From the completely unexplored miombo woodlands and dambos of Sioma Ngwezi National Park to the vast plains of Liuwa Plains, Western Zambia is frontier country and guarantees adventure and memories for all who choose to visit.
Tiger Fishing on the Zambezi River
Tiger fishing on the Zambezi River is not only about the thrill of the catch but also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the stunning natural beauty and rich biodiversity of the region. Whether you’re an experienced angler or a novice, the Zambezi River offers a unique and memorable fishing adventure.
Bream Fishing
The largemouth bream species including the nembwe, thinface and humpbacks are all found in good numbers on the Barotse floodplains. While always threatened by the presence of netting, the largest individual of all the above mentioned bream species can be caught on fly and artificial lure in these waters and are a delight to target. Additional sought after bream species include the 3-spot and red-breast bream, the former reaching monstrous sizes in this food rich environment.
The Zambezi River
The Zambezi River on the Barotse floodplains is broad and a large catchment for the annual floods. These floods form the habitat for tiny fish to breed which in turn stock this part of the river resulting in serious food source and large fish. The river is generally slow flowing and broad with occasional rocky pinnacles.
Liuwa Plain National Park
Liuwa has undergone a tremendous re-birth under the stewardship of African Parks and while their bi-annual WILDEBEEST “MIGRATION” is probably still its most renowned feature, the ENDLESS SKIES, LARGE PACKS OF HYENAS, INCREDIBLE FLORAL BLOOMS and the Lions of Liuwa – all make a visit to Liuwa richly rewarding. The wildebeest are normally more accessible in May/June and again in November/December depending on seasonal rainfall so these are the prime windows to visit. However, as the park recovers, there are still more than enough attractions to make a visit between these times worthwhile!
The Kuomboka Ceremony
For people planning a visit to the Liuwa region in April, another attraction is the Kuomboka Ceremony. This famous traditional ceremony sees the Litunga – the King of Barotseland – being paddled in his massive barge from his ‘low water’ palace in Lealui to the ‘higher ground’ in Limilunga.
The Wildebeest Migration
The wildebeest migration in Liuwa Plain National Park is affectionately called Africa’s second largest wildebeest migration. November and December are prime months to visit with stunning skies and flower blooms but May and June are also superb albeit, muddy!
Sioma Ngwezi National Park
This hidden National Park in the south west corner of Zambia is ABSOLUTELY WILD in the original sense of the word. If you want to lose yourself in a world apart from tourists, then Sioma Ngwezi is a good place to start. The added benefit of seeing the Ngonye Falls – the Zambezi’s SECOND LARGEST WATERFALL – and its location as part of an obvious route up to Liuwa Plains would be good reasons to keep this park on your radar. The ideal months are May to September when the game congregates around seasonal pans but don’t expect a high density wildlife experience – THIS IS WILDERNESS and although we have seen everything from wild dog to sable, you could just as easily miss the game. There are hardly any roads and no facilities if you ‘go it alone’ so best to link up with specific operators.
Ngonye Falls
A little to the east of Sioma Ngwezi and right along the main road to the park entrance you can find the Ngonye Falls. For those who like fishing, there are some lovely tigers that lurk in the rapids but the real beauty of visiting the Ngonye Falls are the natural rock pools or jacuzzis found along the the far eastern edge of the horse-shoe shaped falls.
