Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe - Zambia Parks & Reserves

Namibia Parks & Reserves

AI-AIS/RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK

 

The Ai-Ais Richtersveld – Transfrontier Park spans some of the most spectacular scenery of the arid and desert environments in Southern Africa. Bisected by the Orange River, which forms the border between South Africa and Namibia, it comprises the Ai-Ais Hot Springs Park in Namibia and the Richtersveld National Park in South Africa.

Rugged kloofs (ravines), high mountains, dramatic landscapes and sandy planes form South Africa’s largest mountain desert park, covering 160 000 ha, The harsh Richtersveld nurtures 30% of all South Africa’s succulent species among which the famous “half man plant” and three quiver tree species. With less than 50mm of rain annually, the park is home to leopards, lizards, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, gemsbok, springbok, klipspringer, ground squirrel and suricate. It’s the land for adventurers and the indigenous Richtersveld people.

Some of the distinctive features on the Namibian side include the Ai-Ais Hot springs and the 2nd largest canyon in the world, the Fish River Canyon. Ai-Ais, which means, “burning water” in one of the local languages, refers to the sulphurous hot springs which are found in this area. The awe-inspiring Fish River Canyon measures 160 km in length, up to 27 km in width and reaches a depth of 550 m. Although the Park is not known as a game park, springbok, gemsbok, red hartebeest, Hartman’s zebra, kudu, klipspringer and ostrich survive in this harsh land.

AI-AIS/RICHTERSVELD TRANSFRONTIER PARK is included in Tours 07, 21, 22, 24, 25, 30-33 & 42

CAPRIVI GAME PARK

 

The 32km-wide Caprivi Game Park of 5 715km² extends for about 180 km from the Okavango River to the Kwando River. The riverine forests along these rivers attract large numbers of mammals and numerous species of aquatic birds. Caprivi Game Park is home to buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard, hippo, and roan and other antelopes.

CAPRIVI GAME PARK is included in Tours 49 & 50

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK

 

Etosha National Park, with its wealth of animal and plant life, lies in the north of Namibia and covers an area of 22,270 km². It is one of the largest game parks in Africa. The pans cover an area of 5140 km², of which the Etosha Pan, which is 120 km at its longest and 72 km at its widest, is the largest. Because of the diversity of soil types in the park, a large variety of vegetation occurs, which brings along a huge variety of animal life. The approximate number of larger animals is as follows: 1,500 elephant, 300 black rhino, 2,000 giraffe, 6,000 Burchell zebra, 700 mountain zebra, 2,600 blue wildebeest, 4,000 gemsbok, 250 eland, 2,000 kudu, 600 red hartebeest, 70 roan antelope, 20,000 springbok, 700 black faced impala, 1,500 ostrich, 300 lion and an unknown number of leopards and cheetahs.

Of the 340 bird species that have been identified in Etosha, approximately a third are migratory. Of the 35 raptor species, 10 are migratory. What makes Etosha different from many other parks is the excellent game viewing opportunities at the illuminated waterholes at the three camps Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni. Here you can sit and relax day and night and watch the behavior and interactions of animals at the waterholes.

ETOSHA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 47-50

MAHANGO GAME RESERVE

 

The small but picturesque Mahango Game Reserve is situated in the north-east of Namibia on the Botswana border. Mahango covers an area of about 30,000 hectares and is separated from the Caprivi Game Reserve by the Okavango River. Wildlife includes elephant, lion, leopard, cheetah, wild dog, hippo, lechwe, sitatunga, buffalo, sable, and roan and other antelopes. Mahango is known for its rich bird life

MAHANGO GAME RESERVE is included in Tours 49 & 50

MUDUMU NATIONAL PARK

 

The Kwando River runs through the Mudumu National Park which offers a true African wilderness experience. In contrast to the rest of Namibia, the area is lush with riverine forest, marches, dense savannah and mopane woodland. An astonishing 430 species of birds have been recorded (nearly 70% of Namibia’s total) and much game including the rare sitatunga and red lechwe as well as buffalo, elephant, zebra, antelopes, hippo and crocodiles.

MUDUMU NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 49 & 50

NAMIB NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK

 

Covering an area of 49,768 km², the Namib Naukluft National Park is not the only one of the largest parks in Africa but also one of the largest parks in the world. This desert park, bordering the cold Atlantic Ocean in the West, includes the Namib Desert, which is the oldest desert on Earth. The main attraction is Sossusvlei. This clay pan is surrounded by red sand dunes up to 380m high, which are among the highest in the world. Other very impressive areas are the Naukluft Mountains in the east and the barren Kuiseb valley in the north, which was made famous by Henno Martin's book "The Sheltering Desert". Although this is extremely barren country, gemsbok, springbok, ostrich and the rare Hartmann mountain zebra can be seen here.

NAMIB NAUKLUFT NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 22, 48 & 50

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK

 

The Skeleton Coast National Park bordering on the cold Atlantic Ocean in the Namib Desert is undoubtedly one of the most hostile places on earth. Many a ship has stranded on the Skeleton Coast with the inevitable loss of human life. South of the Park is the National West Coast Tourist Recreation Area and the largest breeding colony of Cape fur seals in Namibia, numbering thousands at Cape Cross. At the site of the seal colony is the replica of the cross, planted in 1485 by the first European to set foot in Namibia, the Portuguese explorer Diego Cao. The bizarre desert plant, the Welwitchia mirabilis, which can live for more than a thousand years, grows on the barren gravel plains of the Namib Desert. Nomadic Gemsbok, Springbok, Brown Hyena and Black-backed jackal roam this vast and unforgiving landscape.

SKELETON COAST NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 48 & 50

Botswana Parks & Reserves

CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE

 

The Central Kalahari is a place where you find your soul, where the modern world recedes and you can get in touch with the earth, the sky and the space. Where you are on your own in the wilderness and the stars at night are a canopy of delight. The Central Kalahari Game Reserve is the 2nd largest conservation area in the world and covers 51,800 km². It was made famous by Mark & Delia Owens who camped in Deception Valley while they researched and wrote "Cry of the Kalahari" in the mid 80's. The roads are generally firm in the north, except in the rainy season, but sandy in the South. This is 4x4 territory and there are no facilities whatsoever except a few primitive designated campsites. There are gemsbok, eland, wildebeest, springbok, tsessebe and steenbok. Predators encompasses lion, brown hyena, cheetah, leopard and the African wild cat. The reserve is home to many raptor species.

CENTRAL KALAHARI GAME RESERVE is included in Tours 51, 53 & 54

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK

 

Chobe Riverfront is renowned for its game throughout the year. The herds of elephant are among the largest in the world (estimated at 45,000). Huge prides of lions trail the game. Over 450 species of birds have been identified here. The skies are alive with birds of prey and the waters full of herons and waders. The rare African skimmer shoots across the water displaying its acrobatic fishing skills. Hippos and crocodiles lurk on the river edges. Chobe National Park covers 11,700 km². The vegetation varies from the tropical Linyanti swamp to the severe desert-like landscape of Savuti, from lush flood plain grassland to deep sands and woodlands. The animal migrations are dramatic. Zebra and wildebeest migrate in huge herds, eating the Savuti grasses on their way. Other big game animals and the ubiquitous lions follow them as the wet season ends at the beginning of the year. Then the plains heat up in the scorching sun and the animals retreat north under the dramatic sunsets as night approaches.

CHOBE NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 49, 50, 52, 54 & 55

KAA KALAHARI CONCESSION

 

The Kaa Kalahari Concession lies in the southwest of Botswana and borders on the north of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and is one of the last great unfenced wilderness areas in Southern Africa covering 1,3 million ha. Roughly 800 people live in a few small villages. There are two major ethnic groups; the Bakgalagadi and Basarwa or San. The latter lives here for 3 000 years.

Vast herds of game can still be seen in typical Kalahari veld with rolling grass plains and Acacia woodland. The area is dotted with pans (dry lakes) which fill up with water after good rains in summer and attract large herds of eland, gemsbok, springbok, red hartebeest, some predators and many birds. Over 50 species of raptors have been recorded here. Kaa Concession is of ecological importance as it is the migratory corridor between the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and Central Kalahari Reserve.

KAA KALAHARI CONCESSION is included in Tours 14, 53 & 54

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK

 

Kgalagadi Trans Frontier Park covers an area of 37 000 square km park, which is one of the largest conservation areas in the world and one of the last truly unspoiled ecosystems.

Endemic game such as gemsbok, springbok, eland, giraffe, blue wildebeest and red hartebeest roam the sparsely vegetated red sand dunes and the dry river valleys of the Nossob and Auob where a variety of acacia species thrive. The Park is well known for good sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah and spotted - and brown hyena are common residents. Because of an abundance of prey in the form of mice, whistling rats, birds and insects, smaller predators thrive in the park. The park is home to caracal, honey badger, black-backed jackal, bat-eared fox, cape fox, African wildcat, mongoose and the ever-popular suricate (meerkat).

KGALAGADI TRANSFRONTIER PARK is included in Tours 01-14, 24, 25, 32-36, 42, 48, 49, 53 & 54

KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY

 

The sanctuary is situated near Serowe. During the 1980's, due to indiscriminate poaching, rhinos were made almost extinct in Botswana. In 1992 a community trust wildlife was established to create a park to safeguard the few remaining rhino and to re-establish both black and white rhino populations in the area. This project has been highly successful and the reserve is now flourishing under the protection of the Botswana Defense Force and a dedicated team of conservationists. The reserve is situated on 4,300 hectares of Kalahari sandveld. Rhino share the reserve with giraffe, red hartebeest, ostrich, brown hyena, leopard, jackal, antelope and smaller mammals such as the bat-eared fox, lynx and wild cat. There is also abundant birdlife in the sanctuary with a large variety of raptors.

KHAMA RHINO SANCTUARY is included in Tours 51 & 52

KHWAI COMMUNITY TRUST & WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA

 

The Khwai Community Trust & Wildlife Management Area borders on the northern side of Moremi Game Reserve on the Khwai River and borders on Chobe National Park in the East. This pristine area is rich in wildlife and teems with bird life and is one of the last real wilderness areas in Botswana. Herds of elephant and buffalo come to drink in the Khwai River, home to many hippos and crocodiles. Waterbuck, giraffe, zebra, impala, kudu, roan antelope and red lechwe are common residents. Lions, leopard and spotted hyena are seen often and heard very often at night. Khwai is one of the best birding destinations in Botswana and various raptor sightings are common, with an abundance of bataleur. Ground hornbills, saddle billed stork, wattled crane, various heron species are just some regularly spotted species.

KHWAI COMMUNITY TRUST is included in Tours 52, 54 & 55

MAKGADIGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK

 

Makgadigadi Pans National Park covers an area of 4144 km² and incorporates the northwestern corner of the Ntwetwe Pan. Here you'll find open grasslands, shimmering pans, groves of palm trees, and lush riverine forest along the Boteti River. Vast herds of wildebeest and zebra migrate from the grasslands in the east to Boteti River as the pans dry up. Other game species to be seen here are elephant, white rhino, giraffe, gemsbok, kudu, springbok and impala. Predators are lion, cheetah, brown hyena and jackal.

MAKGADIGADI PANS NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 51-54

MOREMI GAME RESERVE

 

Moremi Game Reserve is definitely one of the best game reserves within Botswana, offering the visitor a magnificent variety in landscape and marvelous wildlife all year round. Birdwatchers will be amazed! Best game viewing is during the dry season between June and November, when seasonal pans dry out and wildlife concentrates around permanent water resources. Moremi covers a third of the Okavango delta and it includes the Mopane Tongue and a patchwork of lagoons, flooded pans, plains and forests. Moremi was the first Wildlife Sanctuary that was created by an African tribe, the BaTawana tribe. It encompasses 4872 km². One can see large herds of antelope including red lechwe and the rare sitatunga, elephants and buffalo's. Not far behind are the ubiquitous predators, lions, cheetahs and leopards.

MOREMI GAME RESERVE is included in Tours 52, 54 & 55

NATA BIRD SANCTUARY

 

The Nata Sanctuary at Sowa Pan, which is part of the Makgadikgadi Pans, is a community project and one of Botswana’s premier birding destinations. Nata Sanctuary is home to 165 bird species including flamingoes and pelicans. After good rains, hundreds of thousands of globally threatened Lesser Flamingos, along with Greater Flamingos, Chestnut-banded Plovers, Great White and Pink-backed Pelicans, and a host of other waterbirds converge on the nutrient-rich waters of the pans. As the pan dries out, the Sanctuary hosts the largest congregation of Lesser Flamingos in Southern Africa.

NATA BIRD SANCTUARY is included in Tours 49-54

NXAI PAN NATIONAL PARK

 

Nxai Pan National Park, some 2,100 km² in extent, is a combination of dry pans, grassland and thick bush, with clumps of mopane, acacia and baobab trees. The pans in this park also formed part of the ancient vast inland lake. If the rains have been good, the game congregates at the pans near the camping area. Lions are often seen at the edges of these pans. The man made waterhole also attracts game, especially in the early morning and late evening. Large herds of springbok, gemsbok, wildebeest, zebra and eland use this area as breeding ground. When young are being born, predators such as lion, cheetah, wild dog, spotted hyena and jackal are plentiful. There are usually large herds of giraffe and other species include impala, elephant, kudu, red hartebeest, brown hyena and bat eared foxes.

NXAI PAN NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 51 & 53

Zimbabwe Parks & Reserves

CHINHOYI CAVES RECREATIONAL PARK

 

Historically, the first white man believed to have discovered the Caves was Frederick Selous, the famous European hunter, during his wanderings in 1887. The traditional name for the Caves is ‘’Chirorodziva’’ which means the ‘’ Pool of the Fallen’’. The name was derived from an incident which took place in the 1830s when the Angoni Tribe, who were moving northwards surprised people living near the Caves and flung them into the pool.

The Caves consist of a system of tunnels and caverns. This system is a dying one (in geological time spans), in that they are slowly collapsing. These collapses can be noticed by the sink holes and depressions within the surrounding area. The Wonder Hole, which is the main feature of the Caves, is in fact a ‘’swallow hole’’ or a large cavern with a collapsed roof. The walls or sides of the Wonder Hole drop vertically down for 50 m to the Sleeping Pool. The pool is unbelievably blue and crystal clear which reflects great depths up to 91 m and non-flowing water. This fluctuation in depths is attributable to the amount of rainfall received in a particular season. The Caves are composed mainly of the sunlit ‘’Sleeping Pool’’ and the artificially lit Dark Cave.

CHINHOYI CAVES RECREATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 57

CHIZARIRA NATIONAL PARK

 

Chizarira National Park is situated on top of the great Zambezi Escarpment in the north western part of Zimbabwe – overlooking the mighty Zambezi Valley and the upper waters of Lake Kariba. This large remote area of 192 000 hectares of wild, untouched flora and fauna is endowed with magnificent gorges, plateaus and flood plains, which make this pristine park a spectacular destination.

Most of the plains game is present in Chizarira National Park, along with bigger species such as elephant, lion, leopard and buffalo. There are also many species of smaller game, including the klipsringer, famous for its ability to inhabit rocky outcrops.

Chizarira offers an abundance of unique bird life and several hundreds of species have been sighted within the Park. The Big Five birds of the area include: the African Broadbill, Livingstone’s Flycatcher, Yellowspotted Nicator, Emerald Cuckoo and the rare and elusive Angola Pitta. Chizarira is also home to the Taita Falcon which makes its nests within the Park. Chizarira is the place for 4 x 4 enthusiasts with its broken terrain of untamed gorges and hills. There are many challenging roads and tracks which lead to hidden gorges, spectacular viewpoints and richly vegetated natural springs.

CHIZARIRA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 56-58

GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK

 

Gonarezhou National Park is situated in the south eastern lowveld of Zimbabwe and covers an area in excess of 5 000 square km. "Gonarezhou" meaning "Place of many Elephants" is an extremely scenic Park full of rugged and beautiful landscapes. Gonarezhou National Park is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park (GLTP), a massive Pan-African Park that includes South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park and Mozambique’s Gaza.

Three major rivers – The Save, Runde and Mwenezi – cut their courses through the Park, forming pools and natural oases from which hundreds of species of birds and wildlife gather to feed and drink. As its name implies, Gonarezhou is famous for its elephants, and many of the largest-tusked elephants in the region maybe found within the Park. Lion, leopard, cheetah (including the rare king cheetah), buffalo, giraffe, zebra and many species of large antelope are also present within the Park. The rare nyala and smaller suni are two of the highlights of the Park’s smaller antelopes. In addition, hundreds of species of birds may be spotted in the Park.

One of the most prominent natural features of Gonarezhou National Park is the beautiful Chilojo Cliffs. These magnificent red sandstone cliffs have been formed through erosion and overlook the scenic Runde River valley.

GONAREZHOU NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 57

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK

 

Hwange National Park is the largest park in Zimbabwe and covers 14 650 square km. It is located in the northwest corner of Zimbabwe and an hour’s drive from Victoria Falls. It became the royal hunting grounds to the Ndebele warrior-king Mzilikazi in the early 19th Century and was set aside as a National Park in 1929

Hwange was proclaimed a National Park in 1929. Hwange boasts a tremendous selection of wildlife with over 100 species of mammals and nearly 400 bird species recorded. The elephants of Hwange are world famous and the Park’s elephant population is one of the largest in the world. Various dams, pans and hides provide excellent game and bird viewing.

HWANGE NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 56-58

LAKE KARIBA RECREATIONAL PARK

 

Lake Kariba is among the four largest manmade lakes in the world and the second largest in Africa. The dam wall is 126m high and 617 m wide. With a shoreline of more than 2000km Kariba is home to numerous species of fauna and flora. The shoreline is a rich grazing area for many species, which has in turn attracted the predatory animals that hunt these species. The lake is renowned for its tigerfish but it is also home to over 40 fish species. A wide variety of bird species made Kariba their home.

LAKE KARIBA RECREATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 56-58

MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK

 

Mana Pools National Park borders in the north on the Zambezi River and covers 2 196 square kilometres and is part of the 10 500 square kilometre Parks and Wildlife Estate that runs from the Kariba Dam in the west to the Mozambique border in the east. This large area is without physical boundaries and the wildlife is free to move throughout the area - even northwards across the Zambezi River into Zambia, where there are also large wilderness areas set aside for wildlife conservation. This unique park is a World Heritage Site, based on its wildness and beauty, together with the wide range of large mammals, over 350 bird species and aquatic wildlife. Mana Pools is one of Zimbabwe's most popular parks, and it is easy to see why it falls into this profile. The name "Mana'' means “four” in the local Shona language. This applies to the four large pools inland from the Zambezi River.

Elephant, eland, buffalo, impala, waterbuck, baboons, monkeys, zebra, warthog and hippo are some of the larger herbivores to be seen regularly on the river terraces. Lions, leopards, spotted hyena and cheetah are present in the area, but their secretive nature makes them more difficult to see. Despite this, it is not often that the visitor leaves Mana Pools without seeing at least one of these large carnivores.

MANA POOLS NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 56-58

MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK

 

Matusadona National Park is situated on the shores of Lake Kariba.. It became a Game Reserve in 1963, and in 1975 a National Park. The Park comprises some 1 400 square kilometers of diverse flora and fauna.

Animal species that are found in abundance include elephant and buffalo. Other common species are black rhinoceros, hippopotamus, zebra, warthog, common duiker, grysbok, klipspringer, waterbuck, bushbuck, reedbuck, sable antelope, eland, antelope, kudu and bush pig. Predators include lion, leopard, spotted hyena, wild dog, cheetah, civet, wild cat, honey badger, civet, small spotted genet and side-striped jackal, Bordering on Lake Kariba, Matusadona offers good birding opportunities.

MATUSADONA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tours 56-58

NYANGA NATIONAL PARK

 

Nyanga National Park is situated in one of the most scenic areas of Zimbabwe’s Eastern Highlands. Rolling green hills and perennial rivers transverse the 47 000 hectare Park. Altitudes between 1 800 and 2 593 meters provide cool weather and fresh mountain air. With its stunning mountainous views, numerous waterfalls, varied activities and unique flora and fauna, Nyanga National Park will provide the visitor with an unforgettable experience. Wildebeest, kudu, zebra, waterbuck, impala, sable and other small mammals can be seen in the Park. There are various water falls including the Mutarazi Falls, which is the highest waterfall in Zimbabwe and the second highest on the Continent. From the edge of the escarpment one has spectacular views of the waterfalls and the Honde Valley, some 800 meters below. The Rhodes Museum is found near the Park entrance and is housed in part of Cecil John Rhodes’ Nyanga summer home.

NYANGA NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 57

VICTORIA FALLS & ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARKS

 

The Victoria Falls & Zambezi National Parks is a world Heritage Site and the falls is one of the ‘Seven wonders of the world’ and one of the largest and most spectacular water falls on earth. The falls are 1,7 kilometers wide and nearly 550 million liters of water cascade 70 to 108 meters into the chasm below – every minute – during the Zambezi River’s peak flow. Victoria Falls is made of five different “falls”. Four of these are in Zimbabwe: The Devil’s Cataract, Main Falls, Rainbow Falls and Horseshoe Falls – and one, The Eastern Cataract, is in the bordering country of Zambia.

Zambezi National Park together with Victoria Falls National Park covers an area of 56,000 hectares. The northern border of the Park is formed by the great Zambezi River which also forms the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia for much of its length. A wide variety of larger mammals may be found within the Zambezi National Park including The Big Five: elephant, lion, buffalo, leopard and white rhinoceros. In addition, herds of sable antelope, eland, zebra, giraffe, kudu, waterbuck and impala as well as many of the smaller species of game can be viewed.

VICTORIA FALLS & ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARKS is included in Tours 49, 50, 52, 54 & 56-58

ZAMBIA NATIONAL PARKS

BLUE LAGOON NATIONAL PARK

 

This Park is an undiscovered gem. The vast plains are spectacular in the dry season and transform completely from a dry grass flatland to a watery wonderland in the wet season, as the flats fill with water and the migratory birds arrive from far and wide.

Blue Lagoon lies only 120kms west of Lusaka on the Kafue Flats and the vast floodplain attracts thousands of Kafue lechwe, zebra, sitatunga, some buffalo and numerous waterbirds. Although lechwe run in herds of about 30, several thousand may gather together on the floodplains. The plains are fringed with acacia woodland. This park is a birdwatchers dream. The abundance and variety is astounding and the fact that it has not been opened up until recently and is still undeveloped, makes it one of those last untouched places left in Africa. This Park provides a stark contrast to the other Parks in Zambia because of the vast flat landscape and spectacular birding - a good add-on to your tour of Zambia.

BLUE LAGOON NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 56

LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK

 

This is Zambia’s newest Park and as such is still relatively undeveloped, but its beauty lies in its absolute wilderness state. The diversity of animals is not as wide as the other big parks, but the opportunities to get close to game wandering in and out of the Zambezi channels are spectacular. The Park lies opposite the famous Mana Pools Reserve in Zimbabwe, so the whole area on both sides of the river is a massive wildlife sanctuary.

The Lower Zambezi National Park covers an area of 4092 square kilometers, but most of the game is concentrated along the valley floor. There is an escarpment along the northern end which acts as a physical barrier to most of the parks animal species. Enormous herds of elephant, some up to 100 strong, are often seen at the rivers edge. ‘Island hopping’ buffalo and waterbuck are common. The park also hosts good populations of lion and leopard.

The birdlife along the riverbanks is exceptional. Many a fish eagle can be seen and heard for miles around. Nesting along the cliffs are white fronted and carmine bee eaters. Another unusual the red winged pratincole, the elegant crested guinea fowl, black eagle, and vast swarms of quelea. In summer the stunning narina trogon makes its home here. Other special sightings are the trumpeter hornbill, Meyers parrot and Lilian’s lovebird.

LOWER ZAMBEZI NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 56

KAFUE NATIONAL PARK

 

Kafue is Zambia’s oldest park and by far the largest. It was proclaimed in 1950 and is spread over 22 400 square km - the second largest national park in the world. The Park is still a raw and diverse slice of African wilderness with excellent game viewing, bird watching and fishing opportunities From the astounding Busanga Plains in the North-western section of the Park to the tree-choked wilderness and the lush dambos of the south, fed by the Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers, the park sustains huge herds of a great diversity of wildlife. From the thousands of red lechwe on the Plains, the ubiquitous puku, the stately sable and roan antelopes in the woodland to the diminutive oribi and duiker. The solid-rumped defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full menu of antelope.

Large prides of lion, solitary leopards and cheetahs are the prime predators. There is a host of smaller carnivores from the side-striped jackal, civet, genet and various mongoose. Bird watching - especially on the rivers and the dambos is superb. Notables include the wattled crane, purple crested loerie and Pel’s fishing owl. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded throughout the park.

KAFUE NATIONAL PARK is included in Tour 56