This story is about Kafue National Park, an iconic conservation area in Zambia renowned as the largest national park in the country – and a grand African destination where some of the best safari packages and accommodation introduce travellers to a thrilling Big 5 experience. Kafue National Park covers an area as big as Wales in the UK or Massachusetts in the USA, an incredible 22 400 square km of wilderness – one of the largest parks in Africa. Voyage2Africa shows you where to stay and how to plan your safaris in this amazing park.
Home to 152 different species of mammals, Kafue is named after the majestic Kafue River that meanders through three Zambian provinces. It starts in the Congo, joins the Zambezi and runs for about 960 km through Africa to Zimbabwe. This water source supports the enormous biodiversity in the park and farmers draw from it upstream to irrigate and create hydroelectric power. Kafue is remote from the usual tourism routes so it is possible to feel completely alone in a huge space where lodges are totally spread out.
Early explorers found the enormous horseshoe bend in the Kafue River years ago and called it The Hook. Today the tarred M9 highway enters the national park and crosses the river via The Hook Bridge. The Kafue River then flows south into the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam which it departs to cross the Kafue Flats before joining the Zambezi River near Chirundu.
The north of monumental Kafue is known as Busanga Plains, a rippling grassy plateau, thick with miombo woodland, small rivers flowing through it and dotted with small pans. In the wet seasons, heavy rains flood the region, disappearing in the drier months and allowing lush green vegetation to appear. In the very north, the Lufupa River flows into the permanent Busanga Swamps, creating a large floodplain delta system that attracts thousands of water birds over a vast 750 square km area where big cats also roam.
Down in the south, the mind-blowing Nanzhila Floodplains are fed by the Nanzhila River before it narrows and drains into the Kafue River east of the Itezhi -Thezi dam where it forms a reservoir. This gorgeous Zambia region is mainly vast grassland plains due to less water, and pockets of charismatic jackal berry and baobab bushveld trees.
Kafue National Park was established in the 1950s by Norman Carr, a significant British-Rhodesian conservationist. This wonderous game reserve features some of the most pristine wilderness habitats in Zambia. Over the years, conservation efforts have doubled and dedicated, highly trained staff service the camps and manage the park.
The park is brimming with mind-boggling biodiversity – 500 bird species, 20 different antelope, huge and small mammals, open plains, lush forests, lakes and dams. Track packs of the remarkable and rare African wild dog on both sides of the Kafue River and observe vital elephant herds frolicking in the water and swimming from bank to bank, their trunks acting as snorkels.
It is incredible to think that Kafue National Park accommodates such diverse antelopes as the puku, sitatunga, red lechwe, blue duiker, yellow-backed duiker, Sharpe’s grysbok, oribi, impala, roan antelope, sable and hartebeest. Other mammals include buffalo, aardvark, pangolin, bushpig, and bushbaby.
The Kafue River and its tributaries are home to pods of hippopotami and a few of the largest Nile crocodiles in southern Africa while safari lovers should scan the river banks for huge water monitors. Leopards lurk everywhere and beautiful cheetah occurs throughout this park, also a stronghold for prides of lions. Since 2005, the protected area has been considered a lion ‘conservation unit’, together with South Luangwa National Park.
There are more than 500 recorded bird species including Pel’s fishing owl, black-cheeked lovebird, grey crowned crane, African finfoot, Böhm’s bee-eaters, paradise flycatchers, sunbirds, numerous kingfisher species and Zambia’s only endemic bird, Chaplin’s barbet. Busanga is one of the few known breeding sites for wattled cranes. There are also flocks of pelicans, many species of egrets and large gatherings of African openbill storks. Colonies of African skimmers are found on sandbars in the main rivers.
Pack up the entire family for a safari holiday to Zambia that they will never forget. Intrepid journeys into Africa introduce your kids to the biggest classroom in the world, nature! Game viewing, nature walks, river cruises and camping under the stars are all part of a safari adventure your family will talk about for years down the line!
Bring your children into the true wilderness of Zambia, our top African safari destination of all time – so check out the luxury lodge and bush camp accommodation where children are made to feel at home and book your special family package today.
Plan a Zambia tour and safari with Voyage2Africa, the African travel experts, and enjoy signature experiences to the premier wildlife destination south of the equator. We bring you thrilling adventures in the southern regions, Kafue, Lower Zambezi National Park, South Luangwa and the famous adventure capital of Africa, Victoria Falls. We offer you the best of the best safari accommodation in Zambia, in lavish lodges, family resorts, modern hotels, eco villas and rustic wild campsites in nature. Bring your camera and your hat, your binoculars and your sense of spirit to an African land that is home to humankind.
