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Kafue National Park: Difference between revisions
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| name = Kafue National Park | | name = Kafue National Park | ||
| iucn_category = II | | iucn_category = II | ||
| photo = | | photo = Wildlife-pics.jpg | ||
| photo_caption = | | photo_caption = Wildlife in the Kafue national park | ||
| location = [[Zambia]] | | location = [[Zambia]] | ||
| nearest_city = | | nearest_city = [[Kafue]] | ||
| coords = | | coords = | ||
| map = | | map = | ||
| lat_d = | | relief = | ||
| lat_m = | | lat_d = | ||
| lat_m = | |||
| lat_s = | | lat_s = | ||
| lat_NS = | | lat_NS = | ||
| long_d = | | long_d = | ||
| long_m = | | long_m = | ||
| long_s = | | long_s = | ||
| long_EW = | | long_EW = | ||
| area = 22,400 km² | | area = 22,400 km² | ||
| established = 1950s<ref>[http://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/kafue-national-park Zambia Tourism Board], retrieved 6 July 2011</ref> | | established = 1950s<ref>[http://www.zambiatourism.com/destinations/national-parks/kafue-national-park Zambia Tourism Board], retrieved 6 July 2011</ref> | ||
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| governing_body = [[Zambia Wildlife Authority]] | | governing_body = [[Zambia Wildlife Authority]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{Featured article}} | |||
'''Kafue National Park''' is the largest | '''Kafue National Park''' is the largest national park in [[Zambia]], covering an area of about 22,400 km² (similar in size to Wales or Massachusetts). It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals. | ||
The park is named for the [[Kafue River]]. It stretches over three provinces:<!-- NOTE: only officially sanctioned provinces to be included here.--> [[North-Western Province, Zambia|North Western]], [[Central Province, Zambia|Central]] and [[Southern Province, Zambia|Southern]]. The main access is via the [[Great West Road, Zambia|Great West Road]] from [[Lusaka]] to [[Mongu]] which crosses the park north of its centre. Seasonal dirt roads also link from [[Kalomo]] and [[Namwala]] in the south and south-east, and [[Kasempa]] in the north. | The park is named for the [[Kafue River]]. It stretches over three provinces:<!-- NOTE: only officially sanctioned provinces to be included here.--> [[North-Western Province, Zambia|North Western]], [[Central Province, Zambia|Central]] and [[Southern Province, Zambia|Southern]]. The main access is via the [[Great West Road, Zambia|Great West Road]] from [[Lusaka]] to [[Mongu]] which crosses the park north of its centre. Seasonal dirt roads also link from [[Kalomo]] and [[Namwala]] in the south and south-east, and [[Kasempa]] in the north. | ||
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==Fauna== | ==Fauna== | ||
Kafue has a superb range of [[antelope]]s as well as large herds of red lechwe and puku, with smaller groups of [[zebra]]s and [[blue wildebeest]] in the Busanga Plains around June, when it starts to dry out. Across the northern half of the park, there's a good range of mixed bush environments. [[Kudu]]s, [[bushbuck]]s, [[common eland|eland]]s, [[reedbuck]]s, [[common duiker|duiker]]s, [[grysbok]]s and [[defassa waterbuck]]s are all frequently seen in Kafue. [[Lion]]s are relatively widespread all over the park, but the larger males are increasingly uncommon, with inevitable consequences for numbers as a whole. Prides stalk through nervous herds of [[puku]]s and [[lechwe]]s nightly, using the natural drainage ditches for cover with deadly efficiency on the Busanga Plains. The Kafue River and its tributaries themselves are a hive of activity and home to pods of [[hippopotamus|hippopotami]] and a few of the largest [[Nile crocodile|crocodile]]s in southern Africa. [[African bush elephant|Elephant]]s are commonly seen particularly along the Kafue River and around Lake Itezhi-tezhi. [[African leopard|Leopard]]s remain very common throughout the main forested areas of this park, though they are seldom seen on the open plains. [[Spotted hyena]]s are seen regularly, though not often, throughout the park. [[Cheetah]]s are not common anywhere, but they are most frequently seen in the north of this park, where they seem to be thriving. Occasional sightings of [[Cape wild dog]]s occur all over the park which is one of Zambia's best strongholds for them. | Kafue has a superb range of [[antelope]]s as well as large herds of red lechwe and puku, with smaller groups of [[zebra]]s and [[blue wildebeest]] in the Busanga Plains around June, when it starts to dry out. Across the northern half of the park, there's a good range of mixed bush environments. [[Kudu]]s, [[bushbuck]]s, [[common eland|eland]]s, [[reedbuck]]s, [[common duiker|duiker]]s, [[grysbok]]s and [[defassa waterbuck]]s are all frequently seen in Kafue. [[Lion]]s are relatively widespread all over the park, but the larger males are increasingly uncommon, with inevitable consequences for numbers as a whole. Prides stalk through nervous herds of [[puku]]s and [[lechwe]]s nightly, using the natural drainage ditches for cover with deadly efficiency on the Busanga Plains. The Kafue River and its tributaries themselves are a hive of activity and home to pods of [[hippopotamus|hippopotami]] and a few of the largest [[Nile crocodile|crocodile]]s in southern Africa. [[African bush elephant|Elephant]]s are commonly seen particularly along the Kafue River and around Lake Itezhi-tezhi. [[African leopard|Leopard]]s remain very common throughout the main forested areas of this park, though they are seldom seen on the open plains. [[Spotted hyena]]s are seen regularly, though not often, throughout the park. [[Cheetah]]s are not common anywhere, but they are most frequently seen in the north of this park, where they seem to be thriving. Occasional sightings of [[Cape wild dog]]s occur all over the park which is one of Zambia's best strongholds for them. | ||
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[[Category:National parks of Zambia]] | [[Category:National parks of Zambia]] | ||
[[Category:Wildlife of Zambia]] | |||
[[Category:Geography of Central Province, Zambia]] | [[Category:Geography of Central Province, Zambia]] | ||
[[Category:Geography of North-Western Province, Zambia]] | [[Category:Geography of North-Western Province, Zambia]] | ||
