Kasanka National Park is approximately 420 km² and is situated on the southern side of the Bangweulu wetlands. Kasanka is well known as a place to see large mammals, particularly the elusive Sitatunga, but it is also excellent for birding, containing as it does a large number of different habitats, from dry miombo woodland through mushitu forests to papyrus swamp.
EditBirdingKasanka National Park is situated to the west of the Serenje-Samfya road. Miombo dominates the area, but amongst the broad range of other habitats are an unusually high number of lakes (pans), some papyrus swamp, dambo, mushitu, riparian forest and a few patches of dry evergreen forest.
The extensive areas of Miombo are particularly rich, and a wide range of specialists occur, such as; Black-collared and Green-capped Eremomelas, Racket-tailed Roller, Rufous-bellied and Miombo Grey Tits, Grey Penduline Tit, Bushveld Pipit, Spotted Creeper, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, Böhm's Flycatcher, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Red-capped Crombec, Cabanis's Bunting, Black-eared Seedeater, Miombo Pied Barbet, Central Bearded Scrub Robin, Miombo Rock Thrush, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Red-and-Blue Sunbird, Anchieta's and Whyte's Barbets.
The riparian woodland along the rivers contain Pel's Fishing Owl, Ross's Turaco and Böhm's Bee-eater, and the rivers themselves host African Finfoot and Half-collared Kingfisher.
The extensive areas of wetland contain a wide variety of waterbirds, the most important being the occasional Shoebill, Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret. Adjacent dambos are inhabited by Marsh Tchagra, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Fulleborn's Longclaw and Fawn-breasted Waxbill.
The mushitus are also well developed, and contain most of the species peculiar to this habitat, particularly; Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Grey Apalis, Black-backed Barbet, Grey Waxbill, Bocage's Robin, West African Thrush, Dark-backed Weaver, Red-throated Twinspot, Red-backed Mannikin, Green-headed Sunbird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Purple-throated Cuckooshrike, Little and Cabanis's Greenbul.
EditGeneralA range of accommodation is available, with two lodges and one campsite provided. Turn north 40km past Serenje on the Great North Road. The entrance to the park is marked by a gate, after about 40km of good tar road.
Kansanka Trust Website
Paul Bourdin & Peter Leonard
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