Liuwa Plain with Robin Pope
"Africa's most respected guide" - The Sunday Times, UK, March 2011
May, June, November and December
This vast open plain lies west of the Zambezi River, on the Angolan Border. This is an extremely difficult area to access and few people have been there. Robin used to lead expeditions there in the 1990s and has recently started operating in the area again. This is a unique opportunity to visit this isolated and rarely visited national park. The safaris are 4 or 5 nights, starting with a charter from Lusaka of 2+ hours to Kalabo. You will be met by Robin and his team and drive the two or so hours onto the plain and to camp.
The plain is home to around 30,000 blue wildebeest, herds of zebra, red lechwe, oribi, steinbuck and more. The predominant predator is the hyena who compete with the wild dog and occasional cheetah. Lions used to be common but there is now a reintroduction program in place. The birding is always a highlight and the many water species inhabit the many water filled pans.
We visit during two periods. November and December are the start of the rains with big storms passing through and when the wildebeest drop their young, the migrant brids arrive and flowers bloom everywhere. But by mid December it is inaccessible and the floods move in and we have moved out. The earliest you can drive back in is early May when the pans are full, the birds are everywhere and the game is looking sleek fat and happy! This is a wonderful time to visit with clear blue skies - you feel you can run forever across the plain!
- Robin and the thunderstorms - January 2011.
- Robin Pope tells us the story - July 2010.
- In 2010 Dale Morris visited and wrote about "Life, death and resurrection" on the Liuwa Plain. (PDF file).
- Lucinda goes to Liuwa Plain - May 2010.
- In 2009, we asked the staff what they loved about Liuwa... and they said...
- From 2008 - recce by Robin and Jo, getting to Liuwa, with vehicles and team and then, the safari.
- Itinerary Set departures, either 4 or 5 nights
- Transfers charter from Lusaka 2+ hours
- IncludedAll safari costs (activities, national park fees, bar and laundry)
- Not IncludedDeparture taxes and visa.
- Rate 4 nights US$2648, 5 nights US$3310 per person sharing
- Extra Charter flight seat rate US$1120 per person Lusaka/Kalabo and return
- ValidMay, June, November and December
DetailsFull itineraryRates, Dates and AvailabilityLiuwa Plain Photo Gallery
