Zambia - Event

Lochinvar National Park is an idyllic, little-visited gem on the Kafue River that is famous for the abundant bird life which thrives in its floodwaters and lagoons.

During the summer rains, the river floods and the resulting lagoons become home to a huge number of migrant birds - flamingos, pelicans, cranes, storks and ibises. The grassland further away from the river is home to herds of antelope, zebra, wildebeest and buffalo.

Other attractions in the park include a geological fault that allows mineral springs to well up forming a beautiful palm-shaded pool to bathe in. There is also an iron-age site on Sebanzi Hill.

Lochinvar is still fairly undeveloped. There are basic camping facilities, but visitors need to travel in a 4WD and bring all their own supplies. But the simplicity of the site is part of its beauty. A tent in the bush, meals in the quiet of dusk and sleeping to the noises of the African night combine to make visitors feel part of the environment.

Birdwatchers might want to visit the park during the summer rains, but otherwise the best time to visit is from May to October, when temperatures are lower and the wildlife is more visible.