THE PARK

Kafue National Park, “Zambia’s huge hidden gem”, was proclaimed in 1950 and  is the oldest and by far the largest of the country’s National Parks  and fifth largest in the world. The Park encompasses about 25% of the Kafue River’s catchment from the river headwaters to Itezhi-Tezhi Dam, constituting 36% of the country’s national park estate and over 8% of its total land area. It is situated in the west  between and and and in the biome known as the Central African Plateau. It is about 350 km from north to south and about 180 km wide at the widest east-west point, covering 22,480 and a total area of 67,000 , twice the size of Belgium if you include the surrounding 9 Game Management Areas. 256 km of the Kafue River, from which the Park derives its name and which is a major tributary of the Zambezi, flow through the Park.

Few people realise the enormous size of this unfenced wilderness area and the wonderful landscapes and outstanding diversity of wildlife that it contains.

KNP has always suffered from being under-funded especially over the last 30 years and despite recent introduction of some international finance from The Royal Norwegian Embassy, The Royal Danish Embassy, the World Bank and WWF, for operations and capital works, severe depletion of wildlife, encroachment and habitat degradation unfortunately continue in many parts of the Park and in the GMAs. Today,  ZAWA’s efforts have led to a  perceptible recovery of wildlife in some places; unfortunately inadequate staffing (only about 10% of what it should have), insufficient equipment and badly dilapidated infrastructure constrain improvement work. This sad situation, combined with limited community participation, hampers development and hinders all conservation activities. The Trust therefore aims to help with conservation and development of  wildlife and wilderness assets by improving infrastructure, strengthening management, encouraging more involvement of dependent communities and by helping to attract investment in tourism.

We are dedicated to ensure that this great Park will take its rightful place as a valued national asset of world-class standard.

Kafue contains 20 vegetation types and 16 (66%) of the 24 wildlife habitats found in the country, including large areas of characteristically very high biomass, notably natural grassland and termitaria vegetation. It provides sanctuary for 158 species of mammals (21 species of antelope – see the list); 515 species of birds, when including GMAs; 70 of reptiles; 36 of amphibians; and 58 species of fish. It is classified as having more antelope species than any other park in Africa and as one of Zambia’s Important
Bird Areas”.

“Map of Kafue National Park and surrounding GMA’s”

Click to see an enlargement of the map

Apart from illegal hunting the biggest single ecological problem that affects the distribution and numbers of all animals is the annual occurrence of bush fires which sweep throughout the Park. We would like to assist the park’s authorities in managing and controlling this highly damaging phenomenon.

The location of the Park and the GMAs has led to its inclusion recently in the KAZA 5-country trans-frontier conservation area. This incorporates protected areas in Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Angola and Zambia which can be linked and managed as a contiguous “conservation cluster” enabling wildlife management and tourism development across national boundaries. The tourism potential of such a large conservation area is limitless and this will eventually foster major employment opportunities and revenue generation for park management.

Well co-ordinated organization, which fully embraces the needs of the local communities, is essential. At present sections of the local population do participate in legal hunting concessions in the GMAs but dire lack of  resources for management is causing serious depletion of  wildlife. The Trust therefore plans to assist ZAWA in raising awareness on wildlife conservation and sustainable use of natural resources so that, in due course, natural resource conservation, good governance and enhanced livelihoods will be achieved.