Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park

Kafue is huge. At 22,400km2 (8646 sq miles), it is similar in size to Wales or the US state of New Hampshire. Not only is it Zambia’s largest national park (over twice the size of South Luangwa), but it also ranks in the top five of Africa’s biggest nature reserves. However, despite its size, Kafue National Park was not immune to the impact of poaching during the 1980s. Black rhinoceros were eradicated, while some elephant herds remain shy and elusive. Nevertheless, Kafue’s wildlife has generally made a strong recovery, flushing the flood plains, river channels and mopane woodland with a fantastic array of big game. To get the most out of a visit to Kafue, try to spend a few days in both the northern and southern sections of the park. With their big skies and uncluttered horizons, the Busanga Plains in the far north are a complete contrast to more wooded areas further south. From the vantage of a termite mound, you really can see the curve of the earth! Busanga has been compared to the Serengeti – herds of antelope and zebra pepper the grassland, while every shady spot seems to have a pride of dozing lions. What makes this region particularly special, however, is the lifegiving pulse of annual floods. Lechwe, sitatunga and hippo thrive in both the seasonally inundated plains and year-round swamps. In April, when the floods recede, fresh grass attracts thousands of grazing animals – and their predators are never far behind.

In the far south of the park is another open area, known as the Nanzhila Plains, a wildlife-rich mosaic of grassland and tree-crowned termite mounds. Nearby, the dammed Lake Itezhi Tezhi covers an area of 370km2 (140 sq miles). It’s a favoured spot for hippos, while drowned trees along its shoreline provide roosting and breeding sites for water birds such as cormorants and the African fish eagle.

Wildlife
If you are a fan of antelopes, Kafue National Park will keep you riveted. It supports at least 16 species, including sitatunga, red lechwe, blue wildebeest, Lichtenstein’s hartebeest, reedbuck, oribi, puku, impala, roan, sable, kudu, bushbuck, eland, common duiker, grysbok and defassa waterbuck. This impressive line-up is proof of Kafue’s diversity of habitats. Antelopes have evolved to live almost anywhere – in Kafue you will find the amphibious, swamp-dwelling sitatunga, the fleet-hoofed impala of the plains, and the tiny, skittish duiker of scrub and woodland. Adaptations aside, however, Kafue may well be your best chance in Zambia to spot the splendid sable antelope. This handsome beast, with its long, swept-back horns, is usually found in scattered woodland. Family herds can number 40 individuals, but look out for the smaller bachelor groups of up to 10 males – with their glossy black coats, snowy bellies and scimitar horns they are surely one of wild Africa’s most striking sights. With such an abundance of antelope on the menu (not to mention zebra and buffalo), predators are widespread in Kafue. Lion prides of up to 20 individuals are not uncommon on the Busanga Plains. There is another big cat present in the park, however, which many visitors will be keen to spot. Kafue’s large plains are one of the few areas in Zambia where cheetah are regularly seen. Reaching 112kph (70mph), the cheetah’s speed and hunting prowess is legendary. Considerably slower across the plains, but nevertheless another record holder, is the kori bustard – the world’s heaviest flying bird. It is sometimes spotted strutting across Busanga Plains, and is just one of around 450 bird species found in the national park. Unless you are particularly inspired to seek out cisticolas, larks and other ‘little brown jobs’, the grassland’s main avian rewards are large birds like wattled crane, secretary bird and saddle-billed stork. For more variety, head to the rivers and pools where you will soon be ticking off kingfishers, bee-eaters, skimmers, ducks and, if you’re exceptionally lucky, a rarity like the African finfoot or Pel’s fishing owl.

How to Visit
Although it is possible to travel overland to Kafue National Park, many visitors shun the rough tracks in favour of a fly-in safari. Small, single-propeller aircraft can probe the most remote airstrips where 4x4 safari vehicles will be waiting to transport you into the heart of this extraordinary wilderness park.