Busanga Bush Camp
Kafue National Park
Busanga Bush Camp lies in the heart of the Busanga Plains, a vast mosaic of expansive grassy seasonal floodplains that extends to the horizon. The camp, hidden in a tree-island of sycamore figs, can accommodate eight guests in four large, well-appointed Meru-style canvas tents. Each tent has two queen-size beds and an en-suite bathroom with flush toilet and hot showers. The lounge and bar area is under canvas with an uninterrupted view over the plains; breakfast is often served here to take in the panorama of herds of lechwe and puku feeding. A little farther back lies the dining area, shaded by the canopy of a majestic tree from which an unusual lantern chandelier hangs, providing romantic lighting for dinner. Most meals are served in the open air.
Thanks to the mist rising off the floodplains as they dry up in winter, guests can experience incredible pink sunrises and sunsets, while the floodplains and dambos (open, grassy clearings) teem with wildlife and birds. By June, these grasslands attract great herds of zebra and blue wildebeest, as well as puku, red lechwe and buffalo, all of which are pursued by predators, most notably lion, though we also see cheetah and wild dog. The plains around the camp provide some of the best lion viewing in Africa, and guests sometimes observe them climbing trees. A special treat in the region is the resident herd of roan antelope. For those interested in birding, the park boasts nearly 500 species, including endemics such as Chaplin's Barbet. During the wet season, when the marshes are lush and swampy, flocks of cranes, herons and other waders show up in great numbers.
Activities include game drives, night drives in search of nocturnal wildlife and birdwatching.
Image 1 & 3 © Dana Allen, Image 2 © Caroline Culbert