Kasanka National Park & Bangweulu Wetlands Holidays
Why you should visit Kasanka National Park & Bangweulu Wetlands
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Search for the elusive and endangered Shoebill stork
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Visit the Africa House and ride the trails of the explorers
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Delight in the large herds of animals found in this region
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Take the road less travelled to view bats and birds galore
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Meet the local communities adapted to living here
Our specialist’s ‘Must Do’
The Bengwelu wetland basin is the place to see the elusive shoebill stork, the black lechwe, the sitatunga and the Sable antelope. Spend days in Kasanka walking or on a canoe and, in season, you can also enjoy fishing. Experience a different kind of safari by joining a group to view the thousands of bats coming to roost near the Kapabi swamp.
A little more about Kasanka National Park & Bangweulu Wetlands
Kasanka National Park in the Northern region of Zambia is run by The Kasanka Trust, a charity working to conserve and develop it. This peaceful sanctuary, situated on the south western edge of the Lake Bangweulu basin, is one of Zambia’s smallest National Parks. It is 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. Kasanka is a beautiful wilderness of woodland, plains, lakes, rivers and swamps.
Kasanka is Zambia’s first national park under private management and is entirely reliant on tourism revenue and charitable funding. As well as its attraction for visitors its conservation area, with diverse flora and fauna, forms a valuable protected area for many endangered species.
The Bangweulu wetlands, just north of Kasanka are one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife secrets with over 100,000 Black Lechwe and the world’s most visible Shoebill storks.
This region incorporating both parks offers the more experienced African safari goer an opportunity to get off the beaten track and experience one of the last wildernesses of Africa. The waterways offer extraordinary bird watching and intimate encounters with large herds of animals from the silent safety of a canoe. Walking on the islands offers an unrivalled experience with large herds of elephant. The Kasanka National Park & Bangweulu Wetlands offer you exemplary wildlife viewing with very few people who will mar your experience.
When to go
Kasanka National Park is an all year round destination with the best bird viewing available in the wet season from November to March and the best game viewing time is in the dry season between May and October. Do keep in mind that October is very hot.
The Bengwelu Swamps are accessed only by boat in the rainy season between November and March when the birdlife is phenomenal. Access by 4x4 should start after April to view the wildlife at close quarters. June and July are usually dry enough to walk over the matted vegetation islands, with August to October dry but extremely hot in the day and very cold at night.
For more information on a small group or tailor made tour to Kasanka or Bengwelu please contact Illona, our Zambia specialist on 01285 650 011.