Zambia is home to 20 national parks, each offering unique wildlife experiences and natural beauty. While some of these parks have maintained their facilities and animal populations, others have experienced neglect due to inadequate funding and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, a few parks stand out for their rich biodiversity and attract numerous tourists annually.
Map Overview
A map detailing the locations of Zambia’s 20 national parks can help visitors understand the geographical spread and unique features of each.
Alphabetical List of National Parks
- Blue Lagoon National Park:
- Location: Kafue Flats, west of Lusaka
- Special Feature: Birdlife
- Facilities: One lodge
- Isangano National Park:
- Location: East of the Bangweulu Swamps
- Status: Lacking facilities and wildlife
- Kafue National Park:
- Location: Central Zambia
- Special Feature: Famous for wildlife; one of the world’s largest national parks
- Facilities: Several lodges
- Kasanka National Park:
- Location: South of the Bangweulu Swamps
- Management: Privately operated
- Facilities: One lodge
- Lavushi Manda National Park:
- Location: Southeast of the Bangweulu Swamps
- Status: No facilities and little wildlife
- Liuwa Plain National Park:
- Location: Remote far west
- Special Feature: Some large herds of wildlife
- Facilities: No lodges
- Lochinvar National Park:
- Location: South of the Kafue Flats
- Special Feature: Birdlife and herds of lechwe
- Facilities: One lodge
- Lower Zambezi National Park:
- Location: East of Lusaka
- Special Feature: Wildlife viewing along the Zambezi River
- Facilities: Numerous lodges
- Luambe National Park:
- Location: Near South Luangwa National Park
- Status: Recovering after past neglect
- Facilities: One new lodge
- Lukusuzi National Park:
- Location: East of Luambe
- Status: Undeveloped but promising
- Lusaka National Park:
- Location: Southeast of Lusaka
- Status: Opened in 2015
- Lusenga Plain National Park:
- Location: East of Lake Mweru
- Status: No facilities or easy access, little wildlife
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park:
- Location: Victoria Falls, near Livingstone
- Special Feature: Victoria Falls and safari park
- Facilities: Accommodations available in Livingstone
- Mweru Wantipa National Park:
- Status: Neglected with little wildlife
- North Luangwa National Park:
- Status: Closed except to specially licensed tours
- Nsumbu National Park:
- Location: Offers lakeside game viewing
- Special Feature: Good wildlife potential
- Facilities: Three lodges
- Nyika National Park:
- Special Feature: Highland scenery rather than wildlife
- Facilities: One lodge
- Sioma Ngwezi National Park:
- Location: Far southwest
- Special Feature: Large herds of animals
- Facilities: None
- South Luangwa National Park:
- Special Feature: African wildlife icon
- Facilities: Numerous lodges
- West Lunga National Park:
- Status: Neglected, lacking wildlife and facilities
Administration of National Parks
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) manages Zambia’s national parks under the Ministry of Tourism, Environment, and Natural Resources. They inherited oversight from the former National Parks and Wildlife Service, which struggled with funding issues. DNPW faces the challenge of revitalizing neglected parks and balancing the demands of tourism with conservation.
Key Parks for Wildlife Resources
Of the 20 parks, the eight most significant in terms of wildlife and facilities include:
- South Luangwa National Park
- Kafue National Park
- Lower Zambezi National Park
- Nsumbu National Park
- Kasanka National Park
- Lochinvar National Park
- Blue Lagoon National Park
- Mosi-oa-Tunya National Park
These parks offer a range of experiences and are better developed in terms of access and accommodation, providing wildlife enthusiasts with memorable adventures in Zambia’s diverse natural landscape.
