Established in the 1950s by the legendary conservationist Norman Carr, Kafue National Park is both Zambia’s oldest and largest national park. Spanning an impressive 22,400 km² (8,650 mi²), Kafue is a vast wilderness of Miombo woodlands, seasonal floodplains, meandering rivers, and dambos—dry riverbeds that transform into vital water sources during the rainy season. This remarkable diversity of habitats supports an extraordinary array of wildlife, making Kafue home to more species than any other park south of the Congo.
Wildlife viewing in Kafue can be exceptional. The floodplains teem with large herds of red lechwe and buffalo, often shadowed by predators—especially the impressive lion prides for which the park is renowned. Bird enthusiasts will also be richly rewarded, as Kafue offers superb birdwatching opportunities throughout the year.
Kafue National Park is part of the largest transboundary conservation expanse in the world: the Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area, and is Zambia’s oldest and largest national park. Easily reached by road from Lusaka, it also has shuttle flights to airstrips at Lufupa—near the confluence of the Lufupa and Kafue Rivers—and to the Busanga Plains in the far north. Camps in the central area of the park stay open year-round, while those on the Busanga Plains operate only from June to October, once the summer floodwaters recede.
What makes Kafue so special is its sheer diversity. The park is home to more species than anywhere else in Zambia. Red lechwe, sable and roan antelope—rarely encountered in other parks—are frequently seen here, along with predators such as wild dogs and cheetah.
On 1 July 2022, the Government of Zambia and conservation non-profit organisation, African Parks, announced the signing of a 20 year agreement for the Kafue National Park in a landmark commitment to secure the protection and effective management of one of Africa’s ten largest national parks. This significant new partnership will deliver greater investment in all aspects of Kafue’s park management, to realise its exceptional value to biodiversity, socio-economic development and the people of Zambia.
