Kafue National Park

National Park · Zambia

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Photo © This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract.

Photo © This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections only at my own source to ensure that the changes improve the image and are preserved.Otherwise you may upload an edited image with a new name. Please use one of the templates derivative or extract. — CC BY-SA 4.0 — Source: Wikimedia Commons

Where the great plateau falls away into broad, miombo-clad ridges and wide grassy dambos, one of Africa's largest protected landscapes unfolds across the North-Western Province. This is a country of rolling woodland and open floodplain, of seasonally waterlogged grasslands threading between stands of mature trees, and of rivers that swell and shrink with the rhythm of the rains. The climate is distinctly seasonal: a long, dry winter strips the vegetation back and concentrates life around whatever water remains, while the wetter months turn the dambos green and draw moisture back into the soil. That mosaic of closed woodland, open grass and permanent water supports an exceptional breadth of functional groups — large grazing and browsing mammals moving between habitats, predators that shadow them, and a bird community that shifts from resident woodland and grassland species to a surge of migratory waterbirds and waders when the pans fill.

For photographers and birdwatchers, the appeal lies in that seasonal transformation and the sheer scale of the place. The dry winter months deliver clear light, thinning vegetation and animals concentrated at water, making wildlife viewing unusually direct; the arrival of the rains then rewrites the landscape entirely, greening the plains and bringing water-dependent birds into the open. Expect to work with raptors riding thermals over the woodland edge, flocks of seed-eaters and woodland songbirds in the canopy, and large mammals crossing the dambos at first and last light. Access is by road and light aircraft to scattered camps, so plan around the season you want and give yourself time — this is a park that rewards patience and distance rather than a quick circuit.

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Merops nubicoides

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Alopochen aegyptiaca

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Southern Crested Guineafowl

Guttera edouardi

Coqui Francolin

Campocolinus coqui

Shelley's Francolin

Scleroptila shelleyi

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

Freckled Nightjar

Caprimulgus tristigma

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Pennant-winged Nightjar

Caprimulgus vexillarius

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

White-rumped Swift

Schalow's Turaco

Tauraco schalowi

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Centropus senegalensis

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

Centropus grillii

Cuculus canorus

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

African Finfoot

Podica senegalensis

Crecopsis egregia

Paragallinula angulata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Microparra capensis

Actophilornis africanus

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Tringa glareola

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Rock Pratincole

Glareola nuchalis

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Chlidonias hybrida

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Ciconia ciconia

Microcarbo africanus

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Bostrychia hagedash

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta ardesiaca

Egretta garzetta

White-backed Night Heron

Calherodius leuconotus

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Ardeola ralloides

Western Cattle Egret

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Scopus umbretta

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

African Cuckoo-Hawk

Aviceda cuculoides

Terathopius ecaudatus

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Ovambo Sparrowhawk

Accipiter ovampensis

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

Spotted Eagle-Owl

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Pel's Fishing Owl

Scotopelia peli

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Apaloderma narina

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Trumpeter Hornbill

Bycanistes bucinator

Coracias naevius

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Half-collared Kingfisher

Alcedo semitorquata

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Böhm's Bee-eater

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Black-backed Barbet

Pogonornis minor

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Bennett's Woodpecker

Campethera bennettii

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Green-backed Woodpecker

Campethera maculosa

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Falco biarmicus

Poicephalus meyeri

African Broadbill

Smithornis capensis

Black-throated Wattle-eye

Platysteira peltata

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

White-crested Helmetshrike

Prionops plumatus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

White-breasted Cuckooshrike

Ceblepyris pectoralis

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Lesser Grey Shrike

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Rufous-bellied Tit

Melaniparus rufiventris

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Lesser Striped Swallow

Cecropis abyssinica

Cecropis senegalensis

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Green-capped Eremomela

Eremomela scotops

Southern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops anderssoni

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus africanus

Red-billed Oxpecker

Buphagus erythroryncha

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Myrmecocichla nigra

Myrmecocichla arnotti

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-billed Quelea

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird

Euplectes ardens

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch

Lagonosticta rubricata

Brown Firefinch

Lagonosticta nitidula

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Purple Indigobird

Vidua purpurascens

Pin-tailed Whydah

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Black-throated Canary

Crithagra atrogularis

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Black-eared Seedeater

Crithagra mennelli

Brown-necked Parrot

Poicephalus fuscicollis

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Yellow-billed Duck

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Pternistis natalensis

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Caprimulgus natalensis

Böhm's Spinetail

Neafrapus boehmi

Denham's Bustard

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Thick-billed Cuckoo

Pachycoccyx audeberti

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Cuculus gularis

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Blue-spotted Wood Dove

Tambourine Dove

Turtur tympanistria

Gallinula chloropus

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Black-rumped Buttonquail

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Gallinago nigripennis

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Calidris minuta

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Egretta vinaceigula

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

Sagittarius serpentarius

Pandion haliaetus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Macheiramphus alcinus

Stephanoaetus coronatus

Polemaetus bellicosus

Lesser Spotted Eagle

Clanga pomarina

Ayres's Hawk-Eagle

Hieraaetus ayresii

Hieraaetus pennatus

Micronisus gabar

Dark Chanting Goshawk

Melierax metabates

Circus macrourus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Speckled Mousebird

Colius striatus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

Pale-billed Hornbill

Lophoceros pallidirostris

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

African Pygmy Kingfisher

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus bilineatus

Brown-backed Honeybird

Prodotiscus regulus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide

Indicator variegatus

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Olive Woodpecker

Dendropicos griseocephalus

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Falco amurensis

Peregrine Falcon

Falco peregrinus

Lilian's Lovebird

Agapornis lilianae

Eurasian Golden Oriole

Oriolus oriolus

Square-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus ludwigii

Urolestes melanoleucus

White-winged Black Tit

Melaniparus leucomelas

Melaniparus griseiventris

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Pinarocorys nigricans

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Pale-throated Greenbul

Atimastillas flavigula

Grey-olive Greenbul

Phyllastrephus cerviniventris

Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Hirundo rustica

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Greater Striped Swallow

Cecropis cucullata

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Red-capped Crombec

Sylvietta ruficapilla

Phylloscopus trochilus

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Trilling Cisticola

Cisticola woosnami

Tinkling Cisticola

Cisticola rufilatus

Luapula Cisticola

Cisticola luapula

Chirping Cisticola

Cisticola pipiens

Short-winged Cisticola

Cisticola brachypterus

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Eremomela icteropygialis

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Black-necked Eremomela

Eremomela atricollis

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Yellow-bellied Hyliota

Hyliota flavigaster

Southern Hyliota

Hyliota australis

African Spotted Creeper

Salpornis salvadori

Acridotheres tristis

Groundscraper Thrush

Turdus litsitsirupa

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

Miombo Scrub Robin

Tychaedon barbata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

African Dusky Flycatcher

Muscicapa adusta

Red-capped Robin-Chat

Cossypha natalensis

Collared Flycatcher

Ficedula albicollis

Oenanthe familiaris

Western Violet-backed Sunbird

Anthreptes longuemarei

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Purple-banded Sunbird

Cinnyris bifasciatus

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Passer domesticus

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser rufoscapulatus

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes capensis

Black-and-white Mannikin

Spermestes bicolor

Glaucestrilda perreini

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Paludipasser locustella

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Green-winged Pytilia

Orange-winged Pytilia

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Motacilla capensis

Fülleborn's Longclaw

Macronyx fuelleborni

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

White-bellied Bustard

Eupodotis senegalensis

Red-crested Korhaan

Lophotis ruficrista

Rallus caerulescens

Pluvialis squatarola

Butorides striata

Egyptian Vulture

Neophron percnopterus

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

Poicephalus robustus

Ethiopian Boubou

Laniarius aethiopicus

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Acrocephalus palustris

African Yellow Warbler

Iduna natalensis

Miombo Wren-Warbler

Calamonastes undosus

Northern Yellow White-eye

Zosterops senegalensis

Burchell's Starling

Lamprotornis australis

Mocking Cliff Chat

Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Black-winged Red Bishop

Euplectes hordeaceus

Violet-eared Waxbill

Granatina granatina

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Cabanis's Bunting

Emberiza cabanisi

African Savanna Elephant

Loxodonta africana

Panthera pardus

Common Hippopotamus

Hippopotamus amphibius

Blue Wildebeest

Connochaetes taurinus

Heterohyrax brucei

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Chlorocebus pygerythrus

Southern Lesser Galago

Thick-tailed Greater Galago

Otolemur crassicaudatus

African Savanna Hare

Lepus saxatilis

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Smith's Bush Squirrel

Paraxerus cepapi

Common Slender Mongoose

Herpestes sanguineus

White-tailed Mongoose

Ichneumia albicauda

Banded Mongoose

Crocuta crocuta

Rusty-spotted Genet

Genetta fieldiana

Civettictis civetta

Aepyceros melampus

Alcelaphus buselaphus

Sharpe's Grysbok

Raphicerus sharpei

Sylvicapra grimmia

Hippotragus equinus

Hippotragus niger

Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Southern Reedbuck

Redunca arundinum

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

Phacochoerus africanus

Potamochoerus larvatus

Tragelaphus oryx

Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Spotted-necked Otter

Hydrictis maculicollis

African Wild Dog

African Wildcat

Syncerus caffer

Acinonyx jubatus

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