Kafue National Park

Kafue National Park covers an extensive 22,400 km2 area in western Zambia. Proclaimed in 1950, it is Zambia’s oldest national park and one of the world’s most important natural heritage sites. As an essential water source for the region, Kafue is also one of the last vast expanses of the iconic Zambezian ecoregion – home to elephant, large predators, such as wild dog, cheetah and lion, the highest diversity of antelope species in Africa, and over 500 bird species. 

In 2021, groundwork for the long-term restoration of the park was laid with an 18-month Priority Support Plan. In this time, significant infrastructure investments were made, conservation measures improved, jobs created, and education enhanced through a literacy programme. This paved the way for a 20-year management partnership between African Parks and the Zambian government, signed in July 2022, with biodiversity recovery, community development and consolidation of tourism comprising the primary focus areas in managing this critically important ecosystem. 

Kafue’s enormous water-rich landscape, and vital biodiversity is crucial in delivering essential ecosystem services to thousands of people. At the same time, conserving the landscape helps generate critically needed revenue through tourism, employment and socio-economic opportunities for local communities. 

• At 22,400 km2, Kafue National Park is Zambia’s largest national park, with diverse wildlife; of 158 mammal species, 21 are antelope.
• Aerial surveys and collaring of a range of species indicate a growing elephant population, along with encouraging numbers of species such as buffalo, puku, sable and hartebeest.
• In 2024, 401 Kafue lechwe, endemic to the Kafue Flats, were reintroduced, a significant step in restoring the integrity of the Zambezian ecoregion.
• Forming part of Kavango-Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), which hosts over half of Africa's savannah elephant population, Kafue is one of the most important sanctuaries for this species.
• Over 500 schoolchildren are being supported with educational resources.
• Since 2022, Kafue has experienced an 85% increase in visitor numbers.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) is the overarching regulatory authority that ensures the effective management of protected areas in Zambia. African Parks and the DPNW have been working together in Zambia since 2003 in Liuwa Plain National Park and 2008 in Bangweulu Wetlands. In June 2022, African Parks entered into a third management partnership agreement with the Zambian Government for the management of Kafue National Park. With this agreement, Kafue National Park became the 20th park to join the African Parks portfolio.