Species found in the Kafue Flats

An impressive array of often unique wildlife

The first impression of the Kafue Flats is that it's a huge, open plain with lagoons, marshes and swamps. Here you can see herds of zebra, eland, gazelle and buffalo roaming the wetlands of the river Kafue flood-plain. Many of the animals living in the flats are specially adapted to live in the wet places - like for instance some of the antelope species.

Distinctive among the these antelopes are the endemic Kafue Lechwe or Marsh Antelope as it is commonly known (Kobus lechwe kafuensis) and the larger Sitatunga (Tragelaphus spekei) semi-aquatic antelope species. These antelopes are amazingly adapted to swimming and walking on marshy land. 

Haven for birds
More than 470 species of birds have been recorded here.  As the Kafue Flats are situated along a major migration route, birds migrating from the Arctic and those that seasonally migrate across Africa shelter here.

Africa's largest population of Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus), an exceedingly rare and endangered species that breeds in wetland areas, occurs here.

Both the area's two national parks, Lochinvar National Park and Blue Lagoon, have been internationally recognised as Ramsar Sites.