Kundelungu National Park

Kundelungu sits on a plateau above sixteen hundred metres north of Lubumbashi, a landscape of open grassland cut by wooded river valleys, with the escarpment dropping away on the western side. It was established in 1970 and, like Upemba nearby, lost much of its wildlife over subsequent decades; antelope, zebra and smaller predators remain and the park is under active restoration. The Lofoi falls, on the escarpment at the park's edge, are the single feature most visitors come for.

What you actually see

• The plateau grassland - open high country with scattered woodland, quite unlike the forest to the north.
• The gallery forest - wooded strips along the river valleys cutting the plateau.
• The escarpment - the western edge, dropping steeply towards the Lufira valley.
• The wildlife - antelope, zebra and smaller predators, recovering from very low numbers.

When to go

May to September is the dry season and the practical window. The wet season closes the tracks. The plateau is noticeably cooler than Lubumbashi and nights in June and July are cold.

Honest expectations

Wildlife densities are low and this is landscape rather than game viewing. There is no accommodation to speak of inside the park and camping is the norm. The roads require a proper four-wheel drive and a competent driver.

Nearby

The Lofoi falls are on the park's western escarpment, and Lubumbashi is south.