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Liuwa Plains National Park

The Original Safari Destination

Liuwa Plains National Park

Liuwa Plains National Park is one of the earliest protected areas in Africa. First protected in the early 1880s by the king of the Lozi people, King Lewanika. The king appointed his people to be the custodians of the park and its wildlife. Liuwa Plains Nationa Park is now managed by conservation organisation African Parks.
 
With an estimated 10,000 people living within the park, Liuwa Plains is a prime example of how people and wildlife can co-exist and benefit in the shared landscape. The plains are unspoiled and exclusive with rare game and a rich natural heritage. Each year Liuwa Plains hosts one of the most glorious spectacles on the planet. The second largest wildebeest migration on the continent comes through the plains. Liuwa was also home to “Lady Liuwa” – the famous lioness who was the sole surviving lion after all the lions had been poached. Today, as a result of the lion reintroduction efforts by The African Parks Organisation, Lady Liuwa has left behind a small but growing pride of lions after her passing in 2017. In addition to the wildebeest migration, Liuwa Plains National Park’s stunning diversity of wildlife, including cheetahs, hyenas, lions, eland, tsessebe and an incredible array of birds including the wattled crane.
 
Visitors to Liuwa Plains should not miss the historic and epic Kuomboka festival. This takes place between January to April. During this time when the plains are flooded, the King and his procession move to higher grounds by boat along the river.

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Remote & Wild

Liuwa Plains National Park, located on the Western side of Zambia is a remote, pristine wilderness. With only a couple of safari outfitters in the park, it remains exclusive and untouched. Professionally managed, the plains are unspoiled and exclusive with rare game and a rich natural heritage.
Liuwa Plains
Wildebeest Migration in Liuwa Plains

Wildebeest Migration

Liuwa’s wildebeest migration is the second largest on the continent. As the Blue Wildebeest come into Liuwa in their thousands they are closely followed by the predators. During the months of November and December the wildebeest start giving birth, making for an extremely dramatic time with plenty of predator action to witness.

Wildlife & Birdlife

Through sound management, Liuwa has a stunning diversity of wildlife, including a high population of the carnivores, such as cheetah, hyena and lion. The park is home to a vast number of eland, tsessebe and an incredible array of birds including the wattled crane.
Cheetah
Water Based Safaris in Liuwa Plains

Water based Safaris

During the flooding of the plains boat rides and canoe safaris are a great way to experience this stunning park and its wildlife and birdlife.

Best time to visit

January – April the area is flooded and the wildebeest are in their migration / calving season.

Short dry season (May – July)Park is dry and accessible. As the water recedes, a variety of birds feast on fish in shallow dams and streams dry up. Large flocks of cranes are abundant inside the park, making this the best time for bird photography. Any lechwe that are still inside the park start to go down to the wetlands. Large herds of wildebeests congregate outside the park in the Luola to Mushukula areas.

Long wet season (January – April)
During this time, the plain is flooded, forcing most people to move to higher land and the famous Kuomboka ceremony takes place.
Wildebeest and zebra start leaving the park along the Luanginga river to the west and lechwe enter the park from the Luanginga river wetlands.

Long dry season (August – October)
First rains typically start mid or late October, depending on the conditions of that particular year. Birdlife is still abundant, congregating at the large fishing pools dotted around the plains of Liuwa. A large number of wildebeest return to the park through the northern corridor, while a concentration of the wildlife population is restricted to the north.

Short wet season (November – December)
Start of the rainy season. The spectacular wildebeest movement occurs. Wildebeest start having calves and accompany large herds inside the park. The best predator action occurs during this time as hyenas prey on young wildebeest calves and vultures rush to the leftover carcasses.

Best time to Visit Liuwa Plains National Park

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