Liuwa Plain | Western Zambia

"Situated in Barotseland on the upper Zambezi flood plains, Liuwa covers an area of 3,660km2 of grassland and wooded ‘tree islands’. Known as an excellent year-round destination, a tour during November or December focuses on Liuwa's annual wildebeest migration, second largest in Africa."

Liuwa Plain Wildebeest Migration | Zambia

Tour highlights:

• Challenging and interesting route to reach Liuwa in western Zambia
• Great photographic opportunities, including Sioma Falls and the Zambezi River
• Spectacular grassland plains and 'tree islands' of Liuwa
• Opportunity to see blue wildebeest and zebra massing on the plain
• Opportunity to see a variety of predators including hyena, cheetah, wild dog and leopard
• Excellent bird-viewing, including many species of water birds

Our tour starts at a campsite near Katima in Namibia - join us here to meet the rest of the group, and for a pre-departure briefing. Next morning we leave camp early, crossing into Zambia and heading north-west to our overnight campsite on the Zambezi River near Sioma (Ngonye) Falls. We then follow the Zambezi River into the north-west, passing through Senanga and Mongu en route to Kalabo, our springboard to Liuwa Plain.

Situated in Barotseland on the upper Zambezi flood plains, Liuwa covers an area of 3,660km² of grassland and wooded islands. It is home to a great variety of animals, birds and plants. Our focus is on Liuwa's wildebeest migration, the second largest in Africa - annually during November and December, more than 30,000 wildebeest emerge from the surrounding woodland to mass out on the Plain.

Other game at this time includes zebra, tsessebe, eland, red lechwe, oribi and reedbuck. Predators include African wildcat, side-striped jackal, hyena, cheetah, wild dog and occasionally leopard, while lions have again been re-introduced. With over 300 bird species, Liuwa is certainly also a paradise for keen birdwatchers - keep a lookout for marabou- and saddle-billed storks, white pelicans, tawny-, fish- and martial eagles, and large populations of endangered species such as wattled- and crowned cranes.

This is a self-drive, self-catered, 'expedition-style' tour where a solid 4x4 vehicle with good ground clearance, transfer box and lockable differentials is required, and should be suitably equipped with essential extras such as long-range fuel and water tanks, strong recovery points, recovery gear, etc. This is a camping tour and, as with all our expeditions, it will appeal to adventurous and self-sufficient travellers who enjoy the journey as much as the destination - those who are not averse to "roughing it" if the situation arises.

Our well-situated and shady campsites in Liuwa have two cold water showers and 2 flush toilets with septic tanks. With a total of 5 nights in Liuwa, we usually spend time at two different campsites, giving us time to explore different areas of the Park. This is an expedition-style tour for experienced Africa travellers, and one should expect a challenging drive to reach this remote corner of Zambia - but the wildlife and birding spectacle make any challenge worthwhile! Please note that Liuwa is a malarial area and anti-malaria prophylaxis are therefore advised. There are no shops in Liuwa and you will need to be completely self-sufficient for the time that we are there.

Important notes:

• Passports and vehicle papers required for entry to Namibia and Zambia
• Malaria area, therefore anti-malarial prophylaxis strongly advised
• Tour cost includes professional guide, camping costs, park entry fees and two dinners provided by us
• Unfenced campsites and bush-camps in Liuwa - if using a rooftop tent, it's a good idea to also pack a canvas ground tent for use as a 'base' from which to explore, as we'll be spending a few days in camp while visiting the Park.
• Fuel, water and provisions required for seven days away from shops and supplies

Check our tour schedule for available tour dates.

Contact us for further information.

Information

Tour cost includes:

• Tour bookings
• Professional tour leader / guide
• Detailed information pack with GPS points
• Camping costs (10 nights)
• Park & reserve entrance & conservation fees
• Two dinners provided by us

The 'road' to Liuwa is an adventure all of its own... and typical of the non-existent tracks one can expect when deviating anywhere off the main routes in Africa. We'd always heard that Liuwa was a spectacular destination, and still we were blown away by the fantastic wildlife and birding spectacle! Travelling with Chris of Navigators was the epitome of a well-planned and well-run self-drive tour: the group size was small, which certainly added to our enjoyment of the experience, and the information provided (both written and verbally) was top-notch. I heartily recommend that you do this tour with Navigators - you won't be disappointed!

Martin Whitfield

Off-road driving conditions:

Gravel, corrugations, potholes, deep sand, possible water / mud in places

Experience level:

Medium. Where required, advice and assistance will be given by your tour leader

Minimum fuel range:

750 km

Vehicle requirements:

Good ground clearance, transfer gearbox (hi / lo range), lockable differential/s, strong recovery points front and rear, good set of tyres, spare wheel and 2nd spare

Important equipment:

Long-range fuel and water tanks, dual battery system with deep-cycle battery, fridge / freezer

Optional / recommended:

29 MHz radio, vehicle snorkel

Recovery gear:

Advanced set-up including Hi-lift jack, jacking plate, spade, tow strap, tree protector, snatch strap, bow- and D-shackles, compressor, tyre guage, tyre repair kit, tyre levers, tyre tube, radiator seed net, spare V-belts, spare oils & fluids, assorted nuts & bolts, etc.

Tour distance:

900 km Katima Mulilo to Liuwa back to the Katima area in Zambia