'One of the largest parks in the world and when combined with the adjacent Game Management Areas Kafue expands to 65,000 square kilometres'

Size & Location: 22 400 square kilometres
When to visit the park: Year round, April to October are best for game viewing
Climate: Winter months from July to October
Rainfall: 1200mm
Altitude: +- 1350m above sea level
Lodges & accommodation: Kafue National Park accommodation
Lodges & accommodation: Zambia safari & Zambia accommodation

PARK INFORMATION:

Kafue National Park is Zambia's oldest park and by far the largest. Proclaimed in 1950 and is spread over 22 400 square kilometres - the second largest national park in the world and about the size of Wales.

Despite the Kafue proximity to both Lusaka and the Zambian Copperbelt, the National Park has remained underdeveloped until recently. Despite the depravations of poaching and lack of management, Kafue National Park is still a raw and diverse slice of African wilderness with excellent game viewing, birdwatching and fishing opportunities.

From the astounding Busanga Plains in the North-western section of the Kafue to the tree-choked wilderness and the lush dambos of the south, fed by the emerald green Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers, the park sustains huge herds of a great diversity of wildlife. From the thousands of red lechwe on the Plains, the ubiquitous puku, the stately sable and roan antelopes in the woodland to the diminutive oribi and duiker. The solid-rumped defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full menu of antelope.

Large prides of lion, solitary leopards and cheetahs are the prime predators. There is a host of smaller carnivores from the side-striped jackal, civet, genet and various mongoose.

Birdwatching - especially on the rivers and the dambos is superb. Notables include the wattled crane, purple crested loerie and Pel's fishing owl. Over 400 species of birds have been recorded throughout the park.

The Kafue and Lunga Rivers offer superb fishing opportunities, especially good bream, barbel and fresh water pike.

MAIN ATTRACTIONS:
» Antelopes galore
» 400 species of birds
» Very remote African bush
» Hippos and crocodiles
» Walking, birding, wildlife safaris