What Kasanka National Park lacks in size, it makes up for in the sheer diversity of habitats and species. The park covers 390 km2 (150 sq mi) in Zambia's Central Province, approximately 521km from Lusaka by road. The park is famous for the annual bat migration – said to be the largest mammal migration on the planet – which takes place from October to December. The park's scenery is spectacular and regarded as having the finest bird-watching opportunities on the planet. The park does not see a lot of visitors, but thanks to a public-private partnership, it is well-managed and a favourite with passionate nature lovers.
Would-be visitors to Kasanka National Park should be aware that this is not a Big 5 safari destination, although you may see elephants, buffalo and leopards. That said, with a mammal list of over 114 species, including your best chance of seeing a shy sitatunga in the wild, the park has much to offer. Add to that over 470 bird species, habitats that seem to change around every bend, low tourist volumes, and the opportunity to explore the park by vehicle, boat, foot or bicycle, and you have a destination that is sure to keep you mesmerised throughout your stay.
Kasanka National Park, Zambia is located 520km (323mi) northwest of capital, Lusaka and the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, with a driving time of roughly seven hours on a good paved road. Numerous international airlines service the route, although international flights may require a stopover in a third country.. There are no scheduled flights to Kasanka, with the only option by air being a private charter. Africa’s Eden Travel will gladly help you make these and other travel arrangements for a visit to the park. Visitors are advised not to travel on the roads in Zambia by night due to the prevalence of pedestrians and animals on the roads.
The key attractions at Kasanka are the straw-coloured bat migration, which takes place from October to December (peaking in November), and the birding. From these perspectives, the best time to go is during the Wet Season (November-April). Although not to the extent of other parks, the migration is also the busiest time for tourism. Birding is best throughout the Summer, particularly with the arrival of Migrant species. For general game viewing, the Dry Season is the better option when the thinning vegetation makes wildlife spotting easier. Visitors must note that no charter flights into the park are possible with the rains, and many roads are inaccessible.