Kafue National Park
The Kafue National Park is one of the oldest, largest and wildest national parks in the world! It was created in 1950 and is a sprawling 22,480 km2. The park is about the size of Wales in Britain and twice the size of Yellowstone National Park in the USA.
Some thirty years ago the Kafue River, a tributary of the mighty Zambezi, flooded its banks. In the long grass pan that formed, herds of graceful puku came to graze. It was here that Rob Buske, a local farmer, conservationist and honorary ranger chose a beautiful but remote site to build Puku Pan Safari Lodge.
Despite the park’s proximity to both Lusaka and the Copperbelt, it has remained underdeveloped until recent years, which makes it a magical place to visit. The park boasts excellent game viewing, bird watching and fishing. The Kafue National Park has the largest variety of mammals of all the parks in Zambia, and more than 400 bird species have been recorded Owing to its size, the park encompasses a large variety of landscapes, which caters for a full menu of grazers including antelopes, zebra and buffalo, which in turn attract their predators; lion, leopard, hyena, cheetah and wild dog. Elephants are found throughout the park as are hippos and crocodiles in the Kafue River and its tributaries.
Wildlife
Bushbucks come close to the lodge, and when it is peaceful and quiet one can, with a bit of patience, get very close to one. A variety of animals appear around the lodge, since the river is attractive for antelopes (and their predators).
Birding
The Kafue National Park is one of the 39 Important Bird Areas of Zambia. Besides the many herons, ibises and storks, you have a chance to spot cranes, weavers, barbets and kites. Pel’s fishing owl and the rare black-cheeked lovebird can also be seen.
Area
The scenery around the lodge has some beautiful sites. The gallery shows pictures taken of the huge blackened Kopje before having a lovely breakfast on it, on boat safaris on the Kafue River, and during day trips to the one of the hot springs in Mumbwa and Lake Itezhi-Tezhi areas.
Flora
Besides the fauna, flora has a rich diversity too. Who does not know, maybe one of Africa’s most famous tree, the baobab? Other trees in the pictures are the mukwa and the acacia, as well as some flowering trees.