Adventures with BoBoBongz

Munda Wanga Environmental Park is a wildlife park and botanical garden located in Chilanga, about an hours drive south of Lusaka’s CBD. The park was originally created as a private garden in 1950, and it was opened to the public in 1972.

Today, Munda Wanga is home to a variety of animals including lions, zebras, wildebeest, impala, bush pig, porcupines and crocodiles. The park is also home to several bird species including the ostrich, spotted eagle owl, harrier hooks and notably, the cape vulture.

It was sad to note that Munda Wanga’s popularity as tourist destination has waned over the years due to the poor maintenance of the wildlife facility and the ailing welfare of the animals. The park actually had a conservation center that was dedicated to the rehabilitation of injured and orphaned animals, but at the time of my visit, the centre looked closed and fairly beat down. However, the remnants of what was a thriving wildlife sanctuary, are still used for educational purposes through the guided tours offered to school children who get a first glimpse of Zambia’s wildlife heritage.

On a greener note, the Munda Wanga Environmental Park also has a botanical garden with a variety of trees and plants, including some that are native to Zambia. It was relieving to find that the gardens area was somewhat better maintained than the wildlife section and had signage to guide visitors on the different species and plant varieties in the botanical garden.

If you are ever in the vicinity of Chilanga, I would recommend that you support to the park by having a short visit or donating / pledging or supporting the Department of National Parks & Wildlife’s effort to preserve this facility and its inhabitants for posterity. Plus, you are sure to learn and see a few of Zambia’s wildlife gems or you could just catch a breather or picnic in their gardens.

Here is some additional information about Munda Wanga Environmental Park:

• The park is open everyday of the week from 09:00 Hours.
• The entrance fee is ZMK 30 for people aged 14 and above; ZMK 15 for children aged 3 to 13 and free for those under the age of 2.