Kafue National Park

About Kafue National Park

At 5.5 million acres, Kafue is one of the largest National Parks in Africa, lying due west of Lusaka and due north of Livingstone. The remote location means low visitor numbers, making it one of the best places for a truly wild, unspoilt safari, enjoyed from one of its superb luxury lodges. Accessibility to Kafue National Park in the rainy season is limited, so many of the lodges only open to visitors in the dry season between June and October.

The park is fed by three rivers: the Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue, providing seasonal flooding on the Northern Busanga Plains, making for some extraordinary game viewing. Or, you can spot wildlife in the riverine forest that surrounds them. Avid twitchers will also enjoy the Busanga Swamps in the north-west of the park, where you will find a huge wetland area that’s home to an extraordinary variety of birdlife.

There is a very high density of lion in the park, but you will also get the chance to see both the endangered wild dog and majestic cheetah in the beautiful forested areas where lions are not present. Visitors will also be able to see a wide variety of huge herds on the plains such as puku, lechwe and buffalo, as well as the rare but beautiful roan antelope, oribi and Lichtenstein's hartebeest. Kafue is a paradise for birders, with the wetlands sustaining a huge variety of species, including rare ones such as Ross's turaco and the locust finch.

For safari purists, Kafue is a dream come true, with very few lodges in a huge area of outstanding game viewing with some very rare sightings not seen in many other parts of Africa. Some camps also offer the chance to go ballooning over the reserve, a truly unique experience that gives a totally new perspective on the areas you have been traversing by vehicle. 

Kafue combines perfectly with the rest of Zambia, with flights coming in from both Livingstone and Lusaka, making it easy to mix with other safari areas such as the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa for a wonderful safari circuit.

For more information, why not speak to one of our experts on +44 (0) 20 7843 3500 or email info@africatravel.co.uk

Seasons

• June to October - Kafue's Safari Season where low rainfall means the park is accessible to light aircraft. Warm, dry days are followed by cool evenings and conditions are perfect for game viewing
• November to May - Rains make much of the park inaccessible and camps are closed accordingly

Wildlife

Lions spend 16-20 hours of the day sleeping or resting

The fastest land animal in the world, a cheetah can reach 70 miles per hour in 3 seconds

Male Puku's live in territories by themselves and females live in groups of about 20

The scientific name for the African Wild dog means “painted wolf”

African Buffalos have a symbiotic relationship with many African birds such as the Oxpecker

In The Know

• The short safari season means many camps are booked well in advance so start planning at least a year in advance if you want to get your preferred camp
• If staying at Shumba or Busanga book a 3-night stay (or longer) and we will give you a complimentary hot air balloon safari
• Kafue is one of the best spots in Zambia for birders - if this is your main interest let us know and we will arrange a dedicated birding guide for you.