Overview
Explore Zambia's largest and wildest national park on an 8-day adventure through Kafue's legendary Busanga Plains and remote wilderness areas. Night drives, exclusive camps, and a true sense of African frontier.
Kafue National Park is Zambia's largest national park — and one of the largest in Africa at 22,400 square kilometres, roughly the size of Wales. Yet it remains one of the continent's least-visited major parks, offering a wilderness experience of extraordinary quality for those willing to venture off the beaten track. This 8-day safari explores Kafue's most celebrated area, the Busanga Plains, as well as the park's central and southern sections, delivering a comprehensive exploration of this vast, diverse wilderness. The Busanga Plains are a seasonal floodplain in the far north of the park that transform into a wildlife spectacle during the dry season (June-October). As waters recede, vast grasslands are revealed, attracting massive concentrations of lechwe antelope, buffalo herds, and the predators that follow them — lion prides, cheetahs, and leopards are all present in impressive numbers. Busanga is also home to one of Africa's rarest sightings: the African fishing owl hunting at dawn. Your Busanga camp sits on the edge of the plain, offering unobstructed views of this natural theatre. In the central and southern sections of Kafue, the landscape shifts to miombo woodland, river valleys, and rocky kopjes. Night drives here are exceptional — Kafue's nocturnal wildlife includes serval, civet, genet, honey badger, and the elusive pangolin. The sense of frontier is palpable throughout — Kafue is wild, remote, and uncrowded, offering the kind of authentic African safari experience that is becoming increasingly rare in a developed world.
Package Highlights
Your Journey, Day by Day
Day 1
Lusaka to Southern Kafue — River Camp
Board a charter flight from Lusaka to southern Kafue National Park, landing at a bush airstrip near the Kafue River. Transfer to your riverside camp, set on elevated decking overlooking a bend in the river where hippos, crocodiles, and elephants are regular visitors. After lunch and orientation, enjoy an afternoon boat cruise on the Kafue River. The gentle cruise takes you past riverine forest where fish eagles perch, pods of hippos surface and blow, and elephants emerge from the tree line to drink. Return to camp as the sun sets for your first Kafue dinner.
Overnight: Musekese CampMeals: Lunch, Afternoon Tea, DinnerCharter flight from Lusaka to KafueBush airstrip transfer to riverside campCamp check-in and lunchAfternoon Kafue River boat cruiseHippo, crocodile, and elephant viewingDay 2
Southern Kafue — Game Drives & Night Safari
Explore the central-southern section of Kafue with morning and afternoon game drives through miombo woodland and along the river valleys. This area supports good populations of elephant, buffalo, sable antelope, roan antelope, and a variety of predators. The bird diversity is exceptional, with over 500 species recorded in the park. After dinner, a night drive reveals Kafue's remarkable nocturnal world — serval cats hunting in the grasslands, African civets foraging along the riverbank, genets in the trees, and if lucky, the elusive pangolin curled among the leaf litter.
Overnight: Musekese CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, DinnerMorning game drive through miombo woodlandSable and roan antelope trackingRiverside birdwatching — 500+ speciesAfternoon game drive along the Kafue RiverNight drive for nocturnal speciesDay 3
Transfer to Busanga Plains — The Spectacle
After a morning game drive, transfer north by 4x4 (or charter flight, depending on conditions) to the legendary Busanga Plains in the far north of Kafue. The seasonal floodplain stretches to the horizon, a vast grassland dotted with palm islands and termite mounds. During the dry season, this area becomes one of Africa's greatest wildlife stages. Arrive at your Busanga camp — a small, exclusive camp with just a handful of tents perched on the edge of the plain. The afternoon game drive introduces you to the Busanga ecosystem and its residents: massive herds of red lechwe, puku, and buffalo, watched by lions from the shade of palm islands.
Overnight: Busanga Bush CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning game drive in southern KafueTransfer north to the Busanga PlainsBusanga camp check-in and orientationAfternoon game drive on the plainsLechwe herd and predator observationDay 4
Busanga Plains — Lion Pride Territory
A full day on the spectacular Busanga Plains. The dawn game drive heads into the heart of the plain, where a resident lion pride patrols their territory among the palm islands. The flat, open landscape allows for dramatic sighting distances — watch as a lioness stalks a lechwe herd across hundreds of metres of open grassland. The morning also offers one of Kafue's unique sightings: the African fishing owl hunting at first light along the Lufupa River. After brunch at camp, the afternoon drive explores different areas of the plain, looking for cheetah (the Busanga Plains support one of Zambia's healthiest populations) and the large flocks of wattled cranes and crowned cranes that feed in the marshes.
Overnight: Busanga Bush CampMeals: Breakfast, Brunch, Afternoon Tea, DinnerDawn game drive — Busanga lion pride trackingAfrican fishing owl sighting attemptBrunch and midday relaxation at campAfternoon cheetah tracking on the plainsWattled crane and crowned crane viewingDay 5
Busanga — Full Day Wilderness Immersion
Another full day on the plains. The early morning walk explores the periphery of the camp area on foot, watching for smaller species — side-striped jackal, serval, and the many raptor species that hover over the grasslands. After breakfast, a game drive circuits the northern reaches of the Busanga Plains, an area rarely visited even by the few guests in the park. Encounter large buffalo herds, photograph herds of lechwe splashing through shallow water, and watch leopards resting on termite mounds. The afternoon brings a sundowner stop on a palm island with 360-degree views of the plain stretching to the horizon in every direction.
Overnight: Busanga Bush CampMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerEarly morning walking safari around campNorthern Busanga Plains game driveBuffalo herd and lechwe photographyLeopard spotting on termite moundsPalm island sundowner with 360-degree viewsDay 6
Busanga to Central Kafue — New Landscapes
After a final Busanga dawn drive, transfer south to a camp in central Kafue, where the landscape shifts from open plain to riverine woodland, rocky kopjes, and mixed bushveld. This section of the park supports a different community of wildlife, including bushbuck, klipspringer, and the rare African wild cat. Check into your camp on the banks of the Kafue River and enjoy a relaxed lunch. The afternoon game drive explores the kopje country, where rock hyrax sunbathe and martial eagles nest on the cliff faces. A night drive after dinner rounds off the day.
Overnight: KaingU Safari LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerFinal Busanga Plains dawn game driveTransfer south to central KafueNew camp check-in and riverside lunchAfternoon kopje country game driveNight drive for nocturnal speciesDay 7
Central Kafue — Full Day Exploration
Your final full day in Kafue. The morning combines a walking safari along the river with a game drive through the surrounding bushveld. This area is excellent for elephant encounters, and your guide knows the resident herds intimately. After lunch, choose between a final boat cruise on the Kafue River (excellent for birdwatching and crocodile spotting) or an extended game drive into areas not yet explored. The farewell dinner is served at a specially prepared riverside site, with lanterns in the trees and the sounds of the Kafue night providing a fitting conclusion to your wilderness experience.
Overnight: KaingU Safari LodgeMeals: Breakfast, Lunch, DinnerMorning walking safari along the Kafue RiverGame drive through central Kafue bushveldAfternoon boat cruise or extended game driveBirdwatching and crocodile spottingFarewell riverside lantern dinnerDay 8
Kafue to Lusaka — Departure
Enjoy a final sunrise over the Kafue River and a leisurely breakfast. Transfer to the airstrip for your charter flight back to Lusaka. The flight crosses the vast expanse of Kafue — from the air, the sheer size of this park is truly apparent. Arrive in Lusaka with time for lunch and connecting flights. Depart with memories of Busanga sunrises, lion hunts on the open plain, and the profound wilderness experience that makes Kafue one of Africa's greatest and most underrated safari destinations.
Overnight: No accommodation (departure day)Meals: BreakfastFinal sunrise over the Kafue RiverBreakfast and camp check-outCharter flight to LusakaLunch in Lusaka (optional)Airport transfer for onward travel
What's Included
Included
- Lusaka to Kafue charter flights (both directions)
- 7 nights luxury bush camp accommodation
- All meals, beverages including house wines and spirits
- Twice-daily game drives in open 4x4 vehicles
- Night drives with spotlight
- Busanga Plains excursions (seasonal, June-October)
- Kafue River boat cruise
- Walking safaris with armed guide
- All park entry and conservation fees
- Inter-camp transfers
- Emergency medical evacuation insurance
Not Included
- International flights to/from Lusaka
- Zambia visa ($50 on arrival)
- Comprehensive travel insurance
- Gratuities for guides and camp staff
- Premium imported champagne
- Personal expenses
