Overview–zambia

Nsumbu National Park

Nsumbu National Park incorporates 100km/60 mi of Lake Tanganyika’s beautiful shoreline. Although it is not a prime wildlife-viewing destination, there are lots of good reasons to visit this off-the-beaten-track park. Two lakeside lodges offer a range of activities including fishing, boat trips, and walking safaris. And who wouldn’t want to chill out for a couple of days on a hideaway beach fringing the crystal clear waters of Africa’s oldest, longest, and most voluminous lake

Best Time to Visit

Nsumbu National Park can be visited throughout the year. Wildlife tends to gather around the lake and rivers (the last remaining sources of water) from July to October – the middle and end of the Dry season. These are the best wildlife-viewing months, as vegetation also thins out giving clearer sightings. The best time for perch fishing is March and April.

May to October –Dry Season

The ideal time for wildlife viewing
Sunny and dry
Malaria risk is less of a concern with fewer mosquitoes around
Hazy skies and parched-looking bush
October is very hot

November to April –Wet Season

The scenery is green and lush
The best birding months – migrants are in the park
March and April are ideal fishing months
The Dry season has the best wildlife viewing
Rain can interfere with lake activities
Roads can become difficult to navigate after heavy rain
The heat and humidity are uncomfortable
Malaria is more of a worry in the Wet season

Scenery

The park includes a small part of Lake Tanganyika, one of Africa’s most scenic Rift Valley lakes. Sandy beaches, rocky coves, and natural bays follow the park’s long shoreline. Inland are grassy hills interrupted by the picturesque Lufubu River in a valley flanked by escarpments on either side.

Excellent

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Fair

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Nov

Rates

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

Best Time to Go

From: July to October (Animals are easy to find)

High Season

From: Never (The park never gets busy)

Size

From: 2,000km² / 772mi²

Wildlife & Animals

A variety of animals can be seen in Nsumbu National Park. Poaching has been a problem, but wildlife numbers are recovering slowly. Hippos are common in the lake, and big crocodiles, up to 6m/20ft long, lie on the sandy banks. Buffalo and elephants sometimes come to drink at the shore. Bushbuck, puku, and warthog frequent the beaches as well, while eland, Africa’s largest antelope, sticks to the hills.

Wildlife Highlights

The rare blue duiker is a forest-dwelling species and one of the unusual inhabitants of Nsumbu. So is the swamp-loving sitatunga antelope. Coming across a herd of roan or sable antelope is always a treat. You might also see small predators such as serval and side-striped jackal.

Best Time for Wildlife Viewing

Nsumbu 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 make their way to the lakeshore. The vegetation thins out as well during these months, which makes spotting animals easier.

General Wheather

As with other parks in Zambia, Nsumbu National Park has a hot climate with a Wet and Dry season. The average temperature varies little from month to month; however, a notable increase occurs in October before the rains. From May to August, nights can be rather chilly.

Dry Season –May to October

The bush gets drier and drier as the season progresses and rainfall diminishes. It is warm during the day, but cold at night and in the early morning. Warm clothing is recommended for early morning game drives.

May – This is the beginning of the Dry season. The park is still thick with vegetation, and there is a great deal of water around, but little or no rain.
June & July – The bush is drying out and rain has ceased. These are the coolest months. Daytime temperatures hover around 29°C/84°F in June. At night the temperature falls to an average of 16°C/61°F.
August & September – The bush is starting to look very dry. It is becoming warmer, and September has an average daytime temperature of 29°C/84°F. Mornings are very mild with average temperatures of 19°C/66°F.
October – The exact timing is unpredictable, but the first rain usually falls at the end of this month. It is hot and humid with temperatures averaging 31°C/88°F. The heat can become oppressive in the middle of the day. Mornings are lovely with temperatures around 20°C/68°F.

Wet Season –November to April

It often rains during the warm Wet season and thunderstorms can light up the sky. Otherwise, conditions are clear and the bush is lush.

November – The rains begin to fall in late October or November. The average daytime temperature is 30°C/86°F. Afternoon thunderstorms are common.
December, January, February & March – These are the wettest months and it often showers, but there is usually some sunshine during the day. Daytime temperatures hover around 31°C/88°F, while nights average a very pleasant 18°C/64°F.
April – This is a lovely month as the rain starts to dwindle, but everything is still lush and green.

Prons

Very scenic park on the shore of Lake Tanganyika
Fantastic freshwater fishing (tigerfish, Tanganyika perch and lake salmon)
Water sports including scuba diving available at Ndole Bay Lodge outside the park
Little-visited, off-the-beaten-track destination

Cons

Low wildlife numbers
Getting to the park is expensive and difficult

How To Get There

Arrival in Zambia by air is usually through Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (LUN), located 14km/9mi from the capital, Lusaka.

Nsumbu National Park is in the far north of the country, about 1,200km/745mi from Lusaka, and is very remote.
Currently, the main accommodation for visitors is Ndole Bay Lodge, just outside the park. The easiest way to get there is by chartered plane to the airstrip in Nsumbu National Park. The lodge will organize a transfer from there by boat.
You can also drive yourself to Mpulungu (on the shores of Lake Tanganyika) and book a lake transfer to the lodge.
A more adventurous option is to take the government-operated ferry between Mpulungu and the small township of Nsumbu, where the lodge is located. Ndole Bay Lodge offers free pickups and drop-offs to the harbor in Nsumbu for guests staying at the lodge.
There are no scheduled flights to Nsumbu.

Airlines & Ticket Prices

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