Another one of Africa's prime wildlife sanctuaries, the Luangwa Valley lies at the tail end of the Great Rift Valley, the continental fault that runs through the Red Sea and south down the length of East Africa.

This tectonic movement was responsible for the formation of lakes such as Tanganika and Lake Albert, the Rift Valley split as it reached Zambia, one arm forming Lake Malawi and the other becoming the Luangwa Valley which is 700km long and an average of 100km wide.

In the west of the valley, the Muchinga Mountain Range forms the natural boundary of the Park. The Luangwa River meanders down the centre of the Valley, forming oxbow lakes along its course. Thick, lush vegetation characterizes this area.