Description
Liuwa Plains – 12 Days
Zambia
After arrival at Livingstone you will start your adventure with a private tour of the magnificent Victoria Falls rain forest. Spend time viewing the Victoria Falls from many different vantage points. If you have bought a KAZA visa you can also walk out onto the famous bridge and view the Falls from there. A relaxing sunset cruise on the Zambezi River is not to be missed out on. The river boat Lady Livingstone is the epitome of luxury on the river cruise with complimentary drinks and great game viewing as the sun sets.
The following day will we will depart Livingstone for a stop at the stunning Ngonye Falls. A swim in one of the pools to cool off from the days driving is well worth it.
We head to our campsite for a relaxed afternoon on the banks of the river, while the evening brings a hearty dinner and star-studded skies. The following day we will enter the Liuwa Plains reserve, truly spectacular because it is so remote and wild. We will spend the next few days exploring this special place and getting to know its bird and animal life. The park is home to mammals such as buffalo, lion, cheetah, wildebeest and hyena, while it also shelters myriad bird species.
Liuwa Plains has a small population of Lions but the Hyena population is large and interactions between these predators is always fascinating to watch. We will traverse as much of this park as possible scouting the wide open savanna regions for Cheetah.
After our time in beautiful Liuwa Plains we return to Maramba River Lodge in Livingstone for a last experience of the majestic Victoria Falls.
Read our Country Information for travel advice to Zambia. Please read our Safari Questions and the 4X4 Safari Terms and Conditions.
If you are interested in exploring Namibia then have a look at our Guided Tour over 14 days. Prefer a self drive safari? Explore our Kafue 4X4 Expedition.
If you are looking for an adventure into Kafue National Park then explore our ten day and fourteen day Kafue safari’s.
Read more about Liuwa Plains under the African Parks network.
Getting There
Fly In
You can fly directly into Livingstone with either Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways or South African Airways.
On arrival, a driver/guide will be waiting for you in arrivals, he will have a small board bearing your name.
Contact Us for travel advice.
Full Itinerary
Day 1 – Livingstone
Arriving at Livingstone International Airport you will be met by Charles who will drive you the short distance to Maramba River Lodge. Pierre will meet you and discuss the plans for the remainder of the day. Check in, get comfortable and spend some time exploring. At 15h00 we will meet in reception and board our bus for the brief trip to the Zambezi Waterfront where we will board Lady Livingstone for our 2-hour sunset cruise. Bring binoculars and a warm jacket.
On our return we will have dinner together around the pool to discuss the plans for the following day. (D)
Day 2 – Kabula Lodge
We will have relaxed start to this first day of our expedition. We will check out of the lodge, pack the vehicles and depart Livingstone. Travelling West through the rolling foothills we will pass Kazungula, the border crossing into Botswana. With just over 300 km’s to cover today we will have plenty of time to visit the Ngonye Waterfalls. These falls were first discovered by David Livingstone before he found the mighty Victoria Falls and are quite spectacular.
Arriving at our campsite in the late afternoon we will relax on the banks of the river with a cold gin and tonic while our tents are set-up and our chef prepares our dinner. (BLD)
Day 3 & 4 – Kwale Camp
With an early start to the day, after breakfast we will drive to Mongu where we will fuel up all the vehicles and purchase groceries for the remainder of the expedition. Departing Mongu will see us using the new bridge over the Luambimbo River. Heading North towards Kalabo where we will enter Liuwa Plains National Park. Kwale is set on the southern edge of the park in an area with frequent buffalo sightings all year round. One can find large numbers of animals close to this campsite making for an authentic bush experience. (BLD)
Day 5 & 6 – Lyangu Camp
Lyangu is situated with access to the Western area of the park and is a relatively short drive from the park boundary. Located just on the edge of a large plain, it is possible to view hyena, lechwe, and wildebeest, depending on the season. We will spend two days in this campsite exploring the area, birdwatching and enjoying the diversity of the mammals Liuwa has to offer. (BLD)
Day 7 & 8 – Katoyana Camp
Tucked into the edge of the Katoyana woodland on the expansive Nundu grass plain, this campsite is near to numerous permanent pans with a rich birdlife. Being located further north gives us the opportunity to seek out wildebeest herds and when they start coming back from the north, the plains near Katoyana hold large groups with their new born calves. The campsite also offers good access to the areas in which Liuwa’s lion pride prefers to hunt, and hyena clans are also often sighted nearby. (BLD)
Day 9 to 11 – Sikale Camp
All the way up North is the beautiful Sikale campground, the quietest and most remote site in the park. It’s located further away from the boundary than the other campsites and is ideal for a real African bush adventure. The fact that you can be close to herds of thousands of zabra and wildebeest in the dry season makes up for the absence of running water and flushing toilets. We will spend three days camping at Sikale, doing game drives, night drives and relaxing in the African bush.(BLD)
Day 12 – Kwale Camp
After a delicious breakfast we will break camp and begin our journey Southwards – back to Kwale campsite again. En route we will be looking out for cheetah whose numbers are growing in the park since they were reintroduced. The lion population has also seen a very healthy rise in numbers – by now we will have ticked them off our list. Arriving at Kwale late afternoon we can rest while the team sets up your tents and our chef prepares dinner for us. (BLD)
Day 13 – Victoria Falls
With an early breakfast we will begin our return journey to Livingstone. This will have been a real African bush camping experience! Lots of birding, good mammal sightings and some excellent fireside cuisine will bring you fond memories for many years to come.
Arriving back in Livingstone in the later afternoon we will check in to our chalets at Maramba River Lodge and relax on the deck for a beer before enjoying our last dinner together. (BLD)
