Liuwa Plain National Park

Weather & Climate

Liuwa Plain Safaris

Expert

By Philip Briggs

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

Climate Chart Liuwa Plain National Park – 1,022-1,056m / 3,353-3,465ft

Liuwa Plain National Park is dominated by its Wet and Dry season and hot climate. Despite there being a notable increase in temperature in October, before the rains, average temperatures do not vary much throughout the year. However, it gets quite chilly at night from May to August.

Dry Season –May to October

There is little rainfall in the Dry season. The days are warm but nights are cold. Warm clothing is essential for chilly, early morning game drives. The plains dry up during the season and a lot of animals move away.

May – This is the beginning of the Dry season, and rain showers are few and far between. All of the pans on the plain are full, and there are big herds of wildebeest and zebra around. Wildlife viewing is excellent.
June & July – The end of the rains and the plain is drying out. Animals are moving away. With daytime temperatures hovering around 26°C/79°F, these are the coolest months. Cold nights are good for sleeping with average temperatures of around 9°C/48°F.
August & September – No rain in these months and it’s warming up. September has an average daytime temperature of 31°C/88°F. Mornings are milder at 17°C/63°F on average.
October – Temperatures keep climbing to average 34°C/93°F. It can peak far higher, with the heat becoming oppressive in the middle of the day. Mornings are much better with temperatures around 18°C/64°F. The first rain usually falls this month, which sees temperatures drop.

Wet Season –November to April

This season is both hot and wet. Showers are the norm and thunderstorms are often spectacular. November is the best wildlife-viewing month – this continues into December, but then the park becomes quite inaccessible for game drives.

November – The rains usually begin in late October or November. By this time the plains are extremely dry, so rainfall is a relief. It is still very hot. The average daytime temperature is 31°C/88°F. Rain mostly falls as afternoon thunderstorms.
December – Rain increases and so do the herds of grazers. The plains become wetter and wetter, and driving becomes a challenge. Daytime temperatures average 31°C/88°F, while nights and early mornings are around 17°C/63°F.
January, February & March – The wettest months bring rain most days. The park is inaccessible.
April – It rains less but roads are still in a bad condition. There is, however, a lot of wildlife around.