Kundelungu National Park is divided into two distinct zones: an ecologically intact south-eastern zone, primarily defined by the natural escarpments and boundaries of the plateau; and a western zone that is lower-lying and comprises savannah vegetation.
The Plateau Zone area lies, as its name denotes, on Kundelungu Plateau, which rises hundreds of metres above the river valleys of the headwaters of the Congo River. The plateau is capped with grassland and is surrounded by vast tracts of miombo woodland. The rivers cascade off the plateau in impressive waterfalls, including the famous Lofoi Falls. These plateau grasslands are home to high levels of endemism in the form of orchids, other plants and reptiles. The habitat is ideal for sable, greater kudu, impala and puku, as well as other species typical of this mosaic of open grasslands and dense woodlands.
An abundance of wildlife including black rhino, buffalo, elephant, thousands of lechwe, Grant’s zebra and greater kudu lived here until the 1980s when widespread conflict and unsustainable illegal hunting led to almost complete loss of the larger mammals. Translocations to restore species such as cheetah and zebra and other megafauna are planned for the future to regenerate the area’s biodiversity.
The area is characterised by large lakes and papyrus beds, forming an important water source and habitat for an impressive number of fish species and the iconic shoebill. The mixed-use zone of the Lufira Valley is a vitally important wetland area that flows down the Lufira River Valley and into Lake Upemba in the west.
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