Kasanka Bat Migration

Every year, from late October, straw-coloured fruit bats begin arriving at a small patch of swamp forest in Kasanka National Park, and by late November their number is estimated in the millions - the world's largest mammal migration, packed into a few hectares of mushitu forest. At dusk they lift off in a river of wings that takes over an hour to pass; at dawn they return, branches bending and sometimes breaking under the weight. Viewing platforms built into the trees put visitors inside the spectacle. The rest of the year Kasanka is a quiet little park of sitatunga antelope and birdlife.

What you actually see

• The evening fly-out - millions of bats leaving the roost at dusk.
• Dawn return - bats settling into the swamp forest at first light.
• Treetop hides - platforms built into the canopy for viewing.
• Sitatunga at Fibwe hide - the swamp antelope the park is also known for.

When to go

The migration builds from late October, peaks through November, and thins in December. Outside that window the bats are gone entirely. The season overlaps the start of the rains, so expect showers and humid heat.

Honest expectations

The timing is narrow and the peak varies year to year - going in mid November gives the best odds. Rains have often started, making roads muddy and requiring 4x4. Accommodation is limited and books out for the season. Bats are wild animals in a fragile roost, and platforms and rules exist to keep disturbance low; drones are prohibited. Malaria risk is high in the wet season.

Nearby

Lake Waka Waka, the Bangweulu wetlands and the Great North Road.