Kasanka National Park

National Park · Zambia

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Photo © Mehmet Karatay

Photo © Mehmet Karatay — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikidata / Wikimedia Commons

Dawn over the Central Province brings a soft, cool mist to a mosaic of seasonally flooded grassland, miombo woodland and evergreen swamp forest — a landscape shaped by a Cwa climate of warm, wet summers and a dry winter that drains the floodplain into cracked, pale earth. The park's ecological heart is its dambo system: broad grassy basins that swell with summer rain and then recede, leaving shallow pools and rich alluvial soils that support dense stands of sedges, reeds and wild rice. Around them, miombo canopy and thicket provide cover and fruit, while the permanent swamp forest holds moisture through the driest months. This variety of habitat — open water, marsh, woodland edge and closed canopy — concentrates an exceptional density of large mammals, small forest antelope, primates and wetland birds into a compact area, with predators and scavengers following the seasonal pulse of grazing herds.

For photographers and birdwatchers, the reward lies in timing and patience. The late dry winter, when water shrinks to residual pools and the light turns gold and dust-hazed, draws concentrations of waterbirds, waders and raptors into predictable, accessible places; the first summer rains then transform the plains into a green, reflective expanse alive with breeding activity. Early morning and late afternoon light rakes across the floodplain, silhouetting woodland edges and picking out herons, egrets and ibises against the water. Access is by road through the park's gate and along its network of tracks, with hides and viewing points overlooking the dambos; a guided walk with a local scout reveals tracks, dung and the smaller signs that a vehicle misses. Bring long lenses, a beanbag and patience — this is a place that rewards stillness.

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Centropus grillii

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Streptopelia semitorquata

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

Gallinula chloropus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Senegal Lapwing

Vanellus lugubris

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Actophilornis africanus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Microcarbo africanus

Bostrychia hagedash

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Western Cattle Egret

Scopus umbretta

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Pied Kingfisher

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Böhm's Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Black-backed Barbet

Pogonornis minor

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Poicephalus meyeri

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Little Greenbul

Eurillas virens

Pycnonotus barbatus

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Fan-tailed Grassbird

Catriscus brevirostris

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Cyanomitra olivacea

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

Cinnyris cupreus

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Dark-backed Weaver

Ploceus bicolor

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Glaucestrilda perreini

Fawn-breasted Waxbill

Estrilda paludicola

Estrilda astrild

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

Anomalospiza imberbis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

White-rumped Swift

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Centropus senegalensis

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Cuculus gularis

Cuculus canorus

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

African Green Pigeon

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Buff-spotted Flufftail

Sarothrura elegans

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Rallus caerulescens

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Gallinago nigripennis

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Calidris pugnax

Calidris minuta

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Ciconia abdimii

Ciconia ciconia

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Balaeniceps rex

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pandion haliaetus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

Palm-nut Vulture

Gypohierax angolensis

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Western Barn Owl

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Apaloderma narina

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Blue-breasted Bee-eater

Merops variegatus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Miombo Pied Barbet

Tricholaema frontata

Green-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus zambesiae

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Pallid Honeyguide

Indicator meliphilus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Falco amurensis

Falco biarmicus

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Pitta angolensis

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Black-fronted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus nigrifrons

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Square-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus ludwigii

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher

Trochocercus cyanomelas

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

White-winged Black Tit

Melaniparus leucomelas

Rufous-bellied Tit

Melaniparus rufiventris

Melaniparus griseiventris

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Pale-throated Greenbul

Atimastillas flavigula

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Grey-olive Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cerviniventris

Cabanis's Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cabanisi

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Hirundo rustica

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Moustached Grass Warbler

Melocichla mentalis

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Greater Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus rufescens

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Pale-crowned Cisticola

Cisticola cinnamomeus

Brown-headed Apalis

Apalis alticola

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes stierlingi

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Black-necked Eremomela

Eremomela atricollis

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

Southern Hyliota

Hyliota australis

African Spotted Creeper

Salpornis salvadori

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Sharp-tailed Starling

Lamprotornis acuticaudus

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Swamp Flycatcher

Muscicapa aquatica

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Bocage's Akalat

Sheppardia bocagei

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

Myrmecocichla nigra

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Oenanthe familiaris

Anchieta's Sunbird

Anthreptes anchietae

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Eastern Miombo Sunbird

Cinnyris manoensis

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Passer domesticus

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Red-headed Quelea

Quelea erythrops

Red-billed Quelea

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes capensis

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

Marsh Widowbird

Euplectes hartlaubi

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Mandingoa nitidula

Paludipasser locustella

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Uraeginthus angolensis

Orange-winged Pytilia

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Pin-tailed Whydah

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Fülleborn's Longclaw

Macronyx fuelleborni

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus vaalensis

Anthus trivialis

Black-faced Canary

Crithagra capistrata

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Black-eared Seedeater

Crithagra mennelli

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Butorides striata

Coracias naevius

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

Yellow-throated Leafbird

Chloropsis palawanensis

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

African Straw-colored Fruit Bat

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Egyptian Tomb Bat

Taphozous perforatus

Egyptian Slit-faced Bat

Nycteris thebaica

Natal Long-fingered Bat

Miniopterus natalensis

African Yellow Bat

Scotophilus dinganii

Peters's Epauletted Fruit Bat

Epomophorus crypturus

Side-striped Jackal

Lupulella adusta

Atilax paludinosus

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Civettictis civetta

Southern Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

Tragelaphus spekii

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Cercopithecus mitis

Sylvicapra grimmia

Hippotragus niger

Southern Lechwe

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