Kafue National Park is easily accessible from the north, south, east and west of Zambia. The only problem is which mode of transportation to Kafue National Park you choose.There are three options for getting to Kafue National Park and moving around within. The first choice, and the easiest, is to fly in and stay at one of the higher rated Kafue National Park lodges. Once in, the staff escorts you around on foot, by a vehicle or boat around the area. Self-driving into the park and around it is the next option. Finally, you could make these arrangements with an external agency or company. Access to Kafue National Park is easy by private car from Lusaka to Mongu. However, you need to plan out a more detailed itinerary if you're considering public transport.
Whether you are driving around in a four wheel drive, on a boat or on foot, be sure to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy everything that the is on offer in Kafue National Park!
For all the information on how to get to, from and around Kafue National Park, check out our Kafue National Park Transportation Guide below. Booking yourself on one of our Kafue National Park tour is a good way to discover the second largest park in the world. Our Zambia Transportation Guide will provide you with further information should you wish to travel around the country.
Kafue National Park Transportation Guide
Getting to Kafue National Park
By Air
Chartering a private aircraft is the simplest way to get in Kafue National Park. There are airstrips at Ngoma, Chunga, Puku Pan, Hippo, Lunga and Moshi camps which accommodate light aircraft.
For transport from the airport to the city (or from the city to the airport), we recommend Green Path Transfers, who offer eco-friendly airport transfers in hundreds of destinations around the world.
Visit our partner Air Valid for Airline Reviews and Information about Zambia.
By Vehicle
While there are several roads to Kafue National Park, they are generally not in good shape. A 4x4 vehicle is best to negotiate these roads. Most of the lodges in Kafue National Park are in the northern section of the Park and can be reached from Lusaka via Mumbwa. Currently, 60 km of the Lusaka-Mumbwa road is due for resurfacing. If the camps of Hippo Camp, Mcbrides or Lunga Cabins are your destination, hit the road going north out of Mumbwa. A 4-wheel drive is ideal for this route.
To head to the park's southern region, drive through Mumbwa on the main road for 66 km. Here, a left turn goes to Itezhi Tezhi Dam and the southern Kafue National Park lodges. This route is a smoother drive, but still needs a sturdy vehicle.
The road going through the park takes you to the Busanga plains and camps close by. Drive through up to the Kafue River Bridge, after crossing which you will see a gate on the northern side. This takes you to Kafwala and Lufupa camps. Private camping is forbidden in the Busanga as outsiders can easily get lost. A local operator must accompany visitors. Only during the dry season is it possible to reach Lufupa and Chunga without a 4-wheel drive. Most other areas in the west, however, need one. Camps in these places can be accessed via the Mongu-Lusaka road which cuts across the Park.
If you're coming from the Copper Belt to the north, drive to Solwezi and onward to Kasempa ( Kasempa, incidentally, has a good hospital). From here, the 98 km road to Lunga Pontoon is fairly well graded. A road on the left side, 16 km before the Pontoon takes you to Kafue's northern gate.
If you're driving out of Livingstone, head to Kalomo on the Lusaka road, turn left and take another left towards Ndumdumwense gate, to reach the Park's southern entrance.
The road conditions in Kafue National Park, both around and inside can be extremely poor, thanks to fluctuating water levels, heavy rainfall and dodgy maintenance. Don't just go by what is in the guide books! The truth is that roads have been known to do a complete vanishing act. Getting lost under these conditions is most easy.
Getting around Kafue National Park
Travelling independently through Zambia requires persistence, physical fitness and the ability to take on a challenge. There are long distances to be negotiated between important towns and the attractions one wishes to explore. But to visit Zambia is to get a taste of the ‘real' Africa and experience the genuine wilderness of parks like South Luangwa and Kafue.
On an average, it takes over 3 hours to drive from one lodge in Kafue National Park to another. On the way, there will be stops for game-viewing. You can also make halts to visit small villages or schools. The dense, black cotton soil makes it hard to move around during the rainy season. If you do rise to the challenge, you will be amply rewarded by the wonderful sight of the vast, flooded plains and the spectacular views of wildlife roaming around freely. While the dry season makes for easier travel in Kafue National Park, the rains bring their own magic, transforming the landscape into lush green.
