Reviews of Busanga Bushcamp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
20 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Busanga Bushcamp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Sep-2018, 4 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Busanga Bushcamp.
Lion
100% success
Leopard
50% success
Cheetah
25% success
Wild dog
0% success
Elephant
100% success
Hippo
100% success
Roan antelope
100% success
Wildebeest
100% success
Zebra
100% success
Buffalo
50% success
Eland
25% success
Sable antelope
25% success
Sitatunga
25% success
Aardvark
0% success
Pangolin
0% success
Spotted Hyena
0% success
Mr & Mrs T
Victoria
"Excellent camp"
4 nights Arrived 6 Sep 2013
"Well organised camp and great staff. You would expect this for the price.
The included balloon flight was a do-not-miss activity" See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Tanzania
The included balloon flight was a do-not-miss activity" See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Dr & Mrs S
Cheshire
"Enjoyable stay"
3 nights Arrived 15 Sep 2012
"Busanga Bush Camp is a small, friendly and well managed camp, with excellent guiding from Isaac.
There is certainly good game viewing on the Busanga Plains, but it is more widely spread than in some other reserves. We very much enjoyed our stay, but would probably not recommend BBC for a first time safari.
The helicopter transfer in was fun. We didn't know that, when staying for three nights or more, a complimentary balloon ride is included. Too bad we couldn't go because of the wind, but it would have been a selling point." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
There is certainly good game viewing on the Busanga Plains, but it is more widely spread than in some other reserves. We very much enjoyed our stay, but would probably not recommend BBC for a first time safari.
The helicopter transfer in was fun. We didn't know that, when staying for three nights or more, a complimentary balloon ride is included. Too bad we couldn't go because of the wind, but it would have been a selling point." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs D
Leicester
"Busanga Bushcamp review"
2 nights Arrived 2 Oct 2011
"Great staff who were consistently helpful and cheerful. Super food produced from their 'fire-pit'cooker."
See all these reviews: 6n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mrs & Mr F
BC
"Busanga Bushcamp review"
2 nights Arrived 28 Aug 2011
"Absolutely loved this camp and wished we could stay for a few more days. Our tent looked out onto a wide open plain covered with antelope. Saw two amazing large male lions on our last morning strolling out of the mist. A lovely sight.
This was the end of our one week Kafue Rivers and Plains tour with Brent Harris as our guide. It was a great trip and I highly recommend it, especially if Brent is the guide." See all these reviews: 22n in Zambia
This was the end of our one week Kafue Rivers and Plains tour with Brent Harris as our guide. It was a great trip and I highly recommend it, especially if Brent is the guide." See all these reviews: 22n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Lancs
"Kapinga Camp review"
2 nights Arrived 18 Sep 2010
"Itinerary changed and we stayed at Busanga. We were very happy with all aspects of our stay here.
We had a problem with tsetse flies on our journey here. In fact, they were a problem on lots of drives out from Lufupa though not at Lufupa Camp. we will complete this page as though is was Busanga." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
We had a problem with tsetse flies on our journey here. In fact, they were a problem on lots of drives out from Lufupa though not at Lufupa Camp. we will complete this page as though is was Busanga." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs LS
Dorset
"Busanga Bushcamp review"
2 nights Arrived 14 Sep 2010
"With the best will in the world Solomon tried to find us game but there really was very little about. The drives were arduous (long and bumpy) with little result. Again tsetses were an issue.
Solomon was great, as was Mwanga (spelling?), and the chefs. All were welcoming to a fault and exceedingly good company.
The setting was great, looking out over the plain, just rather empty!" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Solomon was great, as was Mwanga (spelling?), and the chefs. All were welcoming to a fault and exceedingly good company.
The setting was great, looking out over the plain, just rather empty!" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Average
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs V
Coulsdon
"Busanga Bush Camp review"
2 nights Arrived 29 Jul 2009
"Another beautifully sited camp also expertly run. The rooms were lovely and the staff fantastic. The food was again superb. Laura and JD made us feel very welcome by greeting us as we crossed in boats with drinks and food. Nothing was too much trouble when I was a bit unwell one night.
My husband's supper was bought to our room and we were looked after very well. The next morning we stayed in camp and enjoyed the raised deck and our own deck for watching animals on the plains.
The guided trips were lovely and the sight of hundreds of open beaked storks gathering on one of the 'islands' before taking off and turning the sky black as the sun went down is something we will always remember." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Botswana
My husband's supper was bought to our room and we were looked after very well. The next morning we stayed in camp and enjoyed the raised deck and our own deck for watching animals on the plains.
The guided trips were lovely and the sight of hundreds of open beaked storks gathering on one of the 'islands' before taking off and turning the sky black as the sun went down is something we will always remember." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
S & D
London
"busanga bush camp"
3 nights Arrived 2 Nov 2007
"Again very good staff and a very interesting location. We were lucky to be sharing the camp with 4 charming Germans and greatly enjoyed their company. There could however have been a problem if they had not been equally flexible as there was only one vehicle and guide for the 8 of us.
Tetse flies were also a big problem here forcing the game drives to keep away from the areas adjacent to the tree line. Supplies were also an issue here with no insect repellent available. The lions and cheetahs were the stars here and we enjoyed our stay, We were impressed by the standard of the cooking onthe basic facilities." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Tetse flies were also a big problem here forcing the game drives to keep away from the areas adjacent to the tree line. Supplies were also an issue here with no insect repellent available. The lions and cheetahs were the stars here and we enjoyed our stay, We were impressed by the standard of the cooking onthe basic facilities." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Nick & Kate
Sussex
"enjoybale safari, good camp, some issues"
4 nights Arrived 29 Sep 2007
"The camp itself was very nice, good accommodation, good food, reasonably nice wine. The relief management team was in, and they were ok, but not great. Gogo was charming and friendly, but somewhat too laid back. Petrus was far too full of himself.
Mike was a competent, but by no means outstanding, guide. He was extremely nice.
The scenery in the park was beautiful, but the game not plentiful. Nonetheless, we saw good lion, a couple of resting cheetah, servals at night, side-striped jackal, large buffalo herd, loads of antelope, including a big herd of Roan that let us get right in the middle of them, and just missed the wild dogs coming through.
The diversity was slightly disappointing - no elephant, hyena, zebra. One weakness at this camp was that they had only one vehicle, and as many as 8 guests in it at any one time.
Our stay was badly marred at the end by one of the staff stealing some valuable rings we had left in the room on checking out. The follow up to this by Wilderness was lacking in urgency and proper attention." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Mike was a competent, but by no means outstanding, guide. He was extremely nice.
The scenery in the park was beautiful, but the game not plentiful. Nonetheless, we saw good lion, a couple of resting cheetah, servals at night, side-striped jackal, large buffalo herd, loads of antelope, including a big herd of Roan that let us get right in the middle of them, and just missed the wild dogs coming through.
The diversity was slightly disappointing - no elephant, hyena, zebra. One weakness at this camp was that they had only one vehicle, and as many as 8 guests in it at any one time.
Our stay was badly marred at the end by one of the staff stealing some valuable rings we had left in the room on checking out. The follow up to this by Wilderness was lacking in urgency and proper attention." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Average
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Average
Feedback Response
As a postscript to this incident, these rings have been recovered and returned to these travellers. The alleged thief has been caught, dismissed from the camp’s staff and the police are involved.
There’s perhaps a wider lesson here: when we travel we often carry with us items that are costly beyond the reach of many of the people who live in the developing world.
If these are left lying around, even in your rooms, then they can prove very tempting indeed. If possible, when travelling in Africa it’s best to leave non-essential valuables behind in the UK – or keep them on your person.
There’s perhaps a wider lesson here: when we travel we often carry with us items that are costly beyond the reach of many of the people who live in the developing world.
If these are left lying around, even in your rooms, then they can prove very tempting indeed. If possible, when travelling in Africa it’s best to leave non-essential valuables behind in the UK – or keep them on your person.
"Senior Africa Specialist | Southern Africa & Seychelles"
Carmine bee-eater
UK
"Excellent."
2 nights Arrived 26 Sep 2007
"It was smaller than Lufupa so there was more of a restricted feeling around the camp. We felt that the bedroom area in the tent was small and the mosquito net made it feel quite confined. However I did love the open shower and the fact that the lions walked through the camp at night.
I wasn't sure why Busanga was so much more expensive than Lufupa and thought that perhaps a similar graded camp to Lufupa could be available on the plains. We had been persuaded to try the plains and were so pleased we had done but it was considerably more expensive and this might deter others.
It did feel much more in the wild than Lufupa, and the view from the camp was breathtaking.
Again the manager - Petrus was an amazing host and the guide, Mike was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had an amazing last night dinner right on the plains which was so spectacular." See all these reviews: 5n in Zambia
I wasn't sure why Busanga was so much more expensive than Lufupa and thought that perhaps a similar graded camp to Lufupa could be available on the plains. We had been persuaded to try the plains and were so pleased we had done but it was considerably more expensive and this might deter others.
It did feel much more in the wild than Lufupa, and the view from the camp was breathtaking.
Again the manager - Petrus was an amazing host and the guide, Mike was so knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had an amazing last night dinner right on the plains which was so spectacular." See all these reviews: 5n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Feedback Response
There’s an interesting point worth making about costs here: why the small Busanga Bushcamp is more costly than the larger Lufupa.
There are two main reasons for this:
Firstly, because the bushcamp is in a more remote location, so it’s harder to supply. Getting food, materials and guests there costs a lot more – and hence it’s more costly.
Secondly, because it’s smaller it simply can’t make the economies of scale that a larger camp can. Hence, all other things being equal, smaller camps usually cost more than larger camps.
In fact, these two effects influence the economics so strongly that often a small and quite basic camp will be more costly than a large, much more luxurious one – strange but true, even if it seems counter-intuitive.
There are two main reasons for this:
Firstly, because the bushcamp is in a more remote location, so it’s harder to supply. Getting food, materials and guests there costs a lot more – and hence it’s more costly.
Secondly, because it’s smaller it simply can’t make the economies of scale that a larger camp can. Hence, all other things being equal, smaller camps usually cost more than larger camps.
In fact, these two effects influence the economics so strongly that often a small and quite basic camp will be more costly than a large, much more luxurious one – strange but true, even if it seems counter-intuitive.
"Senior Africa Specialist | Southern Africa & Seychelles"
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Other lodges in Kafue National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Musekese Camp
Musekese is a small owner-run tented camp, offering great guiding and a high degree of personal service in a stunning wilderness area, with modest game.
KaingU Lodge
KaingU Lodge, in the centre of the southern part of Zambia's vast Kafue National Park, is in a great location for exploring this section of the Kafue River
Shumba Camp
Shumba is a high-spec camp built on a tree island in the magical Busanga Plains. It opens in May, when the birdlife is particularly amazing; as the dry season progresses, the game can become remarkable.
Ntemwa Busanga Camp
Ntemwa Busanga Camp is a simple but comfortable camp on the southern tip of the Busanga Plains which combines well with its sister camp, Musekese.
Chisa Busanga
Opened in mid 2021, Chisa Busanga Camp is a beautifully designed, small, intimate and rustic camp.
Mukambi Safari Lodge
Mukambi Safari Lodge is a solidly built, comfortable property just off the main road from Lusaka, making it one of the most convenient camps in Kafue.
Mukambi Plains Camp
Mukambi Plains Camp is a rustic, tented property located in the middle of the vast Busanga Plains in Kafue National Park.
Fig Tree Camp
Fig Tree camp is in the centre of Kafue National Park, and in addition to having a stunning location is well placed to start or end your trip in the park.
Ila Safari Lodge
Ila Safari Lodge is a comfortable lodge just outside Kafue National Park, with convenient access from Lusaka.
