Kasanka National Park
Fruit Bats, Sitatunga And Swamp Forest: Inside Kasanka National Park
Kasanka National Park is small, and it does not pretend otherwise. At about 450 km² it is one of Zambia's smallest national parks, set on the south-western edge of the Bangweulu basin in Central Province. What it lacks in size it makes up for in variety. There is miombo woodland, papyrus swamp, seasonally flooded dambos, lakes and rivers, plus a pocket of mushitu swamp forest. Each habitat has its own wildlife.
Most people come for the bats. Each year millions of straw-coloured fruit bats gather in a small patch of that mushitu forest. At dusk they pour out of the roost to feed, so many that they fill the sky. Guided hides are the place to watch from. Hides are limited in number, so enquire early if the bat migration is the reason for your trip.
Away from the roost, Kasanka National Park rewards slow, patient looking. Sitatunga, the swamp-dwelling antelope, are a speciality. Lichtenstein's hartebeest, puku, sable, reedbuck, waterbuck, Sharpe's grysbok and the blue monkey are all recorded here, along with hippo and elephant. Predators are seldom seen. Birdwatchers have more than 470 species to work through, including Pel's fishing owl, African pitta and wattled crane. With luck, you may even add a shoebill.
Kasanka suits travellers who would rather have a quiet, specialist stay than big-game numbers. Think bat-watching, sitatunga hides, guided walks and birding. If daily lion and leopard sightings are the priority, pair it with a larger park. Uyaphi has arranged tailor-made safaris since 1999, and we can build Kasanka into a longer Zambia itinerary.
Kasanka National Park Facts
- Size: about 450 square kilometres
- Location: Central Province, on the south-western edge of the Bangweulu basin
- Managed by: Kasanka Trust Ltd, in partnership with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife
- Lodges & accommodation: see the Kasanka Bat Safari
- Location: Central Province, on the south-western edge of the Bangweulu basin
- Distance from Lusaka: about 525 km, roughly 9 hours by road
Kasanka National Park On The Map
Google Maps does not show the national park as such, so we use HERE WeGo maps for a more accurate view of its boundaries: HERE WeGo Maps - Kasanka National Park. Zoom in and out to see what surrounds it.
Main Attractions Of Kasanka National Park
- The fruit bat roost
- Sitatunga and Lichtenstein's hartebeest
- Birdlife, from Pel's fishing owl to African pitta
- Elephant sightings, which are always special here
Malaria precautions apply throughout Zambia, including Kasanka. See our Zambia malaria guide and our guide to malaria in Africa.
Kasanka National Park: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Kasanka National Park?
Kasanka National Park is in Zambia's Central Province, on the south-western edge of the Bangweulu basin, about 525 km from Lusaka. The drive from Lusaka takes roughly nine hours. UNESCO describes the park as a wildlife corridor between the Bangweulu wetlands and the Luangwa Valley.
How big is Kasanka National Park?
Kasanka covers about 450 km², which makes it one of Zambia's smallest national parks. For comparison, Kafue National Park covers 22,400 km², roughly fifty times the area. Sources differ on the exact figure, and UNESCO's tentative-list entry gives 390 km².
Who manages Kasanka National Park?
Kasanka Trust Ltd manages the park in partnership with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife. The Trust is a non-profit that has operated since 1986, and Kasanka was the first Zambian national park run as a public-private partnership. Its funds go to park management and community outreach.
Is Kasanka a World Heritage Site?
No, Kasanka is not a World Heritage Site, but it is on Zambia's UNESCO Tentative List. The case rests on the bat gathering, which UNESCO's entry puts at up to 8 to 10 million fruit bats roosting in an area of less than one square kilometre. The park is also a Key Biodiversity Area.
What is the Kasanka bat migration?
It is the annual gathering of straw-coloured fruit bats in a small patch of mushitu swamp forest in the park. UNESCO's entry puts the numbers at up to 8 to 10 million. The bats arrive from across Central Africa to feed on wild fruit, and guided hides let you watch them leave the roost at dusk.
What wildlife can you see besides the bats?
The park has recorded 114 mammal species, including sitatunga, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, puku, hippo and elephant. Kasanka Trust reintroduced zebra and buffalo. More than 470 bird species have been recorded, among them Pel's fishing owl, African pitta and, with luck, shoebill. Predators are seldom seen here.
How does Kasanka compare with South Luangwa?
Kasanka is far smaller and quieter than South Luangwa, and its appeal is different. It is about swamp forest, lakes, sitatunga, birdlife and the bats, with predators seldom seen. South Luangwa is a much larger riverside park, covered on our South Luangwa pages. We can plan the two together in one itinerary.
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