Kafue National Park is one of Africa’s most substantial parks. Although it’s only a few hours by road from Lusaka, it’s relatively untouched by tourism.

In recent years conservation efforts have allowed the wildlife to flourish.  Fortunately, the Wildlife Department gives it more attention these days than it used to. All of the safari operators are very responsible and take an active part in managing the area.  These combined efforts have led to a considerable increase in the wildlife numbers. Visitors can also join in with conservation efforts like collaring lions when it is in progress.

Due to the size of the park, there is a wide diversity of fauna and flora. There are many ungulate species present throughout the area. For example, lechwe and sitatunga hang out in the swamps – roan, sable and hartebeest in the woodlands. The cheetah is a rare cat in Zambia, and yet they’re regularly seen here. The dominant predators in the Kafue are lions, however. Here they’ve developed the unusual habit of climbing fig trees and even camp decks as vantage points. Lucky visitors could spot a pangolin or aardvark; seriously big ticks on anybody’s species list!

The rainy season is from November to May when many of the roads are inaccessible. For this reason, the dry season from June to October is the best time to visit.

Tips

Access to the park is by air or road from Livingstone (Victoria Falls), or Lusaka.  There are quite a few camps and lodges spread throughout the protected wilderness. These range from basic campsites to luxury safari lodges. The majority of the game viewing is by vehicle to ensure covering as much of the area as possible. Depending on where you’re staying, you could partake in additional activities including hot air ballooning and boating.

Combine the South Luangwa National Park with the Kafue to see the full spectrum of Zambian wildlife.