Nkanga Conservation Area

This locale stands as one of Zambia’s Important Birding Areas, boasting over 400 species within this relatively small Conservancy

About 20 kilometers north of Choma lies the Nkanga River Conservation Area, encompassing three private game farms intermingled with livestock and crops. This locale stands as one of Zambia’s Important Birding Areas, boasting over 400 species within this relatively small Conservancy. Bird enthusiasts will be keen to spot the endemic Zambian Barbet (Chaplin’s Barbet), while mammal sightings may include sable, puku, and tsessebe.

Nkanga Conservation Area lies on seeing the striking endemic Zambian Barbet (Chaplin’s Barbet). This threatened species is exclusive to a confined region in Zambia. While its habitat spans several thousand square kilometres, its presence tends to be inconsistent at the edges, with consistent sightings often confined to a few hundred square kilometres. The bird heavily relies on the Ficus sycomorus, making it vulnerable when these fig trees are cleared for cultivation.

Beside birding, the mammal sightings are interesting offering rare finds such as the Sable Antelope, Puku, and Common Tsessebe.

Birding difficulty
Easy – on-foot birding but nothing too strenuous.