Lechwe herds
Antelope grazing on an open plain.
Anayawa Nyambe — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anayawa Nyambe — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anayawa Nyambe — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Anayawa Nyambe — CC BY-SA 4.0
Lochinvar National Park lies southwest of Lusaka on the south side of the Kafue River, protecting a large part of the southern Kafue Flats floodplain, including Chunga Lagoon. It covers 428 square kilometres and is known for its Kafue lechwe and birdlife, with over 400 species recorded. A former cattle ranch named after a loch in Galloway, Scotland, it was designated a park in 1972. Antelope and birds thrive here in the absence of larger predators, which ranchers in the area killed off. The wooded southern area is spared from flooding and is home to kudu, bushbuck, baboons and vervet monkeys. The plain opens flat and grassy before you, with herds of lechwe grazing in the distance and reeds and shallow water at its edge. The marshes hold waterfowl, including migratory species. The park also has hot springs and rocks that echo when struck, such as Drum Rock. On Sebanzi Hill are remains of a Neolithic settlement and an Iron Age village, with caves and an ancient baobab. The park lies about 123.8 km from Lusaka and 46.9 km from Monze in a straight line. As of 2026 sources say there is no accommodation in or near it, though you may camp with your own gear. Bring water, fuel and food. Tracks can flood in season, so a four-wheel drive is wise, and ask about conditions before setting out.
Antelope grazing on an open plain.
Rocks that echo when struck.
Ancient remains and a baobab.
South bank of the Kafue River, southwest of Lusaka, Zambia
Not as of 2026 according to sources, though you may camp with your own gear.
Do not expect to, as larger predators were killed off. The park is about antelope and birds.