Kafue National Park

Although not as famous as South Luangwa National Park, Kafue National Park in Central Province is a good weekend getaway from Lusaka. Its Zambias oldest and largest national park covering a massive 22500 Km Sq. Although it suffered for years from game poaching, the animal population has recently rebounded. Its an easy three-hour drive west of Lusaka, and after a paved road is built, north from Livingstone. Stay at Mukambi Lodge, which is easily accessible from the highway, or at one of several lodges that follow the Kafue River south to the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam. Go with an experienced guide if you plan to venture off the beaten path.

The Busanga Plain found in the north-west is regarded as the jewel in the crown of this beautiful park. Busanga is a wide flood plain which is inundated for much of the year, generating expanses of grazing and lush water meadows for thousands of red lechwe and Cape buffalo; birdlife is prolific with Spur-winged Geese, Pelicans and flocks of Open Billed storks that can be seen spiraling in the thermals over the plains rising and falling to the lagoons where they feed on snails and invertebrates in the shallows. Crowned cranes, Saddle-billed Storks and Wattled Cranes search amongst the grass for insects, frogs and small reptiles.

The Plain is also renowned for frequent sightings of lion, leopard and cheetah. The Busanga lion prides in particular are well known to the expert guides from the few safari camps that operate in this remote area and are a must see for any safari to Kafue. Kafue is regarded as one of the best places in Africa to encounter leopard, The Kafue River and its tributaries rivers are a magnet for wildlife of every possible kind and there are lots of hippos and crocodiles to be seen along most of the waterways. Magnificent sightings of elephant herds are being made throughout the Park.

You can take boat trips here that will tour you along the Lufupa and the Kafue Rivers. There is also the popular game drive that you can take, and by doing so, you will get to see the many iety of wildlife that inhabit the park.