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North-Western Province · Zambia

Wilderness Shumba Camp

Six suites on a palm island above Kafue's flooded Busanga grasslands

Safari Lodge ★★★★★ Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park Seasonal opening
The setting of Wilderness Shumba Camp
Location image, not the property. This Photo was taken by Timothy A. Gonsalves. Feel free to use my photos, but please mention me as the author. I would much appreciate if you send me an email tagooty@yahoo.com or write on my talk page, for my information. Please contact me before commercial use. Please do not upload an edited image here without consulting me. I would like to make corrections onl…

Shumba stands on a small palm-fringed island in the Busanga Plains, a seasonally flooded grassland in the far north of Kafue National Park. Six suites are raised on wooden platforms above the plain, which means the view from bed runs uninterrupted across open country to the horizon.

Busanga is one of the more distinctive landscapes in Zambia. Water drains off the plains through the middle of the year, drawing in red lechwe, puku, roan, wildebeest and the lion prides the camp is named for. Cheetah are seen here, which is unusual for Zambia, and hot-air balloon flights run over the plains in season.

Access is a long transfer or a light-aircraft hop, and the camp is open only a few months of the year, which keeps visitor numbers very low. Guests frequently go days without seeing another vehicle.

At a glance

What to expect

  • Raised plains-view suites
  • Game drives on the Busanga Plains
  • Hot-air ballooning in season
  • Guided walks
  • Boating when water levels allow
  • Star beds
  • Laundry included
  • All meals and local drinks