KAFUE NATIONAL PARKS
This is the largest national parks in Zambia with a total area of 22,400 square kilometers the same size with countries like Wales and one of the largest national parks in Africa and a home of 152 different mammal species. The name is derived from the Kafue river and its main accesses is via the Great West Road from the Capital Lusaka to Mongu which crosses the park north of its centre. Seasonal dirt roads also link from Kalolmo and Namwala in the South and south-east, and Kasempa in the North.
Animals
Kafue National Park has a large range of Antelopes, such as Puku, Sitatunga, red lechwe, blue duiker, yellow-backed duiker, grysbok, Oribi, impala, roan antelope, sable antelope and hartebeest. And Elephants are commonly seen.
Since 2005, the protected area has been considered a lion conservation unit, together with South Luangwa National Park cheetahs are not easy to find though they exist. leopards are elusive but frequently seen in certain areas in certain times of the year. Occasional sightings of Cape wild dogs occur all over the park, which is one of Zambia’s best strongholds for them. Other carnivores include Seleous’s mongoose, white-tailed mongoose, mash mongoose, civet, honey badger, otters, serval, caracal and African wild cats.
Other mammals include, cape buffalo, aardvarks, pangolin, bush pig, warthogs, spring hare and bush babies. The Kafue River and its tributaries are home for hippos and few of the largest Nile crocodiles in the southern Africa. There are also monitor lizards in the park
Birds
Kafue National Park is said to have recorded over 500 different bird species and the common recorded ones include, black-cheeked lovebirds, grey crowned, African fin foot, Pel’s fishing owl, Bohm’s bee-eaters, paradise flycatchers, sunbirds, numerous Kingfisher species and Zambia’s only endemic bird, Chaplin’s barbet
Busanga is one of the few known breeding sites for the wattled cranes. There are also flocks of pelicans, many species of egrets and large gathering of African open bill storks, colonies of African skimmers are found on the sandbars in the main rivers
The small termite mounds of the grassland attract sooty chats, and water areas of the plains are favored by the rosy- throated long claw. When the termite elates fly before the rains, pallid harriers, lesser kestrels and Eurasian hobby feast on them
The woodlands are home to African hawk-eagles, black-chested snake-eagles, racket-tailed rollers, flocks of helmet shrikes, and sooty and Arnott’s chats
Commercially important fish species in the area are Sarotherodon macrochir, Tilapia andersonil, T. Rendalli, T. sparmanii, Clarias and many others. By 1992 Kapenta from Lake Tanganyika were introduced into Lake Itezhi-tezhi.
Activities carried out at Kafue National Park
Game viewing.
This national park just like any other African national parks brings forth a major highlight of any African Safari (game drive), the game drives at Kafue national park are quit unique and it l guarantees traveler amazing experiences of getting to mingle with the parks major constituents i.e. Wildlife/ wild game and nature to mention but a few. The game drives at Kafue national park sees you in plains in search for elephants some of the frequently seen park residents, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, wildebeests, defassa, hippos, crocodiles, cheetahs, and any more.
In addition, you will also be to see the amazing view of the park entailing the plains, the rivers, the forests. Note that most of the game drives are conducted by safari guides who are well conversant with the park terrain and the tracks where to find which game. Some of the highlights of the game drives.
Birding
Kafue national park has been a bird watching destination. It’s the Zambia’s birding destination for most of the birding enthusiast. Every fresh day you are being surprised by wide array of birds that flock to the park. Some of the notable bird species are likely to swing by your site include, the shallows Turaco, sycamore figs, a few green pigeons often seen flying in numbers, Malachite kingfisher, African darter, wattle crane, elusive Chaplin’s barbet, endemic black-necked lovebird, brown-headed apalis among others. This national park recorded over 450 different bird species. And all sighted I various places to include forests, rivers, woodlands, flood plains.
The best time for birding time
The bird watching can be done for the whole year though the finest time is advised to visitors according to Kafue national park research and observation about when is good for the activity to be carried out. There are summer months running from November to April. This is due to the fact that fraction of bird species is breeding and for the rest of the wildlife viewing is subsequent from July to the month of July to the month of October
The commonest birds to be watched here include yellow-throated leaf, spotted creeper, Souza’s shrike, racket-tailed roller, Pel’s-billed hornbill, olive, woodpecker, Natrina trogon, Miombo rock thrush, Miombo pied barbet, collared palm-thrush, brown-headed apalis, Chaplin’s barbet.
Canoeing.
This another amazing activity done at Kafue National park this a quest way to explore the parks water sharing environment with crocodiles and hippos. During this activity you will also be to slither through the elephants and buffaloes at the shoreline of the river undetected.
Kafue river acts a water point for multiple wildlife to cools off from the along day movement in the park, they head to the river to drink water and take a bath. Some of the notable wildlife commonly sighted at the banks of this national river Kafue and the species usually busk in the open to capture the sun and as well enjoy drink as the river.
ACCOMMODATION AT KAFUE NATIONAL PARK
These accommodations facilities include, Busanga bush camp, Busanga plains camp, chisa Busanga camp, fig tree bush camp, ILa safari lodge, shumba, hippo bay camp and many others.