Overview–zambia

Kasanka National Park

Kasanka National Park is the only privately managed national park in the country. It is run by a charity, the Kasanka Trust, and all proceeds go back into conservation and the surrounding communities. Between October and December, it hosts an annual bat migration comprising up to 12 million individual fruit bats. Witnessing these large flocks silhouetted against the sunset sky is an image that will stay with you forever.

Best Time to Visit

To see the annual bat migration you need to visit Kasanka National Park from October to December, at the beginning of the Wet season. November is your best bet to get the optimum experience with around 10 million bats roosting. General wildlife viewing is best from the middle of the Dry season until the end (July to October), but birding is best throughout the Wet season (November to April).

May to October –Dry Season

A chance to see the bat migration in October
General wildlife viewing is at its best this time of year
Sunny weather and it rarely rains
There are few mosquitoes and the risk of malaria is minimal
The sky is very hazy and the bush looks parched
October is very hot
Mornings are chilly and warm clothing is advisable for early morning game drives

November to April –Wet Season

November is the best time to see the roosting fruit bats
The scenery is green and fresh – the ‘Emerald season’
Best birding time as migrants are present
There are many newborn animals
Wildlife viewing is better in the Dry season
Roads become bad after heavy rain
Hot and humid
Malaria is a bigger concern than in the Dry season
There are no charter flights in the Wet season (except November)

Scenery

Although relatively small, the park has a good variety of habitats. Of major interest is the big swamp area that shelters the sitatunga. The rest of the park is a mosaic of grassland, miombo woodland, and evergreen thickets. The rivers are fringed by forest.

Excellent

Good

Fair

Poor

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

Mar

April

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sept

Rates

From: $204 to $1,223 pp/day

Best Time to Go

From: October to December (Bat migration)

High Season

From: October to December (The park gets busy)

Size

From: 420km² / 160mi²

Wildlife & Animals

Kasanka National Park is not a conventional safari destination, but a fair amount of wildlife can be seen. Small populations of elephants and buffalo are present, but finding them can be a challenge. More prominent are several antelope species, including puku, common duiker, and bushbuck. Kasanka is one of the best places in Africa to see the elusive sitatunga antelope. Watching these swamp-dwelling creatures wade through wetlands draped in early morning fog is a highlight of any stay in the park.

Wildlife Highlights

The world’s largest mammal migration, comprising millions of straw-colored fruit bats, descends en masse on a small swamp forest within the park from October to December. You can climb one of several watchtowers to witness the bats fill the sky for a solid 20 minutes before they disperse to feed nocturnally. Look out for raptors, such as crowned eagles and African fish eagles, swooping in to hunt.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Kasanka can be visited throughout the year, but general wildlife viewing is best in the middle and end of the Dry season, from July to October, when the bush has dried out, and animals gather at predictable water sources. Depending on the rains, October to December is the time to witness the roosting fruit bats.

General Wheather

Kasanka National Park has a distinct Wet and Dry season and a hot climate. Because it’s located in Africa’s tropical zone, the average temperature doesn’t change much from month to month – although in October temperatures do increase before the rains. Nights are generally cooler from May to August.

Dry Season –May to October

There is almost no rain in the Dry season. It is warm during the day, but cold at night and in the early morning. Warm clothing is essential for early morning game drives.

May – At the start of the Dry season, the bush is still thick, and there’s plenty of water around, but rainfall has become negligible.
June & July – Rainfall has ceased, and the bush is drying out. With daytime temperatures of around 24°C/75°F, the coolest months have arrived. Cold nights can be expected with temperatures averaging a paltry 9°C/48°F.
August & September – The lack of rainfall continues into these months. The vegetation is starting to wilt. The heat is increasing – September has an average daytime temperature of 28°C/82°F. Mornings are fairly mild at 15°C/59°F on average.
October – Rising temperatures average 30°C/86°F. Peak temperatures can be much higher, and the heat can become oppressive during the day. Mornings are mild with temperatures around 17°C/63°F. The first rainfall is normally experienced late October, and temperatures drop after the rain.

Wet Season –November to April

This time of year is warm and wet. It rains a lot and thunderstorms are often dramatic. The bush is lush, and when it’s not raining, there are clear skies.

November – If rain hasn’t begun in late October, it usually comes in November. The bush is tinder dry, so the rain is a relief. The average daytime temperature is 29°C/84°F. Rainfall mostly comes in the form of afternoon thunderstorms.
December, January, February & March – These are the wettest months, and it rains a lot, but there is often sunshine during the day as well. Daytime temperatures average 29°C/84°F, while night and early morning temperatures average 14°C/57°F.
April – This is a lovely month as the rain is winding down and the landscape is lush and green.

Prons

A chance to see up to 12 million fruit bats from October to December
The great birding destination with many Zambian specials
Wildlife hide overlooking a swamp providing a chance to see sitatunga
All park proceeds go back into conservation and the community
Walks, game drives, canoe, and cycling trips offered

Cons

Animals are skittish and limited variety of flagship species
Off the beaten track and not easily combined with Zambia’s main attractions

How To Get There

Kasanka National Park is located 520km/323mi northwest of Lusaka, the capital of Zambia. The drive, on a good tar road, takes about 7 hours*.

To get to Zambia, visitors can fly to the main airport, Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), located 14km/9mi from Lusaka. Alternatively, if visiting Victoria Falls, you can fly in or out of Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport (LVI), just outside of Livingstone and close to the falls.

*Driving times are only a rough indication. You should always consider the possibility of significant delays.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

Please check Skyscanner to see which airlines can take you to Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), and what tickets would cost.

www.skyscanner.com

Domestic Flights

There are no scheduled flights to Kasanka.

The easiest way to get to the park is by chartered plane. Sky Trails offers flights to Kasanka throughout the Dry season from May to October and into November. Mulembo Airstrip is conveniently located near Wasa Lodge.

Passport, Visa & Other Entry Requirements

Please check our Getting There – Zambia page to learn more about passports, visas, COVID-19, and other entry requirements.