Busanga Plains safaris, tours & holiday packages
Grassy heart of Zambia's largest national park
The vast Busanga floodplain, a swaying sea of yellowing grass studded with elevated wooded islands, is Zambia’s answer to the legendary Serengeti.
The game-viewing centrepiece of Kafue, Zambia’s oldest and largest national park, is the 800-square-kilometre Busanga Floodplain, which consists of a large open seasonal grassland interspersed with a scattering of island-like stands of figs, sausage trees and palms. The floodplain is excellent predator country and is particularly good for lions, especially the imposing black-maned males that once earned Kafue legendary status in trophy hunting circles.
“So many 'wow' moments. Eight separate sightings of African finfoot. Stunning lion and cheetah encounters. Wonderful sunsets. And not another tourist vehicle in all the time we were there!”
More on Busanga Plains holidays
The marshes of Busanga host a wide variety of water-associated birds. The area is of particular significance to two of Africa’s endemic crane species. Flocks of up to 50 crowned cranes are regularly encountered, and several hundred wattled cranes are resident. Other interesting birds include Stanley’s bustard, Hartlaub’s babbler, pink-throated longclaw, Fuelleborn’s longclaw and sooty chat.
Birders will also be thrilled at the birdlife on view on boat trips along the Lufupa River, which runs through the floodplain but supports a ribbon of lush riverine forest elsewhere on its course. There’s no better place to tick the elusive African finfoot, while other possible highlights include Schalow’s turaco, Ross’s turaco, Pel’s fishing-owl, black-backed barbet, Boehm’s bee-eater and white-backed night heron.
Kafue National Park has not yet been afflicted by mass tourism, and so the greatest attraction of the Busanga Floodplain is arguably that it feels so untrammelled and unspoiled – a genuine wilderness!
Busanga Plains Map
Busanga Plains's location on Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions about Busanga Plains
Whether you are in the Southern or East Africa you will generally be able to see the big five. The difference really comes in when considering antelope as they are based on your chosen location. go there.
This is all dependant on the countries that you will be visitng and due to the status of certain vaccinations changing at times, please consult our experts before getting vaccines. go there.
In some parts of Southern Africa it is safe to drink the tap water, however it is highly recommended to stick to bottled water (mostly supplied) during your trip as even drinkable African water is completely different in taste and… go there.
Reviews on our Busanga Plains safaris
This was my first safari. I didn’t expect to be so pampered. Everything was first class. We had everything provided for us before even asking. We had a dedicated team at our service. Megan was on call whenever we needed something and she…
Saada
from Nigeria
Tanya was an absolute delight to deal with. From the first phone call she was extremely polite, professional and very eager to facilitate my requests regarding our safari. Our 3 nights at the V & A Hotel were fabulous and Motswari Game…
Debbie
from Australia
Perfectly tailor-made tours that take all your wishes and requests into consideration. All my expectations were beyond fulfilled.
Henrik Wetterstrand
from Sweden
Living afar and trusting in an organisation with whom you have no previous knowledge can lead to feeling of mistrust and wondering whether what we have paid for actually exists. A little more proactive communication would have eased those…
Tony Russell
I just wanted to thank Discover Africa and Karl Svendsen - the safari was great - we saw many more animals than expected including cheetah, leopard, many lions and even a three-day old elephant calf. Additionally, we had our own hippo…
Margaret Dean
Planning the trip was managed extremely well especially since travel was at a busy time of year and not much notice was given. All communication was by email, and was responded to promptly and efficiently. Different options were provided…
Suzanne McKeen
Related Articles
Why you need travel insurance in 2018
You’ve finally booked that dream safari in Africa and as you touch down at your destination, you’re filled with trepidation, wonder and excitement for the trip of a lifetime. The sights and sounds of a foreign country can be… read more
Five Travel Apps you need to try in 2018
Nowadays, planning a trip is no longer a hassle like it was a few years ago. Gone are the days when guidebooks and maps were part and parcel of the safari experience. Now, with state-of-the-art technology such as smartphone GPS's, Airbnb and… read more
Father Africa: Celebrating Kingsley Holgate
When we think about explorers and big Travel Channel stars, names like Bear Grylls, David Attenborough and Dominic Monaghan come to mind. With years of experience traveling the globe and coming face-to-face with some of nature’s most… read more
The National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year winners 2017
Whether you’re an avid global traveller or a dreamer, the National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year contest is the one of the most eagerly anticipated competitions in travel. Of over ten thousand of entries, the judges have… read more
.png)