Kafue

Kafue may refer to several related places and features in Zambia. The term is most commonly associated with a town, a national park, and a major river in central and southern Zambia.

Kafue is a town in Lusaka Province, serving as the administrative center of Kafue District. It is located on the Kafue River, roughly 40 kilometers south of the capital city, Lusaka. The town functions as a local commercial and service hub for the surrounding rural area and rests at a junction point in the region’s road and rail networks, aiding transportation between Lusaka and other parts of the country.

Kafue National Park is Zambia’s oldest national park and one of the country’s largest protected areas. It spans the southern-central region of the country along the Kafue River and covers approximately 22,400 square kilometers. The park encompasses diverse habitats, including riverine flats, plains, and woodlands, and supports a wide range of wildlife, such as antelope, elephants, hippos, lions, leopards, and numerous bird species. Notable areas within the park include the Busanga Plains and several floodplain zones that attract wildlife during different seasons.

Kafue River is a major river that flows through central and southern Zambia and is a tributary of the Zambezi River. The river supports hydroelectric development through dams such as the Kafue Gorge Dam and the Itezhi-Tezhi Dam, and it sustains fisheries and irrigation projects across its basin. The Kafue River's basin is integral to both wildlife habitats, such as those in Kafue National Park, and regional economic activity.