The pristine wilderness of Liuwa National park located in the far west of Zambia is its biggest attraction to ardent bush lovers. The game that inhabit the park is spread out across the plains and takes some driving around to locate, but to come across a vast herd of blue wildebeest, a prowling wild dog, or a pride of dozing lions is especially fitting because of its completely natural state. The park has abundant birdlife and very dramatic storms and lightning rising up on the horizon, contrasting with the green and gold grasslands, to create spectacular views and fantastic photographic opportunities. Liuwa is home to avariety of mammals including buffalo, common eland, tsessebe, oribi, red lechwe, reedbuck, roan antelope, blue wildebeest (whose migration is the second largest in Africa), zebra, sitatunga, hartebeest among others. Predators include cheetah, leopard, lion and spotted hyena. The park has over 334 species of birds recorded including, bustards, cranes, pelicans, pratincoles, storks, greater kestrel, martial eagle, palm-nut-vulture, fishing along among many others. Liuwa Plains is certainly one of the most amazing wildlife parks in Africa but one of the least visited. At the right time of the year, a safari to Liuwa plains can be as good as safaris ever get.
