Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park in remote Zambia is about as wild as you can get in today's world: an unfenced mosaic of expansive grassy seasonal floodplains, wide rivers with tree-choked banks, oxbow lakes or dambos, and glades of thick miombo forest.

For at least six months of the year much of the area is inaccessible because of the heavy summer rains that cause swollen rivers and extensive flooding.

From the astounding Busanga Plains in the North-western section of the Park to the tree-choked wilderness and the lush dambos of the south., fed by the emerald green Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers, the park sustains huge herds of a great diversity of wildlife.

From the thousands of red lechwe on the Plains, the ubiquitous puku, the stately sable and roan antelopes in the woodland to the diminutive oribi and duiker. The solid-rumped defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full menu of antelope.

Large prides of lion, solitary leopards and cheetahs are the prime predators. There is a host of smaller carnivores from the side-striped jackal, civet, genet and various mongoose.

Birdwatching - especially on the rivers and the dambos is superb. Notables include the wattled crane, purple crested loerie and Pelís fishing owl. Over 490 species of birds have been recorded throughout the park.

The Kafue and Lunga Rivers offer good fishing opportunities, especially good bream, barbel and fresh water pike. Most lodges have fishing tackle, rods, boats and bait available. Musungwa Lodge in the south, hosts an annual fishing competition in September on Lake Itezhi Tezhi.

• Lower Zambezi National Park
• Mosi-oa-tunya
• South Luangwa National Park
• Kasanka