Kasanka National Park

Pros & Cons

• All park proceeds go back into conservation and the community
• Great birding destination with many Zambian specials
• Wildlife hide overlooking a swamp providing a chance to see sitatunga
• Little-visited, off-the-beaten-track destination
• Walks, game drives, canoe and motorboat trips offered
• Fishing in the Luwombwa River
• A chance to see 10 million fruit bats from October to December
• Low wildlife densities and limited variety of flagship species
• Limited accommodation
• Fishing villages take away some of the wilderness appeal
• Getting to the park is expensive and difficult

Wildlife

Kasanka doesn't have big wildlife densities, but there are some interesting species. Top of the list is the elusive sitatunga. This semi-aquatic antelope can be observed from Fibwe Hide, a platform overlooking a wetland area. Other mammals easily spotted are Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, sable and puku. Of particular interest is the annual Kasanka bat migration; millions of straw-coloured fruit bats fill the sky around November when they descend en masse on a small forest within the park.

• More about Kasanka's wildlife

Scenery

Although quite small, the park has a good variety of habitats. Of major interest is the big swamp area, home to the sitatunga. The rest of the park is a mosaic of grassland, miombo woodland and evergreen thickets. The rivers are fringed by forest.

Weather & Climate

During its Dry season (May to October), Kasanka has a lovely daytime temperature. But nighttime is chilly and you’ll need lots of warm clothing if you’re going on an early or late game drive. The Wet season (November to April) brings spectacular storms and more warmth.

• More about the weather and climate

Best Time to Visit

The latter part of the Dry season (May to October) is ideal for finding animals – they won’t stray far from the remaining sources of water. Roosting fruit bats and newborn animals are some of the attractions of the wetter months, though it’s much harder to get around the park once the rains have started. Either way, you won’t be troubled by crowds as Kasanka never gets many visitors.

• More about the best time to visit

Want to Visit Kasanka NP?

• Kasanka safaris and tours
• Tour operators for Kasanka