About the Kafue National Park
The Kafue National Park is the biggest national park in Zambia, covering a massive area of 22,400 km². It was established in 1950, making it the oldest national park in the country. It is home to 158 species of mammals, 515 bird species, 70 reptile species, 58 species of fish and 36 amphibious species. The name of the park derives from the river that flows through the park: the Kafue River.
Why is the Kafue National Park the best choice?
- Even though the sightings are more sporadic and the game density is slightly lower compared to all the other national parks in Zambia, the Kafue National Park has the best variety and species of animals.
- Compared to all of the national parks in Zambia, the Kafue National Park has the lowest costs in terms of park fees and travel expenses.
- The Kafue National park offers accessibility, unlike any of the other national parks. It is one of the few parks that can be accessed without flights.
- The diverse range of experiences and activities to do in the Kafue National Park is unmatched. A few examples of activities are game drives, birding, bush walks, canoeing, and fishing trips.
- The Kafue National Park is the only park in Zambia to guarantee visitors to see three completely different areas or habitats, since the park is so big.
Who should visit the Kafue National Park?
The Kafue National Park caters for clients with various budgets and various interests. We recommend visiting the Kafue National Park if your clients fall into one of the following categories:
- They have a lower budget, they want a shorter stay (3-5 nights) and they prefer to drive to the park.
- They have a slightly higher budget, they want a shorter stay (3-5 nights) and they prefer to fly into the park.
- They have a high budget, they want a longer stay (6-8 nights) at multiple camps and they prefer to fly into the park.
Our suggestion on the best way to experience the Kafue National Park would be to stay for 6-8 nights in total at two different camps: a river-based property and a plains-based camp. That way your clients will be able to experience different game, different terrain and have different adventures.
When is the best time of year to visit the Kafue National Park?
The Kafue National Park falls into the normal safari season in Zambia and therefore the best time to visit in terms of the weather as well as seeing the most game would be between July and October.
Some information to take note about the Kafue National Park:
- Game viewing: in the Kafue National Park, the focus should be on diversity and variety rather than on density. Your clients will see plenty species of game, but just not in huge groups.
- Travel distances: due to the size of the Kafue National Park, the travel distances between camps can be long (even a few hours) so it’s important to take that into consideration when planning your clients’ trip. However, the travelling will be a great opportunity to see more wildlife and birdlife along the way.
- Tsetse flies: the Kafue National Park is known for tsetse flies (biting flies) throughout the year. However, spraying repellent will keep them away. Tsetse flies are important for conservation in Africa due to them keeping cattle off of the land, which gives room for wildlife to stick around.
If you need any other information about the Kafue National Park, please feel free to contact us on DMC@voyagerszambia.com