A classic canvas-and-timber safari lodge in Liuwa Plain National Park
Lounge and dining areas, bar, and campfire
Just six guest villas, including one family villa, all with amazing views from a private veranda
Game drives, night drives, walking safaris, sleep-outs under the stars, and seasonal canoeing and fishing
Lewanika offers a thrilling mix of activities, as follows:
Liuwa Plain National Park is located on the Upper Zambezi floodplains in the remote far west of Zambia. Covering approximately 3,600 square kilometres of grasslands, woodlands, and water sources, it’s home to a real wealth of wildlife. The predator count features lion, leopard, cheetah, spotted hyena, jackal, and wild dog, while herbivores in residence include buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and all sorts of antelopes. The park even experiences a wildebeest migration during the green season. Drives from camp take place during early morning and late afternoon, and they provide great opportunities for viewing this treasure trove of species.
Any safarists interested in viewing the park’s nocturnal mammals can head out after sunset with an expert guide. You’ll have a lot of fun searching for leopard, civet, genet, and the prickly porcupine!
Also enjoyed in the presence of a knowledgeable and experienced guide, walks are fantastic for getting to know the smaller lives of Liuwa Plain – the plants, insects, and birdlife. Among the 334 types of feathery friend recorded in the park are cranes, storks, herons, egrets, geese, bustards, and the mysterious Pel’s fishing owl.
For the ultimate close-to-nature experience, you can spend an entire night out on the plains. You’ll drift off to sleep under a canopy of stars, and with the sounds of the bush all around you.
This is a green-season activity, usually available from December until March. Canoe excursions focus on the wildlife of the waterways, such as hippo, Nile crocodile, and some vibrant waterbirds!
Also available from December to March, fishing can be combined with a boat trip and a little birdwatching. It’s a very relaxing way in which to while away a morning or afternoon.
*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.
The camp is accessed via a 20-minute light flight from Lusaka Airport to Kalabo – an outpost town – and then it is a further 15-minute transfer to the camp by helicopter. It’s situated on a stream known as the Upper Munde, in the central region of Liuwa Plain National Park.
The communal lodge building at King Lewanika is also very stylish.
It too is raised above ground level on a timber platform, and other aspects of its structure include sturdy timber beams and an immaculately thatched roof. Inside, there’s a pleasant lounge, containing an assortment of armchairs and other seating around coffee tables. The dining area has sophisticated tables-and-chairs set up in readiness for delicious meals, accompanied by drinks from the camp’s well-stocked bar. All interiors flow out onto a deck, where you can relax, dine, and enjoy watching out for the local wildlife! Finally, a few steps lead down from the lodge to the campfire, which is surrounded by leather-and-metal chairs – another chic take on the classic safari style and the perfect place to swap some safari stories.
Guest accommodation consists of six villas, including one family villa.
These are spaced well apart along the banks of the Upper Munde, to ensure ample privacy. Mounted on a timber platform, and featuring canvas walls, each villa tries to blend seamlessly with the natural surroundings. Entering a standard-size unit, you’ll find a spacious double- or twin bedroom, with bedside stands and lighting, a standing fan, a comfortable seating area, and plenty of storage space. The overall effect could be described as safari super-chic. The en-suite facilities comprise a separate flush toilet, twin washbasins in a vanity unit with mirrors over, and a walk-in shower. There’s an outdoor shower too. At the front of the villa, canvas walls can be rolled up to allow access onto your private veranda, which offers a couple of safari-style chairs, a good-sized table for private dining, and panoramic vistas over the plains. The family villa has two bedrooms, each with an en-suite washroom.
