LUSAKA NATIONAL PARK
This national park is located to the southern-east of the newest national park, established in 2011 and officially opened in 2015 it’s also Zambia’s smallest national park, at 6715 hectares. The park was established over and area that was previously forest reserve and is entirely fenced.
The national park is more than 100 species found inside the Park, including white Rhino, giraffe, eland, hartebeest, zebras, sables, Kudus, blue wildebeest, waterbucks, black lechwe, impala, Puku, bushbuck, reedbuck, warthog, Pangolin, and axis deer
The national park is found 30 kilometers from Zambia’s capital city and the second national park to be established in the city environment, the first one is the Mosi-Oaa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone.
Before becoming a national park, it was previously the Lusaka south Forest Reserve which is an important water catchment area for the whole of Lusaka. Over the years, the forest reserve had been over utilized by the local communities. A lot of trees were being cut, chopped and some burnt into charcoal, illegal agriculture within, and some illegal quarrying has been taking place. These all had reduced this once pristine Miombo forest to what you see today. This major damage to the bio-diversity of the land left it with few wildlife species and posed a major problem for the long-term water systems beneath its solid.
The park was created to protect this fragile water catchment area and to provide accessible and affordable wildlife safari experiences to Lusaka residents and the visitors and make a make a wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre
After being establishing this national park, it was put under the Zambia Wildlife Authority as a governing body. (ZAWA)
Wildlife
This national park is rehabilitating a few wildlife within the Park. And that’s why the Forest reserve was fenced and a variety of wildlife species were brought in to stock the Pak from Zambian Game Farms. Nineteen different species, including Angolan Giraffe, blue wildebeest and the sable antelopes were introduced slowly in this national park. Two white Rhinos were introduced from South Africa but sadly they are no longer found there. Although the park doesn’t have larger carnivores, spotted hyenas decided to make the park its home can many times heard in the early morning and evening. Asian Axis or Chital Deer, the three non-exotic introduced and re located from Muda Wanga, and two native South Africa, antelope species Nyala
Birdlife
Lusaka national park has recorded so far over 70 different bird species have been identified as resident birds are beginning to make the park their home and migratory birds are once again visiting the forest
Since this national park was opened in 2015 it has proved to be a popular tourist at-traction. In a year after opening it was the second most visited National Park for Zambian Residents, receiving over 16800 visitors
This national park is very popular within the local people for the schools and the groups of people teaching people the importance and the interpretation centre by developing new initiatives to inform and educate visitors about the importance of wildlife conservation and the bio-diversity within this small park.
Nearly all the wildlife you find there today was introduced. They are slowly adapting to their new terrain and becoming used to being habituated to busy city park life.
ARC is supporting the reintroduction of the large mammal species and aims to improve the ecology of the Park’s eco-system as part of conserving the important water catchment.
HOW TO GET TO LUSAKA NATIONAL PARK.
Lusaka National park is situated South –east of Lusaka the Capital city of Zambia only 15km central business centre, take the Leopards Hill road out of town, and after the boom, take the first road. Take the first right again after the second speed bump into a large gate this turnoff is signposted. Then take the next left and continue till the next sign on left. Then its straight on till the gate.
Guide to spotting wild-life in Lusaka National Park.
Get there early- the gates open at 6am and wildlife animals are more active early mornings and later in the afternoon. When they rest in shade during hotter parts of the day they are far harder to spot.
Drive slowly. It is much easier to spot animals and are less likely to be started and run away from your vehicles. Look out for the smaller species who also use the roads-such as tortoises and dug beetles. Although the speed limit is 40km p/h in the Park, the roads are quit rocky so driving slowly is gentler on your vehicles.
Wind down your windows and keep alert to the sounds of the bush-birds calling or wildlife alarm calling can lead to some great sighting or wildlife alarm calling can lead to some great sighting. the playing of music or radios disturbs the animals and is not allowed anywhere in the park.
Stop at a waterhole. Find a good place to view a waterhole and see what wanders in to drink. Do not get out of your vehicle as this will scare the thirsty wildlife that might have walked some distance to find water.
Turn off the engine. the noise from the vehicle often disturbs wildlife so even in warmer weather, sacrificing your vehicle’s air-conditioner for few minutes can lead to some great wildlife safety watching.
Respect the animals in the first position. Like any other place, animals have a right of way and visitors are advised never to make a mistake to drive off the road as they can damage your vehicle and the vegetation around, kill animals as well.