Spotlight - Kafue National Park, Zambia

If you want off-the-beaten-track wilderness experience with decent wildlife and traditional camps – look no further than Kafue for your safari. Kafue is Zambia’s oldest park and by far the largest. It was established as a game reserve in 1924 and became an official national park in 1950. The park offers African wilderness with exciting wildlife safaris, incredible birding and fishing opportunities. It is home to over 55 different species of animals and over 400 species of birds.

With relatively few visitors it remains wild and remote. The rich Lufupa and Lunga Rivers meanders through the central area of the park. Birdlife in this area is stunning, with pied kingfishers darting around, African jacanas skating across the water's surface and fish eagles calling in the background. In the woodland surrounding the river, you are sure to find herds of puku and impala grazing in the clearings. By night, this is also one of the best areas in the park for spotting leopard. Wildlife sightings in this central tract of the park is active, with lion, cheetah and wild dogs present, as well as buffalo, elephant to name a few. The size of the park means that animal habitats are immense, so densities are not as concentrated as some smaller parks. Ultimately the game viewing is rewarding and made all the more special by the fact that you are highly unlikely to see another vehicle on a game drive.

Highlights

Kafue epitomises all the remote and wild characteristics of the Zambian wilderness

In the North, the Busanga Plains is a highlight – these are seasonal floodplains, these immense grasslands are only accessible from June to October

Despite being remote, Kafue is easily accessible from both Lusaka and Livingstone/Victoria Falls.

Our pick for places to stay:

Kaingu Safari Lodge - This owner-run lodge with its comfortable accommodation blending into nature is something unexpected.

Personal attention to each and every guest makes you feel at home instantly. KaingU offers a unique stay for travelers wishing to get closer to the unspoiled wilderness of the ‘real’ Africa, experience the warm and welcoming people of Zambia and enjoy wildlife and scenery undisturbed.

Kaingu is situated in the Namwala Game Management Area on a spectacular and remote stretch of the Kafue River, approximately 400 kilometres north of the Victoria Falls. The Kafue River, with all its myriad of channels, rapids and islands lends itself to a range of exciting river based activities which include boat cruises, fishing, birding, canoeing and river trails. From the top of one of the large granite boulders in the Namwala GMA you will get a bird’s eye view over vast wilderness. Situated on a plateau 1030 meters above sea level, KaingU enjoys a year round moderate climate – the coldest in July and hottest in October.

Mawimbi Bushcamp - A rustic, gorgeous spot on a thriving river to explore nature from the serenity of a canoe

Only 3 large canvas tents nestle on the river bank ensuring ultimate exclusivity and a maximum of 6 people in camp. Each has en-suite outdoor bathroom with a hand wash basin and hot water bucket-shower on demand. All of the tents have large mosquito netting windows, two colourful beds in the main area set up towards the entrance and veranda, overlooking the river. They are utterly rustic in principle, without any extravagance but all the basic necessities are covered, like comfy beds for a good night’s sleep. Hippo’s locale the river below and often other animals move around the camp at dusk and into the night.

The star activity here is canoeing through an amazing variety of habitats and breathtaking scenery. When visiting the Kafue National Park, staying at Mawimbi you can undertake canoeing day trips down sections of the Kafue River from various launch sections of the river. Wilderness game walks in the park are easily organized every morning and afternoon for those not wishing to brave the canoeing and preferring a more traditional in-vehicle view of the African bush.