Wilderness Busanga Bush Camp

OVERVIEW:

The camp is a huge hit with safari enthusiasts who are looking for an authentic experience and less ostentatious accommodation than other options to be found in the area. Wilderness Busanga Bush Camp also offers a more economical price than its sister camp, Wilderness Shumba Camp, and we actually prefer this camp’s location.

ACCESS & LOCATION: 

Busanga Bush Camp is located to the north-west of Busanga Plains, in the heart of Kafue National Park. Guests usually take a light aircraft flight from Lusaka to Busanga Airstrip, which takes about 90 minutes, followed by a 1-hour game drive to the camp. It’s also possible to take a 2-hour flight from Livingstone to an airstrip in Kafue.

AMENITIES & FACILITIES AT WILDERNESS BUSANGA BUSH CAMP: 

Wilderness Busanga Bush Camp is an intimate base from which to explore Kafue National Park’s Busanga Plains, with its four spacious tented suites overlooking an active floodplain from slightly raised private viewing decks. The rustic safari style incorporates canvas and wood, with warm red accents that brighten the space. Twin or queen-sized beds are draped with mosquito nets, while insect-proof mesh windows allow the breeze to flow through. Modern essentials, including an in-room electronic safe and charging facilities, ensure a comfortable stay. Each suite has an en-suite bathroom with a canvas-sided hot water shower, a single vanity unit, and a flush loo. Step outside onto a generously sized wooden deck with sweeping views of the floodplains and a simple seating arrangement that’s ideal for an early-morning coffee accompanied by the dawn chorus of the African bush.

Busanga Bush Camp’s main area nestles beneath the shade of sycamore fig trees – this is a welcoming space for guests to gather and enjoy sweeping views over the floodplains. There’s an open-sided lounge and bar under a shady canvas awning, a few steps from the campfire circled by director’s chairs. Guests dine outside in a cosy lantern-lit boma, where delicious Zambian cuisine is served al fresco. The camp can also arrange romantic private bush dinners beneath the stars on request. The newly installed plunge pool is a great place to cool off between game drives or to relax for a couple of hours on one of the sunloungers with a cold drink.

ACTIVITIES AT WILDERNESS BUSANGA BUSH CAMP:

We are big fans of Busanga Plains, especially during the dry season, from July to October, when the game is at its most impressive. However, for the rest of the year, we view Busanga Plains, and the entire Kafue for that matter, as a destination for old safari hands only. During peak season, the best activities to try include game drives by day and by night, as well as walking safaris.

• Game drives

  - Game drives take place in the company of a knowledgeable and experienced guide, during early morning and late afternoon. Wildlife highlights include lion, wildebeest, cheetah, wild dog, puku, red lechwe, oribi, and Lichtenstein’s hartebeest. Night drives are also possible from Busanga Bush Camp, uncovering the intriguing nocturnal world, including genet, civet, owls, and perhaps the occasional leopard.

• Boating safaris

  - Operated at the start of the season, boating safaris are dependent on water levels and offer incredible birding opportunities in a pristine setting. You’ll float through the channels on a specially adapted motorboat when the floodplains are still filled with water, looking out for hippo, lechwe, and puku.

• Birding

  - For birding enthusiasts, the park boasts an extraordinary 491 species, including endemics such as Chaplin’s barbet. Guests will have ample opportunities to spot the many species during a walking safari or game drive.

*This property is unfenced and located in a wildlife area, so large and potentially dangerous animals do pass through. If you opt to stay here, always be alert when walking around the camp and request for a member of staff to escort you if you have any concerns. Any guest is escorted after dark as a matter of course.