With 158 mammal species Kafue is incredibly diverse. In fact it has the greatest diversity of antelope species of any national park at 19 species. But let us start with the big, charismatic megafauna as that is often what most people start with. Of the so called “big five” ( a term that is outdated and rather pointless) the Kafue has four – Elephant, Lion, Buffalo and Leopard. The black rhino was poached out in the 1980s (as was the case in many wildlife reserves across Africa).
But high-profile mammals go way beyond this list of five. The Kafue National Park is one of only two National Parks in the country where cheetah roam and these magnificent cats can be seen from Nanzhila in the South right up to Busanga in the North. African wild dogs (or painted wolfs as they are sometimes known) are also here in relative strength. These elusive, nomadic predators have a decent population here (2nd in Zambia only to the population in South Luangwa). Lions are of course here and are regular safari staples. The lions of Busanga are rather special as they have adapted to their landscape that is seasonally flooded, and while this is not their usual environment, they work around this, swimming and jumping channels and taking the water loving lechwe antelopes. Leopards are quite populous across the entire park and in all the varied landscapes.
Buffalo occur in small herds as well as some huge herds (in Busanga, the central sector and around the lake in the South) which are incredibly impressive numbering from 500 to close to 1000 animals. Giraffes are absent and have never been present in the park. Elephants are plentiful across the whole park with a stable if not increasing population. To see a large herd heading home against the sunset in Busanga is an unforgettable sight.
Hippos are found in the Kafue and it’s major tributaries in very healthy numbers. And, on the subject of aquatic mammals, the river systems are also the home to otters.
The antelopes of the Kafue are plentiful in both total numbers as well as total species. Ranging from the very secretive like the blue duiker and the sitatunga, through to the ubiquitous such as the impala and the puku. And the variety applies to size as well – from tiny duikers through to the massive eland.
Smaller mammals are equally as diverse and numerous as the larger ones. Pangolin, bush baby, spring hares, aardvarks, honey badgers, various mongoose species and smaller cats such as the African wildcat, serval, and caracal also call the Kafue home. And of course, warthogs and the lesser known bushpig.
The Kafue doesn’t have the densities of some of the smaller parks. It is a huge wilderness area, tracts of which are completely wild, with no roads or infrastructure at all. A huge part of the charm of the Kafue is that wild aspect. Sightings don’t always roll along like in a zoo. Animals sometimes can be skittish as they are unused to vehicles. For many visitors this wild aspect is part of the charm. Especially as it is accompanied by relatively few visitors. Most sightings are just you and your party – certainly not lots of vehicles jostling for position. But visitors must be cognisant that the Kafue is certainly not a zoo and if it is a quick and easy wildlife fix that you are after then the Kafue might not be the best choice.