Kafue

Kafue, Zambia; an Expert Safari Guide to the National Park

Covering an area of 22,500 square kilometres, (comparable to the size of Wales and just less than three times the size of South Luangwa) Kafue National Park is one of Africa’s largest parks. Due to its size the locals divide the park by the Great West Road that runs between Lusaka and Mongu, providing the perfect divide for South and North Kafue.

With such a vast area comes a diverse range of habitats; in the North West of the Kafue National Park lies the Busanga Swamps, an area of seasonal floodplains that are fed by the Lufupa River system. Scattered with islands, many shaded by large sycamore figs, the area is without doubt the best place for game in Kafue

The remainder of North Kafue due to the wet areas has on the whole a richer, more vibrant habitat where as South Kafue is much dryer, (it also receives marginally less rainfall than the North). South Kafue has vast areas of Kalahari Sand that appears harsh and desolate on the outset but that in fact brims with life. Proof of this lies in the forests (raintrees, knobthornes, figs, teak jackalberries, leadwoods and sausage tyrees) in the area that seem to rise out of nowhere from the sand and the Nanzhila Plains, an area of grassland that is also home to a good density of game.

Kafue - The Wildlife

The years of hunting and general lack of administration (especially in the 1970’s and early 1980’s) saw Kafue’s overall game severely hunted and poached. Over the last few years however the parks anti-poaching unit has been very successful and the general awareness of the sheer quality of this park has resulted in sound game management paving the way for an unbelievable re-emergence of the parks wildlife

Big game is now back in good numbers although there are no giraffe to be found; elephants, although still somewhat shy, can be found throughout the park. Buffalo can also be found but only in large herds on the Plains, elsewhere they are somewhat scarce. Crocodiles and hippo fill all the rivers, especially the Kafue but Rhino never recovered after the poaching years although there is talk (or at least whispers) of re-introduction.

The diversity of antelope in the park is incredibly impressive, if you are lucky setatunga can be found but the common species are red lechwe, puku, kudu, bushbuck, reedbuck, eland, hartebeest, impala, blue wildebeest, zebra, roan and sable

Kafue - The Predators

The cats, including great leopard, good cheetah (if only on the Busanga Plains) play second best to a thriving lion population that are found throughout the park. Leopard however are found in superb concentrations throughout the riverine areas and spotted hyena are present (if hard to find). The jewel of the predators in Kafue are the wild dog and the ever elusive caracal.

Kafue - For the Connoisseur

Kafue has the greatest variety of antelope in any African park; sitatunga are the real prize. Caracal seem here (in our expereince) to be incredibly relaxed.

Kafue - Zambia Odyssey View

Its simply not possible to tell you what you will see in Kafue because the area is so large and it completely depends whereabouts in the park you are. Absolute safari lovers would say that you need to spend a week or so in a couple of different locations in the park to fully appreciate its full glory. For those of whose life does not evolve around safari and who may only ever come to Africa a couple of times, the Busanga Plains is the place to be. It is as simple as that!

Kafue - Further information

For details of all the lodges in the Kafue please look at Kafue Lodge Page

For General safari information please look at Zambia Safari Page

Phone us to discuss with one of our consultants their last trip to the Zambezi Valley. Even better, come in in person. Tel 44 (0) 20 7471 8780 or Email Us