Kafue National Park, Zambia

For a taste of true wilderness, head to Kafue National Park in western Zambia. Covering more than 22,500 square kilometres – an area almost the same size as Wales – this is the country’s oldest and largest national park. Kafue may have attracted less attention than Zambia’s best-known parks over the years, but the low density of visitors makes for an even greater wilderness experience. And while the game viewing may not rival that of the Lower Zambezi or the South Luangwa national parks, it can still be very rewarding if you are patient, with everything from zebras and leopards to 500 species of bird to look out for.

What makes Kafue so unique, is that it has remained largely untouched by development since it was established as a National Park in the 1950s. Large tracts of virgin bush are still free of big lodges and tourist attractions, and two thirds of the Park is designated as Wilderness Area where only walking is permitted. The best way to get around is on foot, although activities such as canoeing are also possible.

Spanning such a vast area, there’s a wide variety of terrain in Kafue, home to an incredible collection of diverse habitats. Travel from the north to the south of the park and watch the landscape transform from swamps and open grasslands of the Busanga Plains to miombo woodland punctuated by soaring granite hills. The undulating plateau is veined by rivers, including the mighty Kafue River, with its banks lined by lush forest. More diverse than any park in Africa, the wildlife of the Kafue is both varied and numerous, with big game including elephants, lion, buffalo and leopard. The Kafue also has species like cheetah that are rare in other parts of Zambia, and is also home to the endangered African wild dog.

With magnificent scenery, game viewing and bird watching, Kafue is ideal as an off-the-beaten-track section to a Zambian trip, or as a new destination for repeat visitors to the country.

Access is by charter flight or road transfer from Lusaka (apprx. 3 to 5 hours depending on which camp).