Kasanka National Park

Wildlife & Animals

Expert

Philip is our Zambia expert and author of more than 20 guidebooks to Africa.

Kasanka National Park is not a conventional safari destination, but a fair amount of wildlife can be seen. Small populations of elephant 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.

ElephantOccasional

GiraffeNone

HippoCommon

BuffaloOccasional

ZebraRare

WildebeestNone

White RhinoNone

Black RhinoNone

LionNone

LeopardVery Rare

CheetahNone

HyenaVery Rare

Wild DogNone

Wildlife Highlights

The world’s largest mammal migration, comprising millions of straw-coloured 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 eagle and African fish eagle, 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.