Lower Zambezi and Liuwa Plain

Chongwe River Camp
Chongwe River Camp enjoys a truly beautiful location on the confluence of the Chongwe and Zambezi rivers, with views of both the Lower Zambezi and the mountains which border the park. This is a wonderful area for relaxed game-viewing away from the crowds. With no tarred roads, access is by light aircraft or river boat only.

Chongwe River Camp is shaded by mature yellow Acacia trees which provide food for the elephants who can usually be found in front of the camp (and often inside it!) Other regular sightings close to camp include huge pods of hippo, warthog, antelope, baboon, vervet monkeys and an array of predators – lion, leopard (who love the large trees!) and hyena. There are lots of buffalo and very occasionally wild dog can be sighted here.

Of course the area is also rich in birdlife, principally waders. Chongwe is in a game management area, which ensures good game-viewing, but just outside the National Park boundary, and thus away from the crowded spots. The park and game management area are unfenced, allowing the game to wander freely.

Chongwe offers 9 tented rooms, all of them fan-cooled and furnished with hand crafted furniture and local textiles. The rooms overlook the river and have en-suite bathrooms with hot and cold running water, shower, loo, and dressing area. The tents are thatch-covered, helping to keep them cool.

The Lower Zambezi National Park is richly abundant in game, both big (elephant, hippo, buffalo, lion and leopard) and small (zebra, kudu, impala, wild dog, hyena). Much of the park is forested, with tall ebony and leadwood trees hiding leopard and much else besides, while its extensive savannah grasslands teem with buffalo, lion and all manner of antelope. The open floodplains offer marvellous game-viewing opportunities, as does the Zambezi River itself, with its many tributaries and channels, which can be explored by motorboat or canoe.

The available activities at Chongwe include 4x4 game drives, canoeing, motor boat safaris, walking safaris and fishing (on catch and release basis).

Pioneer Camp
Pioneer Camp is an isolated lodge situated on a 25 acre patch just outside Lusaka, perfect for a one night stopover. The cosy lodge-cum-safari camp has been furnished in a rustic style and features all the trappings of a classic safari lodge. It’s set in lovely grounds, surrounded by dense woodland, and offers very comfortable accommodation in thatched chalets.

All of Pioneer Camp’s rooms are en-suite and feature private verandahs which overlook the surrounding miombo woodland (it’s a great place for birding!) Guest facilities include a spacious mess/bar area and a small pool for relaxing.

King Lewanika Lodge
Opened in April 2017, King Lewanika is the first permanent safari lodge in Liuwa Plain National Park. Managed by Norman Carr Safaris and designed by leading architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens, the lodge sets a new standard for luxury in Zambia, while also providing access to one of the country’s most remote and little visited wilderness areas.

The new camp features six luxury villas – including one two-bedroom family villa – and accommodates a maximum of 15 guests. The villas have been positioned on the Upper Munde Stream, directly overlooking the vast Liuwa plains.

The emphasis at King Lewanika is on walking safaris, offering guests a chance to explore this remote bit of Africa up close and in depth while accompanied by Norman Carr’s highly experienced guides. Day and night game drives also feature, while boating and canoeing safaris are offered during the green months (Dec-Mar) when water levels permit.

The landscape of Liuwa is dominated by enormous flat plains of golden grass interspersed with small islands of raffia palms. The rich grasslands and floodplains attract huge quantities of plains game, including blue wildebeest (Liuwa experiences the second largest wildebeest migration in Africa, second only to the Serengeti), zebra, tsessebe, eland, roan antelope, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, red lechwe, reedbuck and the lovely oribi, as well as predators including lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena and wild dog—the latter of which, normally so rare, are sighted fairly regularly in Liuwa.

Birding is equally spectacular in Liuwa, with lots of waders including the endangered wattled and grey-crowned cranes, stork and pelican.

King Lewanika is open throughout the year, including in the green season months. November is the best month for seeing the migration.