Zambia
National Parks & Game
Reserves
Kafue N P
Kasanka N P
Lochinvar N
P
North Luangwa N P
South
Luangwa N P
Mosi-Oa-Tunya N P
Nsumbu N P
Lower Zambezi N
P
Kafue National Park -
click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
Kafue National Park, one of Zambia's most scenically beautiful parks, lies
approximately 200 kms west of Lusaka and covers over 22,000 sq km. It can be
reached by car from Lusaka and the Copperbelt via Mumbwa and from the south of
Lusaka via Kalomo. Night driving is not permitted in the park so ensure you
time your journey right. Many private operators and charter companies fly into
the park.
The Kafue is the third largest park in Africa and one of the
top five largest in the world. The park has over 40 species of wildlife
including, Elephant, Buffalo, Zebra, Kudu, Sable and Roan antelope, Lion,
Leopard, Hyena, Hippo, Crocodile. It also boasts a small, rare antelope, the
Lechwe, almost extinct due to poachers and now found mostly on the Busanga
Plains .The birdlife is spectacular with and more than 400 varieties of bird
life, concentrated on the flood plains and river banks. The Kafue River, which
winds through the park offers good game fishing.
Accommodation
With the exception of
campsites and chalets it is advisable to book accommodation in advance, this
can be done directly through the lodge or an agent in Lusaka or overseas, or a
tour operator. Some lodges and camps close during the rainy season, September
to May, but there are a few open all year round.
There are several
camps and lodges open to the general public
Kasanka N P
Kasanka National Park is located
north of Lusaka, approximately a 6 hour car journey, on the edge of the vast
wetlands of Lake Bangweulu
It is one of the country's smaller and most
peaceful national parks, and one of the only privately managed. Careful steps
have been taken to preserve the wild environment, with the revenue from
visitors going to conservation and local community projects.
There's
an excellent range of mammals, and birds found within the park including
elephant, hippo, range of antelope species, warthog, bushpig, baboon, leopard,
leopard, the rare blue monkey seen in the forests and the seldom seen shoebill
stork has been spotted on the Kasanka's wetlands. There are no less than eight
lakes and four rivers, the largest being the Luwonbwa, which offers great
opportunities for anglers.
Accommodation
There are three fully
equipped safari camps, Musanda Camp, located on the banks of the Luwombwa River
with facilities for 12, Luwombwa Camp located 5kms downstream which caters for
12 people and the Wasa Camp which is situated on the shores of Lake Wasa are
supporting 10 people. Camping facilities are also available.
Lochinvar NP
A small national park, just
over 410 sq. kms, the Lochinvar is located, north of Monze, 235 kms from
Lusaka, on the south side of the Kafue Flats in the Southern Province. The
National Park is divided into three distinct zones; the northern floodplain
(part of the Kafue Flats), the central grasslands and the southern
woodlands.
For a small park it has a large variety of game including
large herds of the lechwe antelope, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, orbi, bushbuck,
kudu, hippo and over 420 species for bird, including a number of rarities.
There hot springs at Gwisho, which are the site of one of the oldest
archaeological sites in Central Africa. Walking in the park is permitted.
North Luangwa National Park
This park is less
well-known that its southern counterpart, but is still one of Africa's most
spectacular. It is remote and wild covering an area of 4,626 sq. kms and no
roads or permanent lodges have been built with only a select number of
operators being licensed to take safaris into this exclusive park. You need to
book to enter this park.
It offers a unique experience for those
seeking a truly, off the beaten track experience. Walking safaris are a
speciality, allowing visitors to get close to the wildlife in its natural
environment. North Luangwa is primarily a woodland park and is well known for
its huge herds of buffalo which congregate at the river to drink. Other mammals
seen in the park include leopard, wildcat, elephant, hyena, wildebeest. Also
found are oribi, hartebeest, reedbuck and eland (the largest antelope) and not
found in the South Park.
Accommodation
There are a few top end
camps and rustic but comfortable bush camps
South Luangwa National Park - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
South Luangwa National Park lies approximately 700 kilometers north-east of
Lusaka. It is most easily reached by air - Zambian Airways has regular flights
to South Luangwa Airport , which is situated about 20kms south of the main
gate.
The park covers an area over 9050 sq kms and is regarded of the
of the finest wildlife sanctuaries in Africa, which a wide variety of wildlife
including an abundance of elephant, hippos, buffalo, black rhino, zebra, small
herds of Cooksons's wildebeest, leopard, lion, all varieties of antelope, and
numerous species of birdlife including the spectacular ones such as; crested
cranes, saddle bill storks, wood ibis, vultures and egrets..
South
Luangwa National Park is unique in that it offers walking safaris, which
provides the visitor with the opportunity of close up photography and the
chance to study the flora. Walking safaris can be arranged from most of the
lodges and camps and should be undertaken with an experience and armed wildlife
scout. The walking tours can vary in length from eight days to three days, with
a camp with all amenities being pitched each night in a suitable area.
Many of the camps will also offer night time game viewing, when the
nocturnal animals can been spotted, including jackal, leopard, serval, antbear,
civet, wild cat, bushbaby. Night time tours usually last two hours.
Accommodation
It advisable
to book your accommodation in advance unless you are camping. Although some
camps are open all year round, most may close during the raining season from
November to April. There are several places to stay just outside the park and a
wide selection of accommodation within the park ranging from hotels, catering
lodges, thatched-roof chalets, non catering camps and camping.
Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park
Mosi-Oa-Tunya
National Park is the country's smallest National Park covering an area of just
66 sq kms, located approximately 450 kms south of Lusaka. The name has been
given by the local people and means "the smoke that thunders.
Mosi-ao-Tunya National Park is divided into two sections, showing off one of
the great natural wonders of the world, Victoria Falls and the other section
the game park which lies further west along the riverbank.
From the
park entrance a network of paths lead through thick vegetation to various
viewpoints of the falls. You can get a panoramic view of the falls from the
Knife Edge footbridge, which spans a narrow ridge of rock between mainland and
an island downstream where you face the falls. Other good viewing points are
Falls Bridge, Boiling Pot, the Power Station and the various gorges. the Falls
are particularly magnificent on a moonlit night.
The game park, north
of the Maramba River is best known for its giraffe, but also contains sale,
eland, wildebeest, Lechwe, impala, warthog, baboon and monkey. Elephants
sometime migrate to the Zambian side from Zimbabwe in the height of the dry
season.
Accommodation
In
this area there are numerous places and camp sites to stay varying in prices
and quality.
Nsumbu National Park
A remote park, to the
far north of Zambia, boasting 80km of Lake Tanganyika's shoreline, and covering
an area of 2020 sq kms.
It is only in recent years that the park has
been restocked, after being virtually wiped of game stock by poachers. It now
has a diverse range of wildlife including large herds of elephants which head
for the lakeshore during the dry season. Bushbuck, warthog, puku, the
magnificent roan antelope, sable, eland, hartebeest, buffalo and zebra. The
park is good for viewing lion and leopards are fairly common, although rarely
seen due to the nocturnal nature. Flamingo visit the lake during their
migrations.
The lake is one of the greatest attraction for fine
game-fishing. Every year in March/April a national fishing competition is held
at Kasaba Bay which is attended by fisherman from all over the world.
Accommodation
There are several
lodges and camps with the National Park.
Lower Zambezi N P - click to view recommended Tours and Safaris
This park is one of Zambia most recently established and covers an area of over
4,000 sq kms, located to the east of Lusaka.
It lies on the northern
bank of the Zambezi River, downstream from Victoria Falls> The river
provides a focal point for attracting abundant wildlife including elephant,
hippo, buffalo, zebra, lion, cheetah, leopard, various antelope species, and a
large variety of birds.
Canoe safaris and fishing expeditions along
the river are popular and provide close viewing of animals in their natural
habitat. As do organised walking safaris and night time game drives.
Accommodation
There are
several places to stay in the park and it is usually necessary to book in
advance.
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