Destination Zambia 2014

Page 13

National Parks

tsessebe, reintroduced buffalo, red lechwe, oribi and

In addition to game viewing, the park has hot springs and

wattled crane populations.

is home to the Iron Age village of Sibanze Hill.

Luambe National Park

Mweru Wantipa National Park

See Luangwa Valley section on page 40.

Located in the far north on the lake of the same name, Mweru Wantipa National Park is a sad case. The

Lukusuzi National Park

wetland park used to contain vast herds of elephant, but

See Luangwa Valley section on page 40.

buffalo, though. There are no permanent facilities and

unfortunately these are long gone. There are still a few few animals to view. Camping is possible close to the lake.

Lusenga Plains National Park

There is no access to the park during the rainy season.

Located in Luapula province, Lusenga Plains National Park

Nyika National Park

is being revived after many years of neglect. Impala, zebra and wildebeest have already been released and large

Not to be confused with the Malawian park with of the

numbers of elephant translocated from South Africa.

same name and just across the border, Nyika offers a different kind of topography from the rest of Zambia. A

In addition, some roads have been laid out, while at the

montane highland area sitting about 2,000 metres above

same time ZAWA steps up its anti-poaching programme in

sea level, the park is renowned for its spectacular views and

the park, which is under trust management.

unusual cloud formations.

Lochinvar National Park

West Lunga National Park

Located off the main Lusaka-Livingstone highway, the

Located in North Western Province and among Zambia’s

428 sq km Lochinvar National Park is one of Africa’s finest

least visited parks, West Lunga is best known as the home

wetland areas. This former cattle ranch has been a national

of the yellow-backed duiker.

park since 1972. Under the administration of the West Lunga Development As with Blue Lagoon, the park is famous for its birdlife, with

Trust, the area is being managed in a sustainable

over 400 recorded species, as well as for its populations of

manner. But owing to the thickness of the forest,

water-loving antelope such as sitatunga, oribi, the Kafue

West Lunga is unlikely to become a major attraction.

lechwe, bushbuck and waterbuck. In addition, zebra,

Nevertheless, the park contains many small forest animals

wildebeest, kudu and buffalo can be found here.

as well as some larger species.

During the wet season, the park is mostly flooded grassland. Herds of antelope move around the park throughout the year as the water rises and then subsides. The park straddles two eco-regions, with woodland in the south and the floodplains (an important Ramsar site) in the north. With only buffalo a possible threat, this park is ideal for walking safaris. At certain times of the year, a makoro boat is another way of viewing game as well as seeing the park’s impressive number and variety of waterfowl, said to be the highest in Zambia.

Destination

ZAMBIA

11


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