Mid-Oct to Mid-July
To the west of Zambia lies its greatest secret; a showcase of transformation and regeneration - Liuwa Plain National Park, more colloqually called Liuwa Plains. This park is about as remote as a safari can get. And yet in its prime season, which differs from the rest of Zambia, it
First protected in the 1880s by King Lewanika of the Lozi people, the Liuwa Plains was one of the earliest game reserves in Africa. The plains are unspoilt and exclusive with rare game and a rich natural history.
African Parks is a conservation non-profit that manages Liuwa Plains. In 2008, African Parks began a series of lion reintroductions to reunite the last lioness, Lady Liuwa, with her own kind, and thus new life began as she slowly joined a pride that grew to 10 lions. Over a similar period, eland and buffalo were reintroduced to the park and the plains game began to increase, providing a healthy prey base for the lions, as well as for cheetahs and hyaena.
Liuwa Plain is an area rich with stories - one of our favourites is the legend of Mambeti and Lady Liuwa. Mambeti of the Lozi tribe, lived, died and was buried nearby to camp, legend has it she was reincarnated into Lady Liuwa, the lioness and matriarch of Liuwa's lion pride. Local people believe that this explains why the lioness is receptive to people and spends so much time in the same woodlands area frequented by the elderly lady in her twilight years.
Liuwa Plain is a 1½ hour flight from Livingstone or 2½ hour flight from Lusaka to Kalabo just outside the park. Then it is 2½ hours drive to the lodge, or a 15 min helicopter flip.
The only lodge, King Lewanika, is open from 15 October to 15 July.