National park
Blue Lagoon National Park
Small Kafue Flats park within easy reach of Lusaka, for Kafue lechwe, sitatunga and big gatherings of waterbirds.
451 km² · 1 gate · 0 campsites · Run by Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Zambia
About the park
Blue Lagoon covers about 500 km² of the northern Kafue Flats, a mix of flooded grassland, swamp and drier grazing land about 120 km by road west of Lusaka. Kafue lechwe graze the wet areas, shy sitatunga live in the swamps, and zebra, reedbuck and buffalo use the drier ground. The real draw is water birds, which can gather in large numbers. The old farmhouse is now the park reception, and there are a few basic self-catering chalets at Nakeenda Lodge as well as space to camp. It makes an easy weekend trip from Lusaka, but there is no direct road on to Lochinvar: you have to go back via Lusaka.
Highlights
- Water birds on the flooded flats
- Lechwe herds on the floodplain
- Looking for sitatunga in the swamps
Good to know
- About 500 km² of the northern Kafue Flats
- About 120 km by road west of Lusaka
- Old farmhouse serves as reception
- Nakeenda Lodge has four basic self-catering chalets; camping allowed
- Established 1976
Wildlife you may see
- Kafue lechwe
- Sitatunga
- Zebra
- Reedbuck
- Buffalo
- Waterbirds
Sightings are never guaranteed.
When to go
Open: 06:00–18:00
Gates
- Entrance Gate Blue Lagoon National ParkOpen: 06:00–18:00 dailyPay park fees per person per day (2025–26): international US$10, SADC/residents US$5, Zambians K33.60. Vehicles US$15/day foreign-registered, K34 Zambian-registered. Under-5s free, 5–13 half price.About 120 km by road west of Lusaka. Reception is in the old farmhouse inside the park; Nakeenda Lodge has basic self-catering chalets and camping. Cash only.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW), Zambia before you travel.
Campsites
We're still checking the campsites here. They'll appear as soon as they're verified.
Park fees
| citizen | K33.6 per person day |
| citizen (any) | K34 per vehicle day |
| resident | US$5 per person day |
| regional | US$5 per person day |
| international | US$10 per person day |
| international (any) | US$15 per vehicle day |
Category B park. 2025–26 national DNPW tariff per person per day (a day is 06:00–18:00); SADC nationals and Zambian residents pay the regional rate; under-5s free, ages 5–13 half price. Vehicle fee per day: US$15 foreign-registered, K34 Zambian-registered (under 3 t). Pay cash at the gate.