Zambia: African Parks takes over the management of Kafue National Park!

The Government of Zambia and African Parks, a non-profit conservation organisation that takes on the complete responsibility for the rehabilitation and long-term management of national parks in partnership with governments and local communities, have signed a 20 million dollar agreement for the effective management and protection of Kafue National Park. The agreement follows the successful conclusion of a 16-month Priority Support Plan (PSP), initiated in February 2021 by Zambia's Department of National Parks and Wildlife (DNPW) and African Parks, to provide technical and financial support for the National Park.
According to African Parks, a total of US$3.6 million was invested into Kafue National Park's infrastructure and operations since the PSP was implemented, including:

• the construction of a new law enforcement centre
• rehabilitation of existing infrastructure at Chunga and Ngoma
• grading of 2000 km of roads
• aerial support to law enforcement operations with both helicopter and fixed wing
• completion of an aerial census for the entire landscape
• the creation of 150 permanent jobs
• US$800 000 in law enforcement salaries, which were reimbursed to the Government of Zambia
  

The new agreement between the Government of Zambia and African Parks provides a full mandate to implement a holistic management plan for Kafue National Park, including a continuation of the work set out in the PSP. Priorities for 2022 include:

• further upgrades of roads to improve visitor access
• development of community facilities and projects
• an upgraded communications network
• operationalisation of the state-of-the-art law enforcement centre.

Kafue National Park, Zambia © Frank Weitzer and African Parks

Kafue National Park is the oldest and largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km². It is located in in the centre of western Zambia, only a two hours drive from Livingstone. Kafue National Park is home to over 55 different species of mammals including elephants, large predators and 21 species of antelope – the highest diversity of antelope in Africa. Kafue National Park is also designated by BirdLife International as an Important Bird Area, with at least 515 bird species recorded. The National Park is named for the Kafue River.
Kafue National Park forms part of the world's largest transfrontier conservation area, the Kavango–Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA). It is situated in the Kavango and Zambezi river basins where the borders of Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe converge. It spans an area of approximately 520 000 km² and includes 36 proclaimed protected areas such as national parks, game reserves, forest reserves, community conservancies and game/wildlife management areas.

The Government of Zambia first partnered with African Parks in 2003 in Liuwa Plain National Park and subsequently in 2008 in Bangweulu Wetlands. Kafue National Park is the 20th park to join African Parks’ portfolio.