Travel Guide Kasanka National Park

A small haven of peace located southwest of the Bangweulu Plain, Kasanka Park is only 450 square kilometers in size, but offers a diverse landscape of rivers, lakes, papyrus swamps, miombo forests, and vast lush grasslands. Although declared a national park in 1972, the reserve was, like so many others, subject to intensive poaching and it was not until the late 1980s, under the leadership of David Lloyd, a British expatriate, and Gareth Williams, a local farmer, that the park's fortunes improved. The two men raised enough money to found the Kasanka Trust and obtained government permission to manage the park, making Kasanka the first national park to be managed by a private company. Roads and bridges and two camps were built, with the cooperation of, and for the benefit of, the local population.Bat migration. In November and December, an amazing natural spectacle can be seen when, shortly before sunset, the sky is darkened by millions of bats leaving their roosts in search of food. This annual migration of nearly 10 million bats is the largest mammal migration in the world! It attracts safari enthusiasts curious to discover new animal phenomena.Game drive. Today, even if the safaris are not as breathtaking as in the neighboring Luangwa parks, Kasanka National Park promises beautiful excursions (by car, on foot or by dugout canoe, or even by bicycle) to discover rare mammal and bird species. With the decrease in poaching, hippos, zebras, sable, pukus, kobs and Liechtenstein's damalisque are beginning to repopulate the park. Buffalo and elephants are also seen from time to time and their numbers are increasing. Kasanka is also home to the tallest tree in Central and Southern Africa, a Mofu tree, which is estimated to be 65 meters high and dominates the canopy. This national park is also a gateway to the Bangweulu Swamps, renowned for its birdlife and the rare shoebill.The sitatunga. Most importantly, Kasanka is renowned as one of the best places in Africa to see the sitatunga, a shy, tawny-colored water antelope also known as the waterbuck.Conservation fees. The park entrance fee is US$ 10 per day per adult and US$ 15 per car.