Kasanka & Bangweulu

Kasanka is one of the smallest parks in Zambia and is unique by being privately run. The habitat is a varied mixture of Miombo woodland, riverine forest, evergreen swamp forest and papyrus swamps. It also has lakes, lagoons, plains, dambos and marshes. The game concentrations are not high, but there are a number of specialist species here including Sitatunga, Lichtenstein's Hartebeest, Sable, Grysbok and Blue Monkey. The birdlife is exceptional with nearly 400 species having been recorded, including the rare Pel's Fishing Owl, Wattled Crane and Ross' Lourie. It is a particularly good place to visit between March and June when the rains will have stopped but the towering cumulo-nimbus clouds, lush greenery and fairly high water level will result in superb photographic opportunities.

Wasa Camp is a small, rustic, but comfortable camp, overlooking Lake Wasa and close to the Sitatunga hide and Mushitu (swamp) forest. There are eight chalets, three of which have en-suite facilities and private verandahs. The camp offers excellent walking trails, as well as safaris by canoe and 4-wheel drive.

Bangweulu is a vast watery wilderness about 55 kilometres north-east of Kasanka National Park. The endemic Black Lechwe congregate here in herds of 10,000 strong. Elephant, Tsessebe, Cape Buffalo, Reedbuck, Oribi and Sitatunga have also adapted to this area and can be found in good numbers. The birdlife is prolific, particularly at the end of the rains (March to May). One of the magnificent rewards for visiting this area is the possibility of sighting the increasingly rare Shoebill, an unusual stork-like bird, now considered to be a distant relative of the pelican. Bangweulu is a days drive from Kasanka (past Chief Chitambo's village, where Dr Livingstone's heart was buried), and on to the expansive wetlands of the Bangweulu Swamps and Shoebill Camp. (It is also possible to do this as a short light aircraft hop.)

Shoebill Camp is the only camp in this remote and rarely-visited wildlife paradise. The camp sleeps twelve, each twin-bedded tent having its own toilet and shower. Excursions are conducted on foot, by 4-wheel drive and in boats around the swamps (subject to the very variable water conditions).