Shumba Camp
Busanga Plains, Kafue National Park, Zambia
Location
The Busanga Plains
The camp sits in the heart of the Busanga Plains in remote northern Kafue National Park, one of Africa's largest parks, on its own island of fig trees overlooking floodplains in every direction — a Serengeti-like open-plains contrast to Zambia's usual bush.
Transfer
A fly-in
Fly-in only — around 90 minutes by light aircraft from Lusaka to the Busanga airstrip, or around two hours from Livingstone, then a short road transfer; luggage is soft-bag and weight-limited.
Villas
Six tented suites
Six luxury tented suites, including a family tent, on raised wooden platforms with 360-degree plains views, indoor and outdoor showers and large beds, linked by walkways in a horseshoe.
Best For
Who it suits
Serious safari-goers, lion enthusiasts and photographers after the open-plains contrast to South Luangwa — Busanga lion country, the flying lions and hot-air ballooning — with a family tent; seasonal and fly-in only.
Board Basis
All-inclusive
All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities — in an elevated central building behind glass, with a boma under the stars and brunch on the plains.
About the Resort
Lion country on the Busanga Plains
Shumba Camp is the open-plains contrast to Zambia's usual bush — a remote tented camp in the heart of the Busanga Plains, in northern Kafue National Park, on its own island of fig trees with floodplains stretching in every direction. The name means lion, and the lions are the draw: prides up to twenty strong, the famous flying lions leaping across the receding floodwaters, and tree-climbers among them. Six tented suites sit on raised wooden platforms with 360-degree views, and days run on day and night game drives, guided walks, seasonal boating and hot-air ballooning over the plains from around August to October, with around 500 bird species and wild dog, cheetah, lechwe and puku. Two things to plan around: the camp is seasonal, open roughly June to October or early November and closed for the green season, and it is fly-in only; and Kafue is a malaria area, so antimalarial precautions are advised. All-inclusive, it suits serious safari-goers and photographers after a Serengeti-like Zambia.
Accommodation
Tented suites
Six luxury tented suites, including a family tent, on raised wooden platforms with 360-degree plains views, indoor and outdoor showers and large beds, linked by walkways in a horseshoe.
Entry
Tented Suite
Sleeps two. A raised-deck king with 360-degree plains views and indoor and outdoor showers.
Raised deckFloodplain outlook
Family
Family Tent
Sleeps three to four. A larger tent on the floodplain.
LargerFloodplain outlook
Food & Drink
Dining
Dining runs to the elevated central building — bar, lounge and dining behind glass, with a terrace fire pit — the boma under the stars, and brunch out on the plains.
Signature
The central building
The elevated central building — bar, lounge and dining behind glass, with a terrace fire pit.
Boma
The boma
The boma, for dinner under the stars with Zambian culture.
Plains
Brunch on the plains
Brunch out on the plains.
Wellbeing
The setting
There is a small pool, and the setting does the rest — open-plains views in every direction from an island of fig trees, and some of the best lion viewing in Africa.
A small pool
A small pool.
Open-plains views
Open-plains views in every direction, from an island of fig trees.
Lion viewing
Some of the best lion viewing in Africa.
Activities & Experiences
Signature Experiences
Lions on open plains, and a balloon at dawn. Watch the Busanga prides and the flying lions, drive day and night, and float over the floodplains.
Busanga lion viewing
Busanga Plains lion viewing — Shumba means lion, and the prides here run up to twenty strong.
The flying lions
The famous flying lions, leaping across the receding floodwaters, and tree-climbing lions.
Hot-air ballooning
Hot-air ballooning over the floodplains, around August to October.
Day & night drives
Day and night game drives, guided walks and seasonal boating.
Birding
Specialist birding — around 500 species — with wild dog, cheetah, lechwe and puku.
Getting There
Location & transfers
By air
Fly-in
Fly in by light aircraft — around 90 minutes from Lusaka, or two hours from Livingstone.
On the plains
Busanga
On the Busanga Plains, in remote northern Kafue.
Guest Reviews
What Our Clients Say
★★★★★
“The most extraordinary place I have ever stayed. Nothing prepares you for the depth of the silence, the beauty of the reef, or the sheer generosity of the experience.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“We’ve stayed here three times now. The house reef has no equal. The stargazing was, genuinely, one of the most moving experiences of my adult life.”
✓ Verified via feefo
★★★★★
“I had stayed at Four Seasons, One&Only and Velaa before visiting Shumba Camp. They are all magnificent. But this is different in a way that is hard to articulate.”
✓ Verified via feefo
Good to Know
Good to know
Board basis
- All-inclusive — meals, drinks and activities.
Seasonal & fly-in
- Seasonal and fly-in only — the camp opens roughly June to October or early November and closes for the green season; reach it by light aircraft, around 90 minutes from Lusaka or around two hours from Livingstone.
A malaria area
- Kafue is a malaria area, so antimalarial precautions are advised — speak to your GP or a travel clinic before you travel.
Getting there
- Fly in to the Busanga airstrip, then a short road transfer; light-aircraft luggage is soft-bag and weight-limited.
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Dates & party
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Adults
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Budget per person (flights + hotel)
£4,500
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