- Zambia
- 3,660 km² (366,000 hectares)
- 1972 (protected by the Lozi King since the 19th century)
- Western Province
- Second-largest wildebeest migration in Africa; world-renowned for spotted hyena sightings.
- High risk; prophylaxis is recommended.
- ~14°32′S 22°33′E
- Unfenced; an open system allowing cross-border movement with Angola.
- Endless, treeless grass plains dotted with small "islands" of raffia palms and woodland.
- November–December for the wildebeest migration and dramatic storms; May–June for wildflowers and easy navigation.
Liuwa Plain is one of Africa’s last truly wild frontiers. It is managed by African Parks in a unique partnership with the Barotse Royal Establishment. This is not a "Big Five" destination; instead, it offers a hauntingly beautiful landscape of vast horizons and the spectacle of thousands of blue wildebeest moving across the plains.
- Access is via the town of Kalabo.
- Most guests fly directly from Lusaka or Livingstone to the park's internal airstrip.
- Proflight flies to Kalabo, followed by a lodge transfer (including a pontoon crossing of the Luanginga River).
- Extremely remote; requires a serious 4x4 expedition. It involves deep sand and river crossings. Approximately 10–12 hours from Lusaka.
- Unmarked sandy tracks; a local guide or GPS is essential for self-drivers.
- Over 30,000 blue wildebeest arrive from Angola as the rains start in November.
- The apex predator here. They live in massive clans and are much more visible and active during the day than in other parks.
- The park was famous for a solitary lioness who lived alone for years; today, a growing lion population has been successfully reintroduced.
- A haven for rare species like the Wattled Crane, Slaty Egret, and massive flocks of Black-winged Pratincoles.
Incredible photography with dark skies and green grass.
Lush plains and wildflowers; good visibility as the water recedes.
Most areas are underwater and inaccessible; most tourism ceases.
- Liuwa is the ultimate destination for self-sufficient 4x4 enthusiasts and mobile camping.
- High-end lodges (like King Lewanika) offer total exclusivity in one of the most remote corners of the planet.
- Both parks are top-tier destinations for specialist birding, particularly during the onset of the rains.
Kafue offers —it is for those who want to see everything from lions to cheetahs without the crowds. Liuwa Plain offers —it is for the traveler who has seen it all and wants to witness one of nature's greatest migrations in total solitude.