Kafue National Park, Zambia

Zambia safaris to the game-rich Busanga Plains in Kafue

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The Kafue National Park, to the west of Lusaka, is the third largest national park in Africa at 22,500sq km and the largest in Zambia. Yet, despite its beauty and diversity, the comparative inaccessibility of Kafue and the Busanga Plains means that it remains gloriously untamed! Yet in the modern world, under-development can make an environment as vulnerable as over-exploitation, thanks to poaching and land pressure. So very recently, massive efforts have been made to transform the fortunes of this unique safari park and its local communities.

Kafue safaris offers a unique range of habitats in Zambia, from the memorable Busanga floodplains to the verdant vegetation of the south, and supports a rewarding variety of wildlife including cheetah which are rarely seen in the more developed South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi National Parks.

The Busanga Plains, in the far north of the Kafue, is one of Zambia's most significant wetland areas and one of the few areas in the world untouched by human activity. This is Kafue’s best area for wildlife safaris. During the wet season the Lufupa river floods this area creating a wetlands paradise. As the dry season begins the waters recede leaving lush vegetation. These plains are then home to thousands of red lechwe, the ubiquitous puku, stately roan and sable as well as the diminutive oribi and duiker. The Defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make up a full set of antelope. This wealth of game on the plains is also a big attraction for predators, including leopards, wild dogs, cheetah and prides of lion up to 20 strong. Any Kafue safari should include the Busanga Plains.

In the central areas of the Kafue lies the Lufupa river, characterised by miombo and riverine woodlands. Though the game is not as rich as on the Busanga plains, there are plenty of antelope including the rarer species of roan, sable, oribi and defassa waterbuck, lion, cheetah and leopard, and also a good number of wild dog. On the north-east of Kafue lies the Lunga river which offers excellent birding along its permanent channels. (The Kafue National Park boasts over 450 bird species, including endemics such as Chaplin's Barbet.)

Safari Camps in the Kafue National Park
There are plenty of new luxury safari camps opening up in the Kafue National Park, such as Shumba and Kapinga on the edge of the Busanga Plains, and the refurbishment of old favourites, such as Lunga River Lodge and Busanga Plains Bush Camp. However we would say that Kafue is ideal for the second time Zambia safari visitor or for the experienced safari enthusiast or birder.

When and How to visit Kafue National Park?
Kafue is waterlogged until at least June and we would recommend timing your Zambia safari for July onwards. You fly into Kafue on a light charter flight direct from Lusaka.