Kasanka Bat Safari with Robin Pope Safaris

Location: Northern Zambia | Zambia

Done the Great Migration? Seen Botswana’s mini-migration? How about the largest migration of mammals on earth: Zambia’s fruit bat migration? Kasanka is a tiny national park of wetlands and papyrus forest, with a small number of antelope, some stunning birdlife, and, between October and December, a magnificent population of ten million migratory fruit bats. By day, hungry crocodiles lurk under the forest canopy, hoping for a mouthful of sleeping fruit bat, and as the bats leave their roosts at dusk and dawn a whirlwind of wings fills the skies.
Perfect forChiroptophiles (bat lovers!)
In the knowThe Latin word for bat (from the ancient Greek) is Chiroptera, meaning flying hand (Thank you George, our Greek-speaking South East Asia expert)!

Recommended for...

  • Guiding
  • Hideaway
  • Off the Beaten Track
  • Peace & Quiet

Hotel Overview

Where

Kasanka National Park, Northern Zambia

Rooms

Most Exsus guests will stay at Wasa Lodge, near Lake Wasa and the bat hides on the Eastern side of the park. Accommodation is in functional thatched rondavels with ensuite bathrooms, but let’s face it, if you’re here at all (and just a handful of intrepid travellers are) it’s not for luxury rooms.

Food and Facilities

Well, there is food, and reasonable grub at that, but this is not haute cuisine.  There’s also a bar for a late afternoon beer (Mosi, brewed in Zambia is a particular local favourite). As for facilities, can we count hot bucket showers and the odd lantern at night?

Activities in Kasanka

There are early morning and late afternoon walks to see the bats as they fly to and from their roosts. The early morning walks live up to their name, starting as early as 4 am, and offer great photographic opportunities of bats whirling against the rising sun. There are also hides for spotting the bats and the rare sitatunga antelope (safari geeks, have your binoculars at the ready!) On most Exsus trips to Kasanka guests will also visit the Bangwelu Wetlands to see the rare shoebill storks.

Best time to go

Best time to travel

Good time to travel (but some limitations)

Travel is possible (but it’s not the best time)

Travel is not recommended

  • Jan
  • Feb
  • Mar
  • Apr
  • May
  • Jun
  • Jul
  • Aug
  • Sep
  • Oct
  • Nov
  • Dec
Best time to go

Hotel location

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