Kafue National Park Safaris
Lesser known than the Luangwa and the Lower Zambezi, Kafue has a fraction of the number of visitors and yet is one of Africa’s largest parks.
When to go to Kafue National Park
Best Time to Go
Zambia’s largest National Park
Increasingly good concentrations of game
A wild and secluded safari escape
Explore the Busanga Plains in season
Zambia’s Largest National Park
Kafue’s incredibly diverse terrain boasts whole tracts of pristine bush, seasonal floodplains, and woodland studded with huge granite hills that hold equally diverse wildlife. It is more than twice the size of the Luangwa, yet it is regarded as the country’s ‘third’ safari area. We recommend putting the checklist away and just letting the drama and beauty of Kafue unfold in front of you, whether that’s casting your eyes over the seasonal floodplains to watch lion and cheetah stalk the plentiful red lechwe and puku or cruising down the Kafue River to see hippos, crocodiles, and any of the 490 bird species that have been recorded here. Enjoy classic safari activities including day and night game drives, walking safaris, and boating excursions.
Kafue National Park Trips
Spanning a colossal 22,400 square kilometres, Kafue is one of Southern Africa’s most vast wildernesses and has proven to be one of its greatest conservation success stories too. The park’s wide open floodplains are home to impressive numbers of lion, buffalo, cheetah, and red lechwe, as well as a plethora of rare bird species.
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Real expertise doesn’t come from a few trips to Africa. All our specialists have either been guides, run the camps, or grown up and lived in Africa. That’s over 600 years of genuine safari experience.
Good to Know
01.
What areas should I visit in Kafue?
This park has long been all about the Busanga Plains; however, safari enthusiasts who spend longer in Kafue can find it very rewarding to explore its less famous areas, especially the rivers. You are almost guaranteed to have a huge park pretty much to yourself, and the sheer volume and diversity of life will always impress.
02.
When is the best time to travel to Kafue National Park?
As Kafue is a classic dry-season reserve, the game viewing becomes progressively better as the year goes on. June to November is the only time that Kafue’s best camps are open. Weather-wise, the heat increases as the game viewing improves, with October the hottest month. Kafue’s main camps are shut from December through to May – we don’t recommend trying to travel here during that period.
03.
What are the best accommodation options?
A handful of luxury and high-end lodges have discovered the advantages of this stunningly remote and wild section of Zambia, and have set up camps overlooking the grazing grounds of the vast Busanga Plains in the far north-east corner of the park. Wilderness Shumba Camp is a standout. By far one of Zambia’s most opulent lodges, featuring activities such as traditional game drives, night drives, walking safaris, and even hot air balloon safaris. Alternatively, embrace Zambia’s more intrepid side at Wilderness Busanga Bush Camp, a no-frills camp with real character, a thrilling predator-rich location, and unparalleled photographic opportunities when the mist rises off the floodplains in the morning. The small and characterful Musekese tented camp, located on the banks of the Kafue River, is another great option. This camp offers some of the best guiding we’ve experienced.
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