Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia covering an area of about 22,400 km?(similar in size to Wales or Massachusetts). It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals. The park is named after the Kafue River. It stretches over three provinces: Northwestern, central and southern. The main access is via the Great west Road from Lusaka to Mongu which crosses the park north of its centre.

Kafue National Park was established in 1924 after the British Colonial Rule moved the traditional owners of the area, the Nkoya People of (King) Mwene Kabulwebulwe from their traditional hunting grounds into the Mumbwa District to the east. Dissatisfaction with the pace of development in Central Province and a lack of benefit from tourism in the park have led to calls from Nkoya leaders to establish a new province in the area which they have proposed to call Kafue Province.

In recent years the Park has seen a well-managed growth in the number of Safari Camps and Lodges that operate in and around the Park. This new interest has brought with it more visitors and investment to the area, notably in infrastructure with a number of well-graded roads and airstrips.

As a consequence of the increasing interest and benefits in terms of investment this brings, the wildlife is beginning to enjoy an increased level of protection by the Zambian Wildlife Authority (ZAWA), always aided and supported by the operators in and adjoining the park.

This and more about Zambia makes me the Proudest Eco-generation Regional Ambassador to Zambia, there is so much beauty about Zambia as a whole so blessed with nature and minerals so I have my work cut for me to ensure we look out Zambia's environment and the preservation of the heritage for future generations. You will see some of the beauty endowed within Kafue National Park.

During the 80's Kafue recorded the poaching of the last Black Rhino however, Kafue had the largest population of Rhino in Africa.

The park is regarded by those who know it as one of the best places in Africa to find leopard. In certain areas and at certain times of year these secretive and elusive predators are frequently seen, especially on night-drives (allowed in the Kafue) and even from afternoon boat cruises along the Kafue river in the hotter months when leopard come down to drink.

A rarity for Zambia is the cheetah. Cheetah can not be found in the Luangwa or Zambezi national parks and only occur in the west of Zambia, with Liuwa Plains and the Kafue holding the last viable populations of this rare and charismatic predator. In the Kafue cheetah are not solely restricted to the plains, in fact they do very well in mixed woodland and riverine areas, where they can be found preying on puku and impala, amongst others.

 Cheetah are found throughout the Kafue, from Nanzhila in the south to the Busanga in the north.

The African wild dog is a highly sought after species for wildlife tourists these exceptionally rare and elusive predators are not easy to find, however the Kafue has what some might say the largest population of this species compared to any other national park in Africa. Packs can be found on both sides of the Kafue River and in almost all habitat types, from dense woodland to riverine and dambo areas. This species has started to receive much needed and warranted interest in the Kafue from various conservation organizations, as such in 2011 the Zambian Carnivore Programme began baseline studies of wild dog in the Kafue and look set to continue its good work for the foreseeable future.

 There are few parks in Africa in which sightings of these more unusual species are so possible: pangolin, bushpig, spring hare, monitor lizards, aardvark, numerous mongoose spp. (selous, white-tailed, marsh, etc.), civet, serval, caracal, wild cat, bush baby, grysbok, oribi, roan, honey badger, otters, sitatunga? the list goes on and in fact stops only at 158 recorded species of mammal!

Pictures courtesy of SunSafaris.