The Bats are Here!
Kasanka National Park’s sky is now full with millions of straw-coloured fruit bats flying in to feed on the abundant fruits that grow in and around the park. Your best chances of seeing these bats is at the Bat Forest, located inside the park, where they spend their days roosting, before the skies once again darken as they fly out in their millions at dusk.
This amazing migration – thought to be the largest mammal migration in the world – only takes place at Kasanka National Park between mid-October and the New Year.
Facts about fruit bats
Did you know that bats make up around a quarter of mammal species around the world? With over 1,200 bat species worldwide they are one of the largest mammal groups, with Africa being home to about 25% of all known bat species.
Kasanka National Park is home to 33 known bat species, with three more species still being studied. Out of these, seven are fruit bats, with the most famous being the straw-coloured fruit bat. These fruit eating bats are often seen as wasteful feeders, discarding indigestible parts of fruit such as pips and seeds, as they eat. These pips and seeds then fall onto the ground below bat feeding sites where new plants then germinate and grow. So bats play a crucial role within our ecosystem as they are seed dispersers for numerous varieties of plant species.
Find out more about this amazing mammal migration
You can find out more information about all the different mammals and birds that live and visit the park, how to visit and the different types of activities and accommodation on offer at www.kasanka.com
You can also find more bat season photos and special offers on the park’s Facebook Page or book directly by contacting localres@kasankanationalpark.com