Lochinvar National Park

Lochinvar National Park

Lochinvar National Park lies south west of Lusaka in Zambia, on the south side of the Kafue River. The area extends for 33kms from the Kafue River in the north to low wooded hills in the south. It includes the large, shallow Chunga Lagoon which fluctuates considerably in size with variations in river levels. The varying vegetation makes it an interesting park to visit with floodplains, woodlands and termitaria

The park is of exceptional beauty and outstanding birding opportunities; with over 420 recorded species in its 428 square kilometers. Lochinvar National Park also situated on the southern edge of the Kafue flats, a wide flood plain of the Kafue River between Itezhitezhi dam in the west and Kafue gorge in the east. The area also extends for 33kms from the Kafue River in the north to low wooded hills in the south.

This also includes; the large, shallow chuga Lagoon which fluctuates considerably in size with variations in river considerably in size with variations in river levels. The varying vegetation also makes it an interesting park to visit with floodplains, woodlands and the termitaria. This park is also well known for the herds of Kafue lechwe, unique to the Kafue flats. The other antelope are the blue wildebeest, Kudu, oribi and buffalo, the water birds are also especially abundant.

Lochinvar National Park has massive herds which one can see along the upper flood line and in the open grassland further south. As the flood recedes the herds move north into the grassy floodplain. These feed on grasses and the herbs in water up to a meter deep; and can often see them wading or swimming in the chunga Lagoon.

In the Termitaria Zone, the trees and the shrubs also grow only on the large termite mounds with grasses and the herbs covering the rest of the area, which often becomes waterlogged during the rainy season. However, there are also many small grey mounds which are always unvegetated. The shirike is also one of the birds for one to be see in the trees of this zone; and the surrounding grassy plains which are grazed by buffalo, zebras, wildebeest and the oribi.