Northern & Central Provinces Getting to northern Zambia by road can be difficult. There is a tarmacked road all the way from Lusaka to the port of Mpulungu and there will soon be a 40 km road link from Mbala to Lake Tanganyika. The gravel road from Kawambwa and Kasama via Mporokoso is in good condition, as is the gravel road from the Luapula River valley via Kaputa on Lake Mweru Wantipa. Construction of a new road from Mbala to
Additional Information
Kasaba Bay got under way in 2010. The bitumen road from
Activities: Hobie cat sailing, island boat trips and fishing
Kasama via Mbala to Mpulungu is also in good condition. Visitors can charter a light aircraft and use Kasaba Bay in Sumbu National Park, while Proflight operates twice-
Best time to visit: All year round; for game viewing – May to October
Wildlife found in this area: Shoebill, black lechwe, Lichten-
weekly flights to the provincial capital, Kasama, from both
stein’s hartebeest, reedbuck, waterbuck, Sharpe’s grysbok
Lusaka and Ndola.
Major attractions: Lake Bangweulu, Kasanka National Park, Kalambo Falls, Lake Tanganyika
Bangweulu Bangweulu (meaning ‘where the water meets the sky’) is
As might be expected, Bangweulu is a vital conserva-
one of Africa’s, if not the world’s, leading wetland systems.
tion area with a rich biodiversity of waterbirds and other
It consists of three distinct parts: Lake Bangweulu, the
bird species as well as impressive herds of endemic black
Bangweulu Swamps and the Bangweulu floodplain.
lechwe and other animals such as elephant, buffalo, tsessebe, reedbuck, oribi and sitatunga.
Lake Bangweulu is about 75 km long and up to 40 km wide and covers an area of about 3,000 sq km, although it is
Birdwatchers can expect to see shoebill stork (seasonal),
very shallow. During the rainy season the lake expands and
wattled crane, spur-winged goose, sacred ibis, glossy ibis,
overflows into the swamps and the floodplain. Bangweulu’s
black-crowned night heron, and lesser-known species such as
many lagoons and channels act as a brake on the nearby
the white-cheeked bee-eater, swamp flycatcher, pink-throated
Luapala Valley becoming flooded in the rainy season.
longclaw, Fulbourne’s longclaw and Denham’s bustard. Accommodation is provided by Shoebill Island Camp, which has five thatched tents and reed cottages. The camp is accessible only by boat for much of the year, but in the dry season guests can drive to the camp. They can also go and day and night game drives and walking safaris.
Kasanka National Park The Kasanka Trust charity runs the 390 sq km Kasanka National Park in Central Province under a formal agreement with the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA). The trust employs about 90 local staff. In 1986 Kasanka was the first Zambian park to be privately managed. Today, this small, well-run park can boast well
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