Kasanka National Park Zambia

This peaceful sanctuary, situated on the southwestern edge of the Lake Bangweulu basin, is one of Zambia’s smallest national parks. It’s 450 sq km, however, is so well endowed with rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, lagoons, meadows, and Dambos that it supports a uniquely wide range of animals and abundant birds and fish.

Do not expect to see large herds of animals around every corner, but it is surely one of the most picturesque parks in Zambia with superb birdlife.

About ten years ago Kasanka was in danger of becoming yet another defunct national park due to rampant poaching. David Lloyd, a British expatriate, who had lived in Zambia for many years, visited the Park in 1985 and heard the crack of gunshots. He concluded that if there was still poaching there must still be animals there and set out to save the Park from total depletion. He teamed up with a local farmer, sought funding, and along with much of their own resources applied for official permission to rehabilitate the Park. They built tourist camps, roads, and bridges and set up the Kasanka Trust to raise funds for this community-based project. Slowly it began to earn a little money from tourists to help cover costs. Three years later the National Parks and Wildlife Services Department was sufficiently impressed to sign a 10-year agreement with the Trust allowing full management of the Park in conjunction with National Parks & Wildlife Services and to develop it for tourism in partnership with the local community.

Today, although there is still none of the heart-stopping walking safaris amongst elephant herds, or any lions brushing past your open vehicle as in the larger parks, there are some of the rarest birds and animals in the country, found in the beautiful miombo woodlands, swamp forest, grasslands, floodplains, and riverine Bushveld, to be enjoyed on leisurely walks and drives. There are ample opportunities for fishing tigerfish, bream, and barbel in the beautiful Luwombwa River. Boats are available for hire but you should bring your own tackle.

Recovering from depletion are hippo, sable antelope, and Liechtenstein’s hartebeest. The puku, once reduced to a few hundred, today exceed 1500. There are fairly big herds of the swamp-dwelling Sitatunga, reedbuck, waterbuck, Sharpe’s grysbok, and the rare blue monkey. Elephants also appear from time to time, and their numbers are expected to recover. Together with Kasanka’s noted birdlife, the animals can be seen on guided walks through the grassy plains, Mushitu forests, large tracts of miombo woodland, and alongside the riverine forest and papyrus swamps. Over 330 bird species have been recorded, including such rarities as Pel’s fishing owl, the Pygmy goose, Ross’s Loerie, the osprey, and the wattled crane. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of the rare shoebill stork.

Size of Kasanka national park

While at 450 sq km, Kasanka is one of the smallest national parks in Zambia, it’s also one of the most beautiful, boasting incredible biodiversity that utterly belies its diminutive size

Location of Kasanka national park

Kasanka National Park is a park located in the Serenje District of Zambia’s Central Province. At roughly 390 km², Kasanka is one of Zambia’s smallest national parks. Kasanka was the first of Zambia’s national parks to be managed by a private-public partnership.

How to get to Kasanka national park

Take the Great North Road from Lusaka, turn right just after Kapiri Mposhi, and left after Serenje on the road to Samfya. Turn left at the 54km mark into the Park at the Malaushi gate.

Things to do in Kasanka national park Zambia

Game watching from Fibwe hides

The tree hides at ‘Fibwe’ is generally rated as Africa’s best vantage point for observing Sitatunga antelopes. Perched 18 meters high in a ‘Mululu’ African mahogany tree, it gives a panoramic view over the Kapabi swamp. Visitors often see more than 20 Sitatunga in a single visit and the record is 94! Occasionally Crocodile, Bushbuck, Waterbuck Buffalo, and Elephant can also be seen from the platform. Many species of birds, including Coucal, Moosebirds, Bohm’s bee-eaters, Ross’s, and Schalow’s Louries are seen here.

Canoeing on the Luwombwa River

Canoes and motorboats can be hired with guides for some spectacular bird watching, fishing, and wildlife viewing. Regular sightings include Monitor Lizards, Crocodiles, Otters, Vervet Monkeys, and the rare Blue Monkey. Varied species of raptors, Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, Herons, and Sunbirds abound along the river to name but a few.

Fishing

The river offers some excellent angling (under special permits). The fierce Tigerfish, several Tilapia species, and ‘Barbal’ catfish are likely caught. The lodge staff will willingly cook the catch!

Fruit bats Kasanka

Visit Kasanka national park – They host a unique wildlife spectacle every November and December when Millions of Straw-coloured Fruit bats assemble from around Central Africa to roost in an area of ‘Mushitu’ swamp forest near the confluence of the Musola and Kasanka Rivers.

At twilight, bats fill the sky in all directions for twenty solid minutes as they leave their roost site to feed through the night on abundant seasonal fruit of the “miombo” woodlands. This event is one of Africa’s most amazing and unusual wildlife spectacles – never forgotten by those lucky enough to witness it.

Visitors can also take guided walks through the forest in the daytime to view the bats as they chatter, fly and crawl about their roost. This bat migration has been the subject of intense interest from scientists who are trying to find the reason why so many colonies all assemble in this one corner of Zambia. They report that it is the largest aggregation of mammals in Africa, and probably the most concentrated in the world. Preliminary research has also found many other interesting species of bat in Kasanka, and we plan to run some specialist bat tours during November and December for enthusiasts.

Game drives

Game drives are always a popular way to see the park and usually reveal a variety of wildlife. Although you miss some of the smaller things when driving, you can get closer to animals this way than you would on foot.

A typical drive in Kasanka will involve stops along the way at interesting spots where you can get out of the car and walk around. Drives are conducted by guides and are arranged according to the requirements of each group rather than at set times and programs.

Drives can also be arranged at night to look for nocturnal animals by spotlight.

Visitors arriving in their own 4×4 vehicles can drive themselves around but there are some restrictions for safety reasons.

Walking safaris

Getting out on foot is perhaps the best way to appreciate all aspects of a wilderness like Kasanka. It gives you a chance to see the small things as well as the more obvious! Follow a Honey Guide to a Bee’s nest or track an Elephant along its spore. Walks can be arranged from 1 hour to 5 days!

Walking trails of several days are a specialty of Kasanka as the terrain and vegetation make for easy walking. The park has many different habitats in its relatively small area so walks are always passing through changing scenery. Walkers are accompanied by an armed scout for safety and also to glean local knowledge. You just carry what they need for the day with other luggage taken ahead separately. A temporary camp is set up ahead so that food and shelter are reached at the end of each day.

One day of the trail is usually spent drifting down the Luwombwa River by canoe. One or 2 nights may be spent at the lodges, but otherwise simple tented camps will be set up each night in remote corners of the park. The scouts always carry a radio for contact with HQ in case of any urgency.

Bicycling safaris

Due to the relative scarcity of dangerous animals, it is possible for visitors to explore the park by bicycle using the network of roads and paths that cover most of the park. We plan to obtain some mountain bikes in the near future to be available for visitors to hire or for organized bicycle safaris around Kasanka and beyond. However, visitors must be escorted by a guide or scout when walking or bicycling.

When to Visit Kasanka national park Zambia

Kasanka is open all year round. Birding is especially good in the wet season from November to March when migrants arrive from the north. Game viewing is best in the dry months from May to October.

Where to stay in Kasanka national park Zambia

Wasa Lodge

Wasa lodge has a total of 7 chalets – 4 large chalets and 3 smaller rondavels all of which are set in the treeline or overlooking the lake. The larger chalets all have double and single beds in the room, a veranda, and a simple shower, basin, and flush toilet in an en-suite bathroom. The smaller chalets have double or twin beds and an en-suite bathroom with flush toilets and simple bucket showers.

Luwombwa Lodge

Luwombwa has 3 chalets – 1 x 3 sleepers and 2 x 4 sleepers. All of the chalets are situated on the banks of the river, each of them serviced by a flushing toilet and bucket shower system.

There is a simple dining chalet alongside a fireplace as well as a beautifully located Lapa with tables and chairs also overlooking the river.

Camping sites are available for those looking to camp during their safari to Kasanka national park.