LIUWA PLAIN NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA, August 19, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — **Full refurbishment brings a new poolside sanctuary, migration sleepouts and custom game vehicles to one of Africa’s earliest conservation areas and one of its last true wildernesses**
King Lewanika Lodge, the only permanent luxury camp in Zambia’s Liuwa Plain National Park, has reopened following a full refurbishment under new operator Ker & Downey Zambia. The relaunch introduces a new poolside sanctuary, full solar power, custom-built game-viewing vehicles and multi-day migration sleepouts that position the lodge as a gateway to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration and one of the continent’s most exclusive grassland safari destinations.
“What makes Liuwa Plain National Park extraordinary is exactly what makes it rare: its remoteness, its scale, its wildness,” said Glenn Evans, Managing Director for Ker & Downey Zambia. “We’re immensely proud to be its custodians, and even prouder to share it with the world through King Lewanika Lodge and the team who call this place home.”
*WHAT’S NEW*
New poolside sanctuary: Perched above the plain, this new addition centers on a sparkling pool and open-air dining pavilion, thoughtfully designed to complement the lodge’s existing architecture while framing panoramic, uninterrupted views across the grassland. Shaded loungers and intimate seating nooks invite guests to linger, offering a refined retreat to unwind, cool off, and soak in the scenery between game drives.
A redesigned heart of camp, the central lounge, bar and dining room sit beneath a shaded, open-fronted roofline styled in warm, earthy tones, with multiple gathering spaces. Additional facilities include a spa, indoor and outdoor dining, and an outdoor fire boma.
Custom-built game vehicles make up a new fleet, purpose-built for Liuwa’s terrain, featuring elevated rooftop seating, adjustable armrests, and photography bean bags for a heightened vantage over the plain.
Migration sleepouts let guests track the wildebeest migration north across the plain in a two-day mobile experience, from June through September. The team builds a remote camp mid-drive, and guests spend the night bivouacked in mosquito-net tents, with meals over an open campfire beneath uninterrupted stars before continuing the following morning.
Streamlined air access comes via daily Ker & Downey flights from Livingstone and Lusaka, now landing at Matiamanene Airstrip, a ten-minute game drive from camp, eliminating forced overnight stopovers and cutting travel time to and from onward destinations.
Fully solar-powered, the lodge now runs entirely on solar energy and draws water through an on-site filtration system, eliminating single-use plastic bottles. Every suite has been fitted with an in-room minibar, coffee station, and radio communication system for in-suite service requests.
*150 YEARS OF CONSERVATION HISTORY*
Liuwa Plain is one of Africa’s earliest conservation areas, first protected in the late 19th century by King Lubosi Lewanika, Litunga of Barotseland, who entrusted the Lozi people as its custodians. Today, the 1,301-square-mile expanse of Western Zambezian grassland is managed by African Parks in partnership with Zambia’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife and the Barotse Royal Establishment; a collaborative agreement renewed in 2026 for a further term, and a model of people and wildlife coexisting within a shared landscape. An estimated 12,000 Lozi people live within the park’s boundaries.
Widely regarded as Zambia’s premier grassland safari destination, Liuwa offers front-row access to Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration, alongside powerful hyena clans, multiple lion prides, elusive cheetah and African wild dog, and rare antelope including oribi and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. More than 480 bird species have been recorded, including flocks of crowned and wattled cranes exceeding 150 birds and rarities such as Denham’s bustard, black-winged pratincole, Fülleborn’s longclaw and pink-throated longclaw. Seasonal wildflower blooms and pollinator activity add further color to the plain.
King Lewanika Lodge sits within the migration’s southern central range, with herds of over 47,000 animals passing nearby and predator activity intense between October and May.
*ACTIVITIES AND CULTURAL IMMERSION*
Beyond the migration sleepout, guided excursions include day and night game drives, armed walking safaris, canoe trips, stargazing and conservation talks, along with a half-day cultural immersion to Kalabo Town. Depending on the season, guests may witness the Lozi people’s traditional fishing methods or sacred Kuomboka Ceremony. A new yoga deck has also been added. Walking, canoeing and sleepout experiences are open to guests 12 and older; the lodge otherwise welcomes children 6 and up.
*THE ACCOMMODATIONS*
King Lewanika Lodge accommodates a maximum of 15 guests across five tented twin safari suites and one family suite, perched on a forested island knoll on the park’s southern tip. Each twin suite spans 650 sq ft (60 sq m) indoors plus a 430 sq ft (40 sq m) verandah, with a king bed, mosquito net, central lounge and study area, and a bathroom with both indoor and outdoor showers. The family suite, closest to the central area, spans 865 sq ft (80 sq m) plus its own verandah. The camp is open from March through December.
*A NEW CHAPTER FOR KING LEWANIKA LODGE*
Ker & Downey Zambia brings six decades of safari operating experience from Botswana’s Okavango Delta and Kalahari Desert to its stewardship of King Lewanika Lodge and made a conservation investment in Zambia in 2024 as part of its continued commitment to the region. The Ker & Downey guiding philosophy is connection over consumption: an honest, high-activity, empathetic approach to wilderness experiences, delivered by a highly experienced guiding team.
Rates start at US$3,615 per person for a three-night stay, which includes a complimentary “Explore All Liuwa” sleep out: an optional but highly recommended full-day excursion offering near-exclusive access to the park’s farther-flung highlights and, when active, the wildebeest migration.
Andrea Schnoor
Andrea Schnoor Communications
+1 347-674-8281
aschnoor@andreaschnoor.com
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