History
The area now known at the Kafue National Park was afforded protection as far back as the early 1920s when the “Kafue Game Reserve” was created to try and stem the attrition of wildlife resources. However at the time there was no infrastructure and no agency to implement law enforcement or management. It was not until the late 1940s that discussions were held about the creation of a National Park and what we now know as KNP was formally proclaimed in 1950.
Responsibility for management was given to the then Department for Game and Tsetse Control.Interestingly it took until 1972 for the Park to be officially gazetted. The KNP’s first wildlife warden was the famous Norman Carr, often seen as the founder of the walking safari concept and certainly on of the pioneers of non-consumptive tourism and its associated conservation benefits. It is notable that what we still see as the Kafue’s biggest selling point today, was equally perceived by Carr back in 1959 who wrote:
“KNP should never be allowed to expand to the extent that other parks and game reserves had expanded… Exclusiveness and peacefulness are the major attractions of this park.”
They still are, and they still are an intrinsic part of a Kafue safari.
Communities
At the time of the proclamation of the National Park there were inhabited areas under the chiefdoms of Chief Kasonso (Busanga Plains), Chief Kabulwebulwe (close to the Western boundary in the central area of the park), Chief Kaingu (an area called Kantinti which is now submerged by the northern part of Lake Itezhi Tezhi), Chief Sezongo and Chief Musungwa (in the area between Ngoma and the Nanzhila Plains). At the time of proclamation in 1950, most inhabitants had moved out of the park, except for some inhabitants under Kasonso, Kaingu and Kabulwebulwe.
The intention of the then colonial administration was that these people could remain and be employed as labourers within the park. This strategy changed however and by 1960 the strategy was to move people out of the park completely. Records from the time show how Chief Kabulwebulwe was removed as chief until he could get his people to settle in an area outside the Park near Mumbwa town.
Local fishing rights were retained as part of the agreements to move and these rights are still exercised today on the rivers and plains in Busanga, Nanzhila and on the main Kafue river itself.
The communities around the Park are still where they were placed when the park was created, and employment in tourism facilities as well as the National Park itself (Department of National Parks & Wildlife) is economically vital to these communities.
Landscape
The KNP is generally speaking fairly flat and like most of Zambia is at a reasonable elevation of around 1100m. While the central area has small granite hills and peaks as a result of the hook granite massif ascending, true hills and valleys are rare. The landscape is primarily dominated by miombo woodland – open semi-deciduous forest – and associated dambos (open grassland areas).
The extreme North and South of the Park are notable for the seasonally inundated Busanga and Nanzhila plains, with Busanga in particular being likened to a “mini Okovango delta” and being partially flooded from December through to June.
KPOA
About the Kafue Park Operators Association
The Kafue Park Operators Association was formed to represent the non-consumptive tourism operators in and around the Kafue National Park.
The association aims to represent the industry in the area as a cohesive group with the same goals and outlook, and to ensure the industry has a voice in the management and development of the Kafue National Park.
The association created this website to serve as a common marketing platform to enable the public to find information about tourist facilities within the Kafue.