​Best Time To Visit – Liuwa Plain NP

Philip Briggs
Expert
By Philip Briggs

Philip has traveled through Zambia several times and is the author of more than 20 guidebooks to various African destinations.

Philip is the Zambia expert for SafariBookings and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Philip is our Zambia expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

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Liuwa Plain National Park offers very seasonal wildlife viewing. The pattern here is different to most other Zambian parks and reserves. Animals migrate to the plains to stay during the Wet season (from November to April) and into May. The best time to visit is after the first rain in November. December is also good, but as the Wet season progresses, game-drive tracks deteriorate. Another good time to visit is in May/June, just before the animals retreat. Time + Tide King Lewanika, the only luxury lodge in the park, operates from mid-October to mid-July.


Liuwa Plain Safaris
Best Time November (Animals gather on the plain to graze on the new grass)
High Season Never (The park is rarely visited)
Low Season January to March (Park is flooded) and July to early October (Little wildlife)
Best Weather April to August (It is cooler and it hardly ever rains)
Worst Weather October to March (Hot and wet weather)

May to October –Dry Season

  • The plain dries up and driving conditions are good
  • Sunny days with little rainfall
  • There is still resident wildlife around, especially in May, June and October
  • Malaria risk is less and there are fewer insects around
  • Wildlife viewing is better in the Wet season
  • The sky is very hazy and the grassland looks parched
  • October is very hot

Wildlife Photos

View Photos (14)
+12 Photos Want To Visit

November to April –Wet Season

  • Animals migrate to the plain for the Wet season – the best time for wildlife viewing
  • November is the best compromise between driving conditions and wildlife viewing
  • Scenery is green and fresh with lots of wildflowers
  • The best time for birding as migrants are present
  • Many newborn animals are around as this is the calving season
  • The plains are inaccessible for game drives from January to April/May and self-drive visitors can’t enter the park
  • Conditions are hot and humid
  • Malaria is a bigger concern than in the Dry season

Wildlife Photos
+12 Photos

Best Time To Go by Major Park

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Want To Visit Liuwa Plain NP?

Liuwa Plain Safaris