Kafue National Park

Zambia's Oldest And Largest National Park: Busanga Plains, Big Cats And Over 500 Birds

Kafue National Park is Zambia's oldest and largest national park, covering 22,400 km² of miombo woodland, river, dambo and open floodplain. It was proclaimed in 1950, and African Parks has managed it with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife since a 20-year partnership was signed in July 2022.

The big cats are a Kafue highlight: lion, leopard and the largest cheetah population in Zambia, with the park also a stronghold for African wild dog. Elephant, hippo and a long list of antelope, including puku, roan, sable and red lechwe, share the woodland and floodplains, while the Kafue River holds hippo and crocodile.

In the far north-west, the Busanga Plains are seasonally flooded grassland along the Lufupa River, and the Busanga swamps are a Ramsar wetland. Birders have more than 500 species to look for, including Chaplin's barbet, Zambia's only endemic bird, Pel's fishing owl and the black-cheeked lovebird.

Kafue National Park Facts

• Size: 22,400 km²
• Location: West-central Zambia, across the North-Western, Central and Southern provinces
• Proclaimed: 1950
• Managed by: African Parks, in partnership with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife
• Annual rainfall: about 510 mm in the south to over 1,020 mm in the north
• Lodges & accommodation: Kafue lodges

Where Is Kafue National Park?

Kafue National Park lies in west-central Zambia. The Lunga and Lufupa rivers, the park's main northern tributaries, feed the Kafue River, which crosses the park on its way to the Itezhi-Tezhi reservoir. To see the park on a map, open Kafue National Park in Google Maps.

Wildlife And Birds In Kafue National Park

Kafue is home to more than 150 mammal species. Highlights include lion, leopard, cheetah, African wild dog, side-striped jackal, African civet, genet, elephant, hippo, defassa waterbuck, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, plains zebra, buffalo, red lechwe, puku, sable and roan antelope, oribi and duiker.

The birdlife is a personal highlight for us. Over 500 species have been recorded, among them Pel's fishing owl, black-cheeked lovebird, Chaplin's barbet, wattled and grey crowned crane, African finfoot, Böhm's bee-eater, racket-tailed roller, sooty and Arnot's chat, African hawk-eagle, black-chested snake eagle, pallid and Montagu's harrier, lesser kestrel and European hobby.

Planning Your Visit

What you can reach in Kafue changes with the seasons, particularly on the Busanga Plains, so check when to visit before you choose a camp.

Malaria precautions apply throughout Zambia, including Kafue. See malaria in Zambia and malaria in Africa.

Main Attractions Of Kafue National Park

• Lion, leopard, cheetah and African wild dog
• Large herds of red lechwe and buffalo on the Busanga Plains
• Roan, sable and puku among a wide range of antelope
• More than 500 bird species
• More than 150 mammal species
• Hippo and crocodile on the Kafue River
• Walking, birding and game-viewing safaris
• River activities on the Kafue and Lunga rivers
• Photography

Tell us what you want from Kafue and we'll build the safari around it, as we have for travellers since 1999.

Kafue National Park: Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Kafue National Park?

Kafue National Park is in west-central Zambia, spread across the North-Western, Central and Southern provinces. The Busanga Plains lie in its far north-west, along the Lufupa River, while the Lunga and Lufupa rivers feed the Kafue River in the park's north.

How big is Kafue National Park?

Kafue National Park covers 22,400 km², which makes it the largest national park in Zambia. It is also the oldest, proclaimed in 1950. Game Management Areas buffer the park, so wildlife ranges across a wider landscape than the boundary alone suggests.

What are the Busanga Plains?

The Busanga Plains are seasonally flooded grasslands in Kafue's far north-west, along the Lufupa River. The Busanga swamps are a Ramsar wetland of international importance. They hold large herds of red lechwe and buffalo, and the swamps are one of the few known breeding sites for wattled cranes.

What wildlife lives in Kafue National Park?

Kafue is home to more than 150 mammal species, including lion, leopard, wild dog, cheetah and elephant. It holds the largest cheetah population in Zambia and is a stronghold for African wild dog. Antelope are a highlight, from puku and red lechwe to roan and sable.

How many bird species are in Kafue National Park?

Kafue has more than 500 recorded bird species, and BirdLife International designates it an Important Bird Area. Chaplin's barbet, Zambia's only endemic bird, is found here, alongside Pel's fishing owl, black-cheeked lovebird, African finfoot and wattled crane. Habitats range from miombo woodland to rivers and floodplains.

Who manages Kafue National Park?

African Parks manages Kafue National Park in partnership with Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife. The partnership is a 20-year agreement signed in July 2022, building on a support plan begun in 2021. Its work includes law enforcement and repairs to park infrastructure.

Is Kafue National Park the same as the Kafue Flats?

No, they are different places. Kafue National Park is named for the Kafue River, which flows through it, but the Kafue Flats are a separate wetland further downstream on the same river. Lochinvar and Blue Lagoon national parks protect the flats, not Kafue National Park.