The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the Zambezi river. It arises in the hills of the north east part of Zambia, on the border with Malawi, and flows in south westerly direction for about 500kms through a broad, low lying valley, before entering hills and joining the Zambezi. The valley is a southern extension of the Great Rift Valley.

The Luangwa Valley contains the North and South Luangwa National Parks of Zambia, which are some of the finest in Africa. The river itself is home to large populations of hippopotamuses and crocodiles.

The river generally floods in the rainy season (December through March) and then falls considerably in the dry season, even completely drying out in its upper reaches.