King Lewanika Lodge

OVERVIEW:

Designed by Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, the team behind Mombo and North Island, this stylish camp has serious WOW factor! And the park in which it’s situated – Liuwa Plain – is just as impressive for its remoteness and unique environment.

King Lewanika sits within a portfolio containing a range of excellent properties in the South Luangwa National Park, and one camp in Madagascar’s Nosy Ankao. This safari camp is named after the King of the Lozis, who decided during the early 1880s that Liuwa Plain should be a protected area. The accommodation is booked on a full-board basis, including all meals, a selection of alcoholic and soft drinks, all game-viewing activities, helicopter transfers between the camp and Kalabo airfield, a laundry service, and limited Wi-Fi. The camp is open from 17th October 2019 to mid-July 2020. We’ll provide the 2020/21 dates as soon as they become available.

ACCESS & LOCATION:

The camp is accessed via a 20-minute light aircraft flight from Lusaka Airport to Kalabo – an outpost town – and then it’s 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.

ACCOMMODATION & FACILITIES AT KING LEWANIKA:

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.

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.

ACTIVITIES AT KING LEWANIKA:

Lewanika offers a thrilling mix of activities, as follows:

• Expertly guided game drives

  – Liuwa Plain National Park is located on the Upper Zambezi floodplains in the remote far west of Zambia. Covering approximately 3,600 square kilometers 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.

• Night drives

  – 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!

• Walking safaris

  – 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.

• Sleep-outs under the stars

  – 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.

• Canoeing

  – 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!

• Fishing

  – 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.