Overview–zambia

Liuwa Plain National Park

Liuwa Plain National Park is one of a kind. Sandy tracks run through flat grassy floodplains, creating endless vistas in every direction. Small depressions fill up with the first rains of the season to set in motion Africa’s second-biggest wildebeest migration. Up to 35,000 wildebeest, accompanied by thousands of plains zebras, gather here – a spectacle to be witnessed by just a few lucky visitors.

Best Time to Visit

Liuwa Plain National Park offers very seasonal wildlife viewing. The pattern here is different to most other Zambian parks and reserves. Animals migrate to the plains to stay during the Wet season (from November to April) and into May. The best time to visit is after the first rain in November. December is also good, but as the Wet season progresses, game-drive tracks deteriorate. Another good time to visit is in May/June, just before the animals retreat. Time + Tide King Lewanika, the only luxury lodge in the park, operates from mid-October to mid-July.

May to October –Dry Season

The plain dries up and driving conditions are good
Sunny days with little rainfall
There is still resident wildlife around, especially in May, June and October
Malaria risk is less and there are fewer insects around
Wildlife viewing is better in the Wet season
The sky is very hazy and the grassland looks parched
October is very hot

November to April –Wet Season

Animals migrate to the plain for the Wet season – the best time for wildlife viewing
November is the best compromise between driving conditions and wildlife viewing
Scenery is green and fresh with lots of wildflowers
The best time for birding as migrants are present
Many newborn animals are around as this is the calving season
The plains are inaccessible for game drives from January to April/May and self-drive visitors can’t enter the park
Conditions are hot and humid
Malaria is a bigger concern than in the Dry season

Scenery

Liuwa Plain has a very different environment to other Zambian parks. Golden grasses are replaced by carpets of wildflowers before the rains change the expansive landscape to a watery wonderland. Dramatic skies touch the horizon in the far distance. Small pockets of woodlands and the odd solitary palm tree form the only landmarks in an otherwise remarkably flat vista.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

May

Jun

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Oct

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: November (Animals gather on the plain)

High Season

From: Never (The park is rarely visited)

Size

From: 3,660km² / 1,413mi²

Wildlife & Animals

While the variety of wildlife in Liuwa Plain National Park isn’t huge, the sheer number of grazers in the Wet season is phenomenal. The most numerous is the blue wildebeest. This is a great place to watch males, often referred to as ‘clowns of the savannah’, performing their acrobatic antics. Smaller herds of zebras and red lechwe are never far off.

Wildlife Highlights

With the herbivores come the predators. The story of Lady Liuwa, the famous lioness featured in a 2010 National Geographic documentary, adds drama to the excellent lion sightings here. You’ll probably see monogamous pairs of side-striped jackals trotting around, and wild dogs were reintroduced in 2021. With luck, you might spot a cheetah too. Most fearsome on the plains, however, are clans of spotted hyenas, which prove to be fantastic hunters here.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Wildlife viewing in Liuwa Plain is very seasonal; big herds of grazers arrive after the first rain. For self-drive visitors, November is the best month to visit, as the access roads become impassable later on. Time + Tide King Lewanika (the only luxury lodge accommodation in the park) is open from mid-October to mid-July, but game-drive tracks tend to be impassable from January to April/May.

General Wheather

Liuwa Plain National Park is dominated by its Wet and Dry season and hot climate. Despite there being a notable increase in temperature in October, before the rains, average temperatures do not vary much throughout the year. However, it gets quite chilly at night from May to August.

Dry Season –May to October

There is little rainfall in the Dry season. The days are warm but nights are cold. Warm clothing is essential for chilly, early morning game drives. The plains dry up during the season and a lot of animals move away.

May – This is the beginning of the Dry season, and rain showers are few and far between. All of the pans on the plain are full, and there are big herds of wildebeest and zebra around. Wildlife viewing is excellent.
June & July – The end of the rains and the plain is drying out. Animals are moving away. With daytime temperatures hovering around 26°C/79°F, these are the coolest months. Cold nights are good for sleeping with average temperatures of around 9°C/48°F.
August & September – No rain in these months and it’s warming up. September has an average daytime temperature of 31°C/88°F. Mornings are milder at 17°C/63°F on average.
October – Temperatures keep climbing to average 34°C/93°F. It can peak far higher, with the heat becoming oppressive in the middle of the day. Mornings are much better with temperatures around 18°C/64°F. The first rain usually falls this month, which sees temperatures drop.

Wet Season –November to April

This season is both hot and wet. Showers are the norm and thunderstorms are often spectacular. November is the best wildlife-viewing month – this continues into December, but then the park becomes quite inaccessible for game drives.

November – The rains usually begin in late October or November. By this time the plains are extremely dry, so rainfall is a relief. It is still very hot. The average daytime temperature is 31°C/88°F. Rain mostly falls as afternoon thunderstorms.
December – Rain increases and so do the herds of grazers. The plains become wetter and wetter, and driving becomes a challenge. Daytime temperatures average 31°C/88°F, while nights and early mornings are around 17°C/63°F.
January, February & March – The wettest months bring rain most days. The park is inaccessible.
April – It rains less but roads are still in bad condition. There is, however, a lot of wildlife around.

Prons

Home to migration of wildebeest, zebras, and other grazers
Good park management under African Parks
Remote, little-visited park
The park has only one luxury camp, but it is excellent
Game drives, walking, and canoe safaris offered

Cons

Limited variety in wildlife
Very seasonal park
Strong 4x4 with high clearance needed for sandy tracks
Accommodation options are limited

How To Get There

Liuwa Plain National Park is located 750km/466mi from the capital, Lusaka.

Self-drive to the park is usually only possible from June to mid-December (check the condition on the ground before heading out). Even then, you’ll need a strong 4x4 with high clearance to navigate the sandy tracks. You will need to cross the Zambezi River by pontoon.
International visitors arriving in Zambia usually fly into Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), located 14km/9mi from Lusaka. If you are also visiting Victoria Falls, you could fly into Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI).

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

Visitors staying at Time + Tide King Lewanika, the only luxury lodge in the park, usually fly in. The easiest option is a charter flight to the airstrip near the lodge. Alternatively, you can fly to Kalabo outside the park and the lodge will transfer you from there by road (2 hours) or by fixed-wing aircraft (15 minutes).

Proflight offers domestic, scheduled flights to Kalabo Airport (KLB) in Kalabo, the gateway and closest airport to Liuwa Plain National Park.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Please check our Getting There – Zambia page to learn more about passports, visas, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.