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!”
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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.
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