Wildlife in Zambia consists of a diverse range of over 1,800 species. This includes about 240 mammal, 153 reptile, 78 amphibian, 409 fish, and 753 bird species. This diverse range of beautiful animal species coexists in ecosystems of over 200 species of flora.
The flora (part of wildlife in Zambia) is mostly Baikiaea, miombo, and mopane woodlands, as well as open savanna and evergreen forests. Grasslands, mostly flooded grasslands, can also be found in Zambia. This allows for a truly diversified experience of wildlife in Zambia.
Wildlife Endemic to Zambia
Wildlife in Zambia includes 53 animal species that are endemic to Zambia and are mostly found in the major national parks. Noteworthy is Thornicroft’s Giraffe, Black Lechwe, and also the Bangweulu Tsessebe. The endemic wildlife in Zambia is shown below.
Wildlife in Zambia & protected areas
Wildlife protected areas include game parks, game management areas, and private game ranches. A number of these game parks and game management areas are across more than one province. Most wildlife in Zambia is in these areas, across the ten provinces:
National parks in this region include the Blue lagoon, Kafue flats, Kasanka, South Luangwa (through Eastern province) National parks. The Central province shares the Bangweulu wetlands and the Luangwa Valley (western end).
The Central province also hosts the Lunsemfwa and Lukusashi River valleys, and Lukanga Swamp. The wildlife is both diverse and plentiful, with some key Wildlife in Zambia.
Kasanka national park is most noteworthy for the largest mammalian wildlife migration in the world. I dazzling ten million fruit bats migrate there every November and December.
The big five are found in the Kafue national park, except for the rhino. These are the elephant, lion, buffalo, and leopard. Cheetahs spotted hyenas and cape wild dogs are also residents of the park. The park supports an impressive range of antelope including blue wildebeest, kudu, elands, reedbucks, and zabras.
Wild animal protected areas include the Chembe bird sanctuary, Kitwe. The astounding wildlife in Zambia includes birdlife, crocodiles, and sitatunga antelope.
Sitatunga hooves look very different to other antelope’s. Adapted for muddy swamplands the sitatunga looks awkward when walking on dry land.
National parks in this region comprise; Luambe, Lukusuzi, North Luangwa and South Luangwa national parks. The Game management areas are; Chisomo, Lumimba, Lupande, Mukumgule, Munyamadzi, Musalangu, and Sandwe.
The national parks and game management areas are found in the Luangwa valley. The valley is home to some endemic Wildlife in Zambia, namely Cookson’s wildebeest and Thornicroft’s giraffe.
The Luangwa Valley is an extension of the Great East African Rift Valley. The valley also has the world’s largest concentration of hippos and one of the region’s highest lion densities.
The Luangwa valley wildlife comprises over 450 species of birds, twelve species of frogs and toads. It also boasts of 68 species of mammals and 28 reptilian species.
The Lusenga Plain National Park is found in this region. Lake Bangweulu and the Lake Mweru & Luapula River system are also found in this region. There are vast numbers of aquatic wildlife as well as abundant birdlife.
The Bangweulu Wetlands have large herds of the endemic black lechwe. These wetlands host the endemic Bangweulu Tsessebe, which is the fastest antelope. The wetlands are also home to one of the most elusive of African birds, the shoebill.
Key wildlife centres in this area are Lower Zambezi and Lusaka national parks. Chiawa, Luano, and Rufunsa game management areas neighbour the Lower Zambezi National Park. Most Zambia wildlife is represented in this park and the GMAs.
Parts of the Kafue Flats, lower Luangwa valley and Lunsemfwa River valley, extend into this area. Beautiful wildlife can also be found here.
Wild animals in Lusaka national park include giraffes and many species of antelope. The Asian Axis, Nyala and Blesbok are also found at Lusaka national park. These species are foreign to Zambia.
North and South Luangwa national parks are partly located in Muchinga province, with access through Eastern province. Nyika national park is on the Nyika Plateau, which is mostly in Malawi. The park can also only be accessed by road, through Malawi.
Wildlife in Nyika national park includes rare bird species like the wattled crane and red-winged francolins. Leopards, elephants, zebras and a number of antelope species are also found there. It is a bird-rich mountainous region with beautiful bike tracks and footpaths.
Mweru Wantipa and Nsumbu national park are both located on the northern end of the province. The Kaputa game management area is located next to these parks. The area stretched from north-east of Lake Mweru to south-west of Lake Tanganyika.
The wildlife includes elephants, lions, leopards, buffalo and many species of antelope. Many species of birdlife and fish can also be found here. Black rhinoceros can be found in Mweru Wantipa national park.
The south-eastern end includes Lavushi Manda and Isangano national parks, and the Chambeshi, Luwingu and Bangweulu GMAs. Part of Kansaka national park is located in Northern province, and so is part of the Bangweulu wetlands. Black lechwe, sitatunga and numerous large mammals can be found here.
Part of Kafue national park is in North-western province. The region is called Busanga and is next to the Kasonso & Busanga game management area. The area is a game-rich park whose wildlife includes lions, cheetahs, and wild dogs.
The endemic Chaplin’s barbet, along with 490 other bird species, is also found here. The area is antelope-rich and includes the red lechwe and roan antelope.
West Lunga national park is also located in the north-western province. The GMAs next to it are Chibwika/ Ntambo, Lukwakwa and Musele/ Matebo.
The Zambezi floodplain is located on the western end of the province.
The province hosts Blue Lagoon and Kafue national parks, and bird-rich Lochinvar national park. Many species of astounding wildlife in their home on the Zambezi river, Lake Kariba and Kafue flats. The Batoka gorge, Kariba gorge, and Kafue gorge also have similar wildlife.
Wildlife in Zambia – Hippo and stock
Liuwa Plain and Sioma Ngwezi National Parks and the West Zambezi GMA, are found in the western province. Liuwa has many herbivores including blue wildebeest, tsessebe, zebra, common eland, buffalo, red lechwe, reedbuck and roan antelope. Carnivorous wildlife includes cheetah, leopard, lion, and spotted hyena. Sioma Ngwezi is undeveloped, rarely visited, with similar wildlife.
Liuwa Plains boast Africa’s second-largest wildebeest migration, with 45,000 animals. The migration is in November and December.
The Zambezi river and Barotse floodplain have plentiful fish and birdlife. Many species herbivores are also present.
Wild animals outside protected areas
The has been a large decrease in wildlife in Zambia outside protected areas, over the last 100 years. Habitat loss due to human activity and actually hunting of these animals are the main reasons for the decrease. Most large wildlife is now found near in protected areas. However, freshwater wildlife, like the Nile crocodile and hippo, can still be found in numbers outside protected areas.
Wildlife of Zambia
Amphibians
