It is one of the biggest unaltered rivers in Southern Africa and the 52,000 square kilometres (20,000 sq mi) that make up the surrounding valley are home to abundant wildlife.

The Luangwa rises in the Lilonda and Mafinga Hills in north-east Zambia at an elevation of around 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), near the border with Tanzania and Malawi, and flows in a southwesterly direction through a broad valley.

[3][citation needed] In addition to being a source of water, the oxbow lakes and pools increase the biodiversity of the valley in other ways.

[4][citation needed] In the dry season, the grazing land animals and their predators congregate near the river and pools, and are easily seen.

The principal settlement in the Middle and Upper Luangwa Valley is Mfuwe which serves the tourism industry and has an international airport.

About 700 kilometres (430 mi) from its source the Luangwa merges with its tributary, the Lukusashi, after the latter has merged with the Lunsemfwa River coming from the opposite direction, and turns due south through a steep narrow valley: this is its exit from the Luangwa Rift Valley.

[9][citation needed] Several geological events combined to produce the current river systems.

[10][citation needed] The Luangwa Rift Valley and rivers within it form a natural barrier, with a very low population density.