Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Liuwa Plain is accessible from June to December but the best time to go is November,
just after the rains start (the later the better). Make sure you leave before the flood waters
rise, however, or you'll be stuck for months.
Getting here independently, via the park headquarters at Kalabo, is restricted to well-
equipped and completely self-contained vehicles and is a real expedition, hence the small
visitor numbers (only 25 vehicles are allowed in at any one time; and a GPS is advisable).
One of the only companies to offer all-inclusive organised trips is the highly recommen-
ded
Robin Pope Safaris
(
www.robinpopesafaris.net
)
; a trip out to Liuwa Plains will cost
about ZMW17,200 for four nights.
Sleeping
There are three campsites in the park -
Kwale
,
Lyangu
and
Katoyana
- that are open to
independent travellers and run by the local community in partnership with African Parks.
Remember that you must be totally self-sufficient, including bringing all your food for
yourself and your guide. Each campsite can take up to five vehicles and is situated among
the densest game areas in the park along the wildebeest migration path. Campsites have
cold-water showers, flush toilets and a craftshop with local souvenirs. Guided walks, boat
trips and even traditional fishing trips can be organised here.
Robin Pope Safaris has improved and developed the Matamanene campsite, the only
semi-permanent Meru tent-style development in the park. There's an airstrip nearby used
by guests of RPS's four- and five-day Liuwa trips.
African Parks is encouraging the development of another semi-permanent camp by
2014.
Getting There & Around
Access to Liuwa Plain National Park is restricted to the dry season and even then you
should seek information about the state of the roads from Mongu through to the park be-
fore attempting the run.
It's about a 70km drive from Mongu northwest to Kalabo. The road from Mongu to the
ferry across the Zambezi River is rough and for 4WD vehicles only. From here the road
improves but access depends largely on the severity of the rainy season so it is best to
contact the national park for up-to-date information. From Kalabo, you need to cross an-
other river via a pontoon (per vehicle ZMW40). From that point it's 12km to the park
boundary.
