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- Zambia National Parks and Game Reserves
Zambia National Parks and Game Reserves
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
The parks offers a variety of accommodation ranging from lodges, chalets and campsites. it is advisable to book accommodation in advance, Some lodges and camps close during the rainy season, September to May, but there are a few open all year round.
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 several fully equipped safari camps which need to be booked in advance
Recommended Safaris
Wild Zambia Camping SafariAn adventure, participating camping safari starting in Malawi onto Zambia visiting South and North Luangwa, then back to Malawi.13 Days - USD $3,400
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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
