Liuwa Plain Park

Liuwa Plain National Park is one of the most remote parks in Zambia and should not be attempted without a guide; this is Africa at its best, wild and untouched.

Located in the remote south west of Zambia, there is not much civilisation for quite a distance around Liuwa. There is an airstrip nearby and a base camp intended for field rangers and conservationists, but guest accommodation is largely left up to their own camping equipment.

Local safari operators have booked Liuwa Plain packages in the past, so it is best to contact Sun Safaris and find out what the details are at your intended time of travel.

Sun Safaris will incorporate Liuwa Plain into tailor-made safari packages that include other destinations in other parts of Zambia, or Botswana, Zimbabwe, or Namibia, so that guests experience the earthiness of Liuwa alongside the more luxurious lodge accommodation.

Liuwa Plain National Park does not have permanent accommodation facilities, and is generally looked at as an adventure holiday, whereby groups travelling together bring their own camping equipment and set off with a guide .

We encourage guests put aside 4 or 5 nights to explore this tract of Africa that is situated far away from civilisation and requires a little more effort than a regular safari. The reward can be life-changing.

There is a base camp in the centre of Liuwa Plain that is set up to house rangers and conservationists from African Parks, who spend time out exploring and researching the area.

Matamanene Camp is a very simple Meru-tent setup with primitive features, but it has been used as a base camp for guest safaris in the past. It is located about 2-3 hours' drive from the local airstrip.

How to Get There

Sun Safaris will arrange for their guests to fly into Zambia at Lusaka or Livingstone International Airports.

Upon arrival at the airport, guests will connect with their pre-arranged light air transfers to Liuwa Plain. Guests will arrive at the local airstrip and be met by their new hosts or guides who will drive them the remaining 2 hours to the lodge.

Self-driving in Zambia, and particularly to the remote Liuwa Plain, is not recommended, as the roads are not well developed, and during the wet season many roads are inaccessible.

Liuwa Plain Game Viewing and Activities

The game in Liuwa Plain National Park is spread out across the plains. Guests can expect to see thousands of blue wildebeest during the second largest migration of this kind in Africa. The birdlife is prolific and the park provides fantastic photographic opportunities, magnificent sunsets and contrasting landscapes with the green and gold grasslands offering spectacular scenes.

Liuwa is probably best known for its astounding pink and orange evenings that turn into deep purple night skies. The flat landscapes allow guests to see the curve of the earth on the horizon, making for unbeatable photo opportunities.

The start of the rainy season in November brings the massive herds of blue wildebeest migrating across the plains in their thousands, along with zebra congregating around water holes and pans. Other wildlife species include a variety of antelope, while jackal, serval, wildcat, wild dog, as well as lion and hyena predate in the area.