Discover Kasanka National Park in Zambia

When British expat David Lloyd visited the park in 1985, he heard gunfire everywhere for days. The animal life here had been almost totally eradicated. He concluded that if there was still poaching, there must still be wild animals and started an initiative to save the park. He worked with a local farmer, sought funding, and applied for official permission to rehabilitate the park with a lot of his own money. They built camps, roads, and bridges to allow people access and then set up Kasanka Trust for fundraising for this community project. Slowly but surely money started coming from tourism so the costs could be covered. A few years later, the department of National Parks and Wildlife Services signed an agreement with Kasanka Trust for a decade on behalf of the local community to develop tourism further.

Large herds of elephants and predators such as lions and cheetahs will rarely be seen here. However, you will enjoy the beautiful nature and Kasanka is the habitat of some of Zambia’s rarest animals. During walks or game drives you can enjoy populations of hippos, sable antelopes, puku and hartebeests. In November and December, large clouds of bats (upwards of a couple of million) can be observed at sunset.
The largest resident predator in the park is the leopard. Lions and hyenas no longer reside here, but hyenas do come to visit for part of their annual cycle. Jackals can be seen early mornings by those who take notice.

More than 330 bird species have been recorded in Kasanka. Examples include the rare Pel’s fishing owl, the Pygmy goose, the Ross’s lourie, osprey, and the wattled crane. If you’re really lucky you can also catch a glimpse of the rare shoebill stork here. The best way to spot them is by canoe or motorboat as most of the birds are along the riverbanks.

Wasa Lodge is a serene place in the heart of Kasanka National Park, overlooking Wasa Lake. The rustic property offers guests an intimate and unforgettable experience with its scenic views that will take your breath away. The simple but cozy Wasa Lodge is located on the edge of Lake Wasa in the eastern part of Kasanka National Park. The lodge is perfectly situated close to a treehouse located at 18 meters. From here you have a fantastic view of the Kapabi Swamp. It is very likely that you will spot sitatunga antelopes here, as well as buffalo and in the right season of course the bats.