SAFARI & TOUR OF BLUE LAGOON IN ZAMBIA

Safari Exploring & Touring Blue Lagoon National Park

Blue Lagoon National Park is located in the Mumbwa District of Zambia's Central province. It occupies an area of 420 square kilometers on the northern side of the Kafue flats. It achieved its national park status in 1973. In terms of driving distance, it lies 120 kilometers west of Lusaka. Kafue Flats and the vast floodplain attracts thousands of Kafue lechwe, zebra, sitatunga, some buffalo and numerous waterbirds. The plains are fringed with acacia woodland. This park is an birdwatchers dream and important feeding ground for wild fowl. The abundance and variety is astounding and the fact that it has not been opened up until recently and is still undeveloped, makes it one of those last untouched places left in Africa. An insight into history, Blue Lagoon National Park was established by the Critchleys, a retired colonel from the British Army and his wife Erica - an environmentally oriented farming family who then sold it to the National Parks Department. Their farmhouse still exists which is now the Park reception. A little further on are two old chalets and two new chalets available for accommodation.

In terms of ecology of the Blue Lagoon National Park: Most of the park is flood plain owing to its low altitude. The flood plain is covered predominantly by aquatic grass and sedges. Rim grass is abundant in the areas of Papyrus swamp. The open woodland fringing the plains is dominated by the acacia, Combretum and Terminalia. Fig trees are common too in localized spots. The vast plains are spectacular in the dry season and transform completely from a dry grass flatland to a watery wonderland in the wet season, as the flats fill with water and the migratory birds arrive from far and wide. Until recently, Blue Lagoon National Park was not open to the public as it fell under the preserve of the defense Ministry. Blue Lagoon National Park, along with the Lochinvar National Park on the other side of the Kafue National Park together hold the largest concentrations of the Kafue Lechwe and herds numbering in the hundreds can be observed here. The Lechwe is the most water-loving antelope. It loves these habitats of floodplains and seasonally inundated grasslands. It frequently feeds in shallow water and will submerge if threatened. Although lechwe run in herds of about 30, several thousand may gather together on the floodplains. An unusual site on the plains is the site of huge river pythons which are attracted by the concentration of the lechwe and birds. Blue Lagoon National Park a excellent contrast to the other Parks in Zambia because of the vast flat landscape and spectacular birding - a good add-on to your tour of Zambia.