Reaching Kafue National Park has always been a little tricky, with self-drivers needing complex directions to reach this beautiful, highly rewarding conservation area. For peak season of 2024, Proflight Zambia is once more connecting Kafue with Lusaka three times a week.

The scheduling is as follows:

DATES   1 June to 31 October 2024

DAYS      Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

TIMES   Depart Lusaka 10:30am and arrive Chunga 11:35am

Depart Chunga 12:15pm and arrive Lusaka 13:20pm

This scheduling means you can still enjoy an afternoon game drive when arriving and a morning one when leaving, making it perfect for safari lovers who want to maximise their time in Kafue. There are connections to and from Mfuwe International Airport, ideal if you want to combine Kafue and South Luangwa National Park.

Powerful lions on the prowl at Shumba.

About Kafue

Kafue is highly seasonal and large areas are virtually impassable during the summer rainy season with vast areas of black cotton soil. This is very fertile and ensures magnificent grazing for herbivores but is hell on tyres. By June, the rains have generally stopped and the ground is beginning to dry out, making game drives, walks and even mountain biking possible.

Kafue is known for exceptional birdlife (at least 515 recorded species) and excellent predator sightings, especially of lion, wild dog and hyena. Dry season runs from around June to October.

Where to Stay in Kafue

Kafue still has a remote and truly wild feeling, with only a handful of lodges and camps scattered across it. Here are a few options to consider:

Busanga Bush Camp Only open during high season, this camp makes the most of the Busanga Plains’ famous game viewing.

Busanga Plains Camp Just four tents are available here, ideal if you want privacy and exclusivity or to book the whole camp for your group.

Chisa Busanga Camp Arguably features the most unique sleepout or star bed in Kafue, built as a human-sized bird’s nest!

Fig Tree Bush Camp Named after a colossal fig tree, this popular camp lies on the beautiful Shishamba River.

Ila Safari Lodge The boma is a real highlight, constructed to maximise views and also be an outstanding piece of architecture.

KaingU Safari Lodge Open from March to January, KaingU offers boating and game drives over the birding high season when migrants have arrived.

Kasabushi Camp Situated in the limited development ‘Wild Zone’ of the park near the Kafue River, guests can enjoy a natural granite rock pool with a waterfall.

Konkamoya Lodge Each of the four tents face east to have incredible sunrise views – perfect if you have a dawn wake-up call!

Mayukuyuku Luxury Bush Camp Overlooks a lushly forested island where crocodiles doze lazily on the riverbank…

Mukambi Safari Lodge Every tent – including the riverside villa – has a romantic ball-and-claw bathtub on its private deck.

Musekese Camp Located on a productive lagoon of the Kafue River known for its regular leopard sightings.

Ntemwa-Busanga Camp Lying on the southern side of the Busanga Plains, the camp takes its cue from traditional thatched huts.

Shumba Camp Meaning ‘lion’, Shumba is famous for its ‘flying lions’ that take great leaps while hunting in the area’s deep channels.

 

The Nest at Chisa Busanga.