have more info by then :)

Anne-Marie

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/13fa87ae-6248-4e37-9782-b8de174384ebn%40googlegroups.com.

[Lizette Swart]

Good morning Raffaela,

I was in Lower Zambezi in October this year - the plan was to drive from Chongwe to Chamitonde and then up to Luangwa Bridge, so I enquired from travellers that travelled it in the opposite direction, about road conditions.

Their feedback was that they left Luangwa Bridge at 6am in order to reach Mvuu Campsite the same day (there is no camping inside the park). They were able to enter at Chamitonde, but they found nothing more than just a chain on two poles across the road, that indicated that they entered the park. There was no one on duty (I expect that with it being so seldom used, you would need to find the ranger at the nearby village, they don't man it all the time) and they continued on to Chongwe and paid their fees there.

The first two hours of travel east of Chamitonde Gate they said the road is overgrown, and they saw absolutely no wildlife. Then they started running into elephant herds, that were "not too pleased" to see them - often blocking the road and not moving away for them to pass, and challenging the vehicle. A few times there was a tree pushed over the road, which there was clearly a road around already, and once they had to winch a tree off the track in order to pass. 

As they approached the western side of the park, they saw more and more game, and the wildlife became more relaxed around the vehicles. Near Chongwe I myself found the elephant to just stand next to the side of the road while I drove by, almost underneath their tusks.

In August next year the road should be completely dry - still not an easy drive, as there are lots of corrugations and dongas (eroded ditches) that slows you down, but at least not much mud!

Unfortunately I could not make the drive through the park in the end, so I will admit to being a bit envious of your planned route - but enjoy!

Regards/Groete

Lizette

Lizette Swart

liz...@tracks4africa.co.za

+27 (0)21 880 8660

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/13fa87ae-6248-4e37-9782-b8de174384ebn%40googlegroups.com.

[Mike Lauterbach]

I'm busy sorting 3 x GPSmap 276C GPSrs for my SIL which were in storage
for a few years. 2 are in very good nick and one has a discoloured screen.

But their battery packs need to be repacked. It is a simple enough task,
but needs a spot welder for the terminal strips. Who can repack them for
me in Cape Town?

TIA
Mike

[Gordon Chunnett]

Batteries unlimited in Milnerton did mine a few years ago and got lots more Uumph out of them 

081 384 7340

Regards

oupa Gordon

--
--
To STOP getting T4A Mail, make sure that you are sending mail from the SAME ADDRESS that you used when you joined the T4A list and then click on this link:
mailto:tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com
If that does NOT work, then please try mailto:mode...@tracks4africa.co.za

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tracks4Africa" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/7c787fb0-80ca-4577-927b-ca83cf71a157%40gmail.com.

[kot...@iafrica.com]

Hi Mike.
https://www.batteriesunlimited.co.za/

The only place I know, they did mine many moons ago



Deon Kotze

--
--
To STOP getting T4A Mail, make sure that you are sending mail from the SAME ADDRESS that you used when you joined the T4A list and then click on this link:
mailto:tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com
If that does NOT work, then please try mailto:mode...@tracks4africa.co.za

---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Tracks4Africa" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to tracks4afric...@googlegroups.com.

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/7c787fb0-80ca-4577-927b-ca83cf71a157%40gmail.com.

[Mike Lauterbach]

Thanks guys

After your 2 recommendations I will contact them today

Cheers
Mike

[Zoltan Szecsei]

There is also IPP - Jane is really great!

https://www.ipp.org.za/contact-us/

Zoltan

--

=============================================
Zoltan Szecsei GPrGISc 0031
Director, Geograph (Pty) Ltd.
GIS and Photogrammetric Services

Cape Town, South Africa.

Mobile: +27-83-6004028 (Signal, not WhatsApp)
+36-20-3594428

www.geograph.co.za
=============================================

[Marc Hall]

I have 2 x battery sets for my 276c that a need repacking too.

Mike, please let me know once you have details.

Ta

Marc

> On 15 Dec 2025, at 1:53 PM, Mike Lauterbach <zs5...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Thanks guys

> To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/cb412575-3596-4c2f-bf1f-f37960d5c04e%40gmail.com.

[Mike Lauterbach]

Howzit Marc.

I've just dropped the old battery packs with Batteries Unlimited in
Milnerton. They will replace the batteries with higher capacity ones, at
a cost of R360 per pack. Will let you know how they turn out once I have
collected them.

Thanks for the recommendation of ipp.org.za, Zoltan.  I see they are
also in Milnerton.

Cheers
Mike

[Marc Hall]

Thanks Mike

I’m away already - back in Jan so will tackle it then. 

🙏🏼

Marc

On 15 Dec 2025, at 4:41 PM, Mike Lauterbach <zs5...@gmail.com> wrote:

Howzit Marc.

To view this discussion, visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/tracks4africa/fbf05d39-c7d2-4ffe-975c-f19492ca12da%40gmail.com.