This Park is an undiscovered
gem. The vast plains are spectacular in the dry season and transform
completely from a dry grass flatland to a watery wonderland in the wet
season, as the flats fill with water and the migratory birds arrive from
far and wide.
Until recently, this park
was not open to the public as it fell under the preserve of the Defence
Ministry.
It was established more than
40 years ago by the Critchleys, a retired colonel from the British Army
and his wife Erica - an environmentally oriented farming family
who then sold it to the National Parks Department.
Their farmhouse still exists
which is now the Park reception. A little further on are two old
chalets and two new chalets available for accommodation.
Blue Lagoon lies only 120kms
west of Lusaka on the Kafue Flats and the vast floodplain attracts
thousands of Kafue lechwe, zebra, sitatunga, some buffalo and numerous waterbirds. The
plains are fringed with acacia woodland. This park is an birdwatchers
dream. The abundance and variety is astounding and the fact that it has
not been opened up until recently and is still undeveloped, makes it one
of those last untouched places left in Africa.
This park, along with the
Lochinvar National Park on the other side of the Kafue Flats together
hold the largest concentrations of the Kafue Lechwe and herds numbering
in the hundreds can be observed here.
The
Lechwe is the most water-loving antelope. It loves these habitats of
floodplains and seasonally inundated grasslands. It frequently feeds in
shallow water and will submerge if threatened. Although
lechwe run in herds of about 30, several thousand may gather together on
the floodplains.
An unusual site on the
plains is the site of huge river pythons which are attracted by the
concentration of the lechwe and birds.
This Park provides a stark
contrast to the other Parks in Zambia because of the vast flat lansdcape
and spectacular birding - a good add-on to your tour of Zambia.
There are no organised safaris here at the moment
so the only option for accommodation is the self catering chalets at the
entrance. Or ask to be guided down to an abandoned camp at the waters edge where
one can safely set up camp.
By April 2008 a new lodge
will be open just 30km before the Park.
Mutumbi Safari Lodge
will be
located on a raised hill which affords wonderful views over the Kafue
Flats. It will be an exclusive lodge of just four log cabins, each
with an outdoor secluded bathroom. The cosy restaurant and bar surround
a large pool in lovely gardens. Horse riding and mountain biking
will be available as well as game drives into the Park, just 30
minutes away. An excellent weekend getaway from Lusaka.
BLUE
LAGOON
NATIONAL
PARK
