The easiest ways to get to West Lunga are either to approach from the Copperbelt or to skirt Kafue National Park's eastern boundary and proceed through Kasempa. Approaching from Mongu is very time-consuming and slow going – with a good 4WD essential even in the dry season.

From the Copperbelt

Take the tar road through Kitwe and Chingola to Solwezi (GPS:SOLWEZ), from where it turns south until crossing the Mutanda River at Mwelemu (GPS:MWELEM). On the other side of the river, there's a good tar road on the right, which heads west to Mwinilunga. The road continues south, towards Kabompo and Kasempa – so take this road. After almost 90km it is joined from the east by a road coming from Kitwe (which would have made a shorter, but more time-consuming, approach), via the village of Ingwe.

About 16km later there is a road left to Kasempa, and one straight on to Kabompo (GPS:KABOMP). Take the road going straight. This is the section of the M8 where tarring has been started, and by July 2004 it had reached about 20km west of that junction – and is a super road. The tar is gradually moving west of here, but the remainder of the M8 to Kabompo is a good gravel road, albeit with a few pot-holes. Driving carefully, you can average 50–60km/h on this.

After 140km there is a signpost to turn right to the small village of Jivundu, which is 12km away on a good sand track, on the south bank of the Kabompo River. Jivundu is the local headquarters for West Lunga's ZAWA, and that's where you pay entrance fees, and arrange for a scout to accompany you. There is an airstrip here, and nearby is the ferry across to the north bank of the Kabompo, and into the park.

From Kafue

Follow the directions in Kafue River Basin to approach Kasempa from Mumbwa via the Lubungu and Lunga pontoons, then head north from Kasempa on to the road from Mwelemu to Kabompo. (Note there is never fuel at Kasempa!) Alternatively, take the tar road to Kitwe and Solwezi, and then cut southwest; this is likely to be easier and probably faster.