The South Luangwa National Park is located in eastern Zambia. Located in the Luangwa Valley, it covers 9,050 square kilometers of huge grass plains and woodlands. Between January and February, the Luangwa River floods and turns the area into a rich, productive, beautiful ecosystem. The park is open throughout the year, and most of the 14 lodges and camps are privately run by safari organizations. Visitors using the services of these organizations fly into Lusaka Airport, from where they take a flight to the Mfuwe airfield, on the outskirts of the park. Only 4X4 vehicles are recommended for travelling the network of game viewing roads. Malaria and the tsetse fly pose hazards to visitors. However, in return for the potential hardships, visitors get to see animals like the rare black rhino, elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion, leopard, spotted hyena, roan antelope, hartebeest, and other antelopes and a rich variety of birds. In recent times, the black rhino and elephant populations have been devastated by poachers.