Explore the Largest straw coloured fruit bat migration – Fruit bat migration in Kasanka National Park Zambia Africa
Explore the Largest straw coloured fruit bat migration – This peaceful sanctuary, situated on the south western edge of the Lake Bangweulu basin, is one of Zambia’s smallest national parks. It’s 450 km2 however, are so well endowed with rivers, lakes, wetlands, forests, lagoons, meadows and dambos that it supports a uniquely wide range of animals and abundant birds and fish.
Do not expect to see large herds of animals round every corner, but it is surely one of the most picturesque parks in Zambia with superb birdlife.
About ten years ago Kasanka was in danger of becoming yet another defunct national park due to rampant poaching. David Lloyd, a British expatriate, who had lived in Zambia for many years, visited the Park in 1985 and heard the crack of gunshots. He concluded that if there was still poaching there must still be animals there and set out to save the Park from total depletion. He teamed up with a local farmer, sought funding and along with much of their own resources applied for official permission to rehabilitate the Park. They built tourist camps, roads and bridges and set up the Kasanka Trust to raise funds for this community based project. Slowly it began to earn a little money from tourists to help cover costs. Three years later the National Parks and Wildlife Services Department were sufficiently impressed to sign a 10 year agreement with the Trust allowing full management of the Park in conjunction with National Parks & Wildlife Services and to develop it for tourism in partnership with the local community.
When is the Bat migration in kasanka national park?
Between October and December each year, about 10 million fruit bats descend into a tiny patch of evergreen, swamp-forest (mushitu) inside Kasanka National Park, in Northern Zambia, from the neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo. These are giant fruit bats – also known as flying foxes – with straw-coloured bodies the size of puppies, and wings that span almost three feet. Now imagine 10 million of these (possibly 15 million according so some researchers). That’s an incredible three-metric-tonnes of bat! And it happens in a pocket of forest no bigger than two or three football pitches.
Explore the largest straw coloured fruit bat migration – They come in search of the waterberries, mangoes, wild loquats and red-milkwood berries that appear in abundance at this time of year. These bats are one of the most important migratory animals when it comes to regenerating the forests of Africa. Each will feast on around two kilograms of fruit nightly, collectively adding up to around 6 000 tonnes of fruit. The bats then head off on their long migratory path, spreading seeds through dropping their faeces, assisting with the growth and ultimately the regeneration of the land.
This time in Kasanka National Park isn’t just great for seeing the bats; with green grass, bright flowers and hordes of migratory birds providing plenty of visual treats. Although this isn’t a spot for scouring out the big five you can often see monkeys, civets, hippos, elephants and even sitatunga.
This is one of Africa’s most spectacular wildlife secrets, with the shoebill stork a particularly strong drawcard. There are also wattled crane, sacred ibis, spur-winged goose, and swamp flycatcher, as well as plenty of elephant, buffalo, reedbuck, and massive herds of black lechwe.
This natural phenomenon, unique to Kasanka, takes place over approximately 90 days from late October to mid-December. Taking place in one area, and only for a short while means that your safari has to be impeccably timed.
Kasanka even offers amazing treetop-hides perched 20 metres up-in-the-air in the Bat Forest, allowing you to fully appreciate this unique experience.