King Lewanika Lodge Reopens in Liuwa Plain After Refurbishment

King Lewanika Lodge reopened in Zambia’s Liuwa Plain National Park on August 19, 2026, following a comprehensive refurbishment under new operator Ker & Downey Zambia. The luxury camp now runs entirely on solar power and features custom game vehicles, a new poolside sanctuary, and multi-day migration sleepouts.

Refurbishment Brings Solar Power and New Guest Spaces

The camp now operates entirely on solar energy, supported by an on-site water filtration system that completely eliminates single-use plastic bottles.

The central lounge, bar, and dining room sit beneath a shaded, open-fronted roofline styled in warm earthy tones. Additional amenities include a spa, indoor and outdoor dining areas, an outdoor fire boma, and a newly added poolside sanctuary. Perched above the plain, the pool features an open-air dining pavilion framed by uninterrupted views of the grassland.

Inside the six safari tents—which include one family unit—guests find fridges, coffee stations, and radio communication systems for in-suite service requests.

Custom Fleet and Streamlined Air Access

Getting to the remote western grassland has also become more efficient. Daily Ker & Downey flights from Livingstone and Lusaka now land at Matiamanene Airstrip, located just a ten-minute game drive from the camp. This route cuts travel time and removes the need for forced overnight stopovers.

Once on the ground, visitors traverse the terrain in a newly arrived fleet of custom-built game-viewing vehicles. These vehicles feature elevated rooftop vista seats with adjustable armrests, photography bean bags, and LED lighting, providing what management describes as a unique, elevated perspective of the 336,000-hectare park.

Conservation Roots and Shared Landscapes

Liuwa Plain holds a deep conservation history stretching back 150 years. Originally protected in the late 19th century by King Lubosi Lewanika, the Litunga of Barotseland, the area was entrusted to the Lozi people as its custodians.

The park is recognized as a rare model of harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. An estimated 12,000 Lozi people live within the park’s legal boundaries. Glenn Evans, Managing Director for Ker & Downey Zambia, emphasized the unique value of the region in a statement accompanying the reopening.

Wildlife Migrations and Migration Sleepouts

Positioned within the southern central range of the migration, King Lewanika Lodge sits near herds exceeding 47,000 animals. Liuwa Plain hosts Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration, alongside powerful hyena clans, multiple lion prides, elusive cheetahs, African wild dogs, and rare antelopes such as oribi and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. Birdwatchers can spot more than 480 species, including massive flocks of crowned and wattled cranes.

King Lewanika Lodge Reopens in Liuwa Plain After Refurbishment — Photo: Globetrender

To bring guests closer to the wildlife action, the lodge has introduced two-day mobile migration sleepouts running from June through September. During these excursions, the camp team builds a remote outpost mid-drive, allowing visitors to spend the night bivouacked in mosquito-net tents and dining over an open campfire beneath the stars while tracking the herds moving north across the plain.

Rates and Cultural Immersion

Beyond traditional day and night game drives, guided excursions include armed walking safaris, canoe trips, stargazing, conservation talks, and half-day cultural immersions to Kalabo Town. Rates for stays at the refurbished property begin at US$3,615 per person for three-night bookings, offering exclusive access to one of the continent’s most remote wilderness areas.