Today, do not expect to the heart-stopping walking safaris amongst elephant herds, or lions brushing past your open vehicle as in the larger parks. Here you will find some of the rarest birds and animals in the country, found in the beautiful Miombo woodlands, swamp forest, grasslands, floodplains and riverine bushveld, to be enjoyed on leisurely walks and drives. There are ample opportunities for fishing tigerfish, bream and barbel in the beautiful Luwombwa RIVER.

You will also get to see hippo, sable antelope, and Liechtenstein’s hartebeest which recovered from deplition. The puku, once reduced to a few hundred, today exceed 1500. There are fairly big herds of the swamp-dwelling sitatunga, reedbuck, waterbuck, Sharpe’s grysbok and the rare blue monkey.

Elephants also appear from time to time, and their numbers are expected to recover. Together with Kasanka’s noted birdlife, the animals can be seen on guided walks through the grassy plains, mushitu forests, large tracts of miombo woodland, and alongside riverine forest and papyrus swamps.

Over 330 bird species have been recorded, including such rarities as Pel’s fishing owl, the Pygmy goose, Ross’s loerie, the osprey and the wattled crane. Every once in a while, lucky visitors are able to catch a glimpse of the rare shoebill stork.

Best Time to Visit

Kasanka is open all year round. Birding is especially good in the wet season from November to March when migrants arrive from the north. Game viewing is best in the dry months from May to October.