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 KASANKA
NATIONAL
PARK
This peaceful sanctuary, situated on the south
western edge of the Lake Bangweulu basin, is one of Zambia’s smallest national parks.
It's 450 km2 however, are so well endowed with rivers, lakes and 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 round 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 were 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 in 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, riverine fringing 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, osprey and the
wattled crane. If you’re lucky you’ll catch a glimpse of the rare Shoebill
stork.
Where
to stay
Visitors are welcomed at the fully equipped safari camps:
Luwombwa Camp, accommodating 10 guests with boats and canoes for meanderings down the
exquisitely beautiful Luwombwa river. Wasa Camp, on the shores of lake Wasa, has six twin
bed bungalows. Accommodation is simple but comfortable. Full catering is provided for
fly-in clients and an experienced cook is on call for self catering clients. A campsite
with washing and basic cooking facilities is located on the north western tip of the park.
See the
Kasanka Trust Ltd
site for much more
information on this privately managed Game Park and accommodation options.
Getting
there
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.
What
to See
Not to be missed is the unique platform hide,
18m high in a giant mululu tree with a panoramic view over the Kapabi Swamp. The rare and
elusive sitatunga aquatic antelope feeds in the swamps below in the early mornings
or late afternoons.
A startling site from the hide in November and December is the evening
flight of several million fruit bats leaving their roosts in search of food,
darkening the sky for a few moments.
The Chisamba Wamponde pan attracts large herds
of puku, spur winged goose and saddle bill storks and hosts many hippos and waterbuck.
Duiker are often seen in the woodlands fringing the pan. Lake Ndolwa is a beautiful
and secluded spot where the shy shoebill stork has been seen in the papyrus reeds flanking
the lake. Chikufwe Plain is particularly rewarding in the early hours of the
morning during the dry season. The plain is the favourite haunt of the sable and also
attracts large numbers of hartebeest, reedbuck and occasionally a few zebra and buffalo.
This is an excellent birdwatching site too, especially for raptors such as the black
breasted snake eagle.
When
to go
Kasanka ia 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.
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