National park
Kasanka National Park
Small, privately run park of lakes, swamps and evergreen forest, famous for ten million fruit bats from October to December.
463 km² · 1 gate · 2 campsites · Run by Kasanka Trust, in partnership with DNPW
About the park
Kasanka is a compact park of miombo woodland, grassy dambos, papyrus swamps and patches of evergreen mushitu forest, with nine permanent lakes and several rivers including the Luwombwa. It is the one place to see the straw-coloured fruit bat roost: from October to December close to ten million bats pack into a small patch of forest and pour out at dusk, one of the great wildlife spectacles anywhere. The rest of the year it is a quiet park for sitatunga in the swamps, puku, hippo, rare blue monkey and over 330 bird species, including Pel's fishing owl and wattled crane. The Kasanka Trust runs it with DNPW, along with Wasa and Luwombwa lodges, a seasonal self-catering tented camp and two campsites. It is tarred all the way to the gate, about seven hours from Lusaka, and the last fuel is in Serenje.
Highlights
- The fruit bat roost at dusk, October to December
- Sitatunga in the papyrus swamps
- Lake Wasa from the main lodge
- Birding in the mushitu forest and along the Luwombwa River
Good to know
- About 390 km² (some sources say 450 km²) of miombo, dambo, swamp and evergreen forest
- Nine permanent lakes and five perennial rivers
- Tar road all the way to the gate; Wasa Lodge reception is 12 km inside
- Two lodges, a seasonal tented camp and two campsites, all run by the Kasanka Trust
- Own airstrip for charters
- Fuel up in Serenje: there is none further on
Wildlife you may see
- Straw-coloured fruit bat
- Sitatunga
- Puku
- Hippo
- Elephant
- Blue monkey
- Pel's fishing owl
- Wattled crane
Sightings are never guaranteed.
When to go
Open: 06:00–18:00 (gate is always manned)
Best time: October–December for the bats; dry season May–October for general game viewing
Gates
- Mulembo GateOpen: 06:00–18:00 daily; the gate is always mannedPay park fees here, per person per day (2025–26): international US$10, SADC/residents US$7, Zambians K33.60. Vehicles US$15/day foreign-registered, K34 Zambian-registered. Under-5s free, 5–13 half price.On the tarred Serenje–Mansa road, 55 km after turning off the Great North Road 36 km north of Serenje. Staff give directions to Wasa Lodge reception, 12 km inside. Serenje is the last fuel stop.
Gate times change with the seasons: check with Kasanka Trust, in partnership with DNPW before you travel.
Campsites
- Kabwe CampsiteBush camp4.4
- Pontoon CampsiteBush camp4.7
Park fees
| citizen | K33.6 per person day |
| citizen (any) | K34 per vehicle day |
| resident | US$7 per person day |
| regional | US$7 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.