"We must use time wisely and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right"
...Nelson Mandela
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Lunga River Lodge is situated on the west bank of the magnificent Lunga River in the north-eastern region of the Kafue National Park. The Lunga River is one of the three main tributaries into the Busanga Plains, an area in the extreme north of the Park, and one of the last truly unspoilt places in the world.
Sunset over the Lunga river.
Lunga River Lodge has six spacious thatched rooms with private decks that overlook the river, ensuring breathtaking views and en suite shower and bathroom. There is a bar with sundeck that is suspended over the river, a dining room and deck, reading room and plunge pool. A maximum of 12 guests can be accommodated at any one time and great emphasis has been placed on the "guided" experience - being led by qualified, enthusiastic people with in-depth knowledge of the area and its wildlife.
Activities include game drives, walking safaris and boating trips as well as fishing. Night drives provide the added excitement of the nocturnal wonders of the area. For those interested in birding, Kafue National Park boasts 491 species of birds, including endemics such as Chaplin's Barbet.
The beauty of the Kafue National Park - and the Busanga Plains in particular - is evident in its diverse habitats with floodplains, miombo woodland and open grassy areas known as dambos - creating a paradise for wildlife and birdlife. The Park boasts 55 large mammal species - including 20 antelope and 6 cats - and 491 bird species, including the endemic Chaplin's Barbet.
Location
Lunga River Lodge is situated in the northern region of the Kafue National Park, on the west bank of the Lunga River. At 22 500 square km, the Kafue National Park is one of the largest national parks in Africa. The Kafue is fed by the perennial Lunga, Lufupa and Kafue Rivers.
Climate
The concession has mild winter days from May to September with chilly evenings; however summers are generally very warm and wet. Kafue National Park is seasonal, and traditionally only accessible from May to October, during the dry season.
Pricing/Child Policy
There are no child restrictions at these camps.
Accommodation
Number of tents
· 6 x thatched rooms
· All camps have twin beds but can be converted to doubles if need be.
Camp Description
· Dining and bar area on a timber deck overlooking the Lunga River.
Electricity and water
· Electricity is supplied by a small diesel generator which runs for a short period of the day while guests are out on activities. The energy is stored in a bank of batteries and this provides for lighting in the evening.
· Potable water to the camp comes from a borehole
Activities
· Game drives and game walks are available in the Busanga. A combination of the two is probably the most popular activity.
· Guided night drives ± 3 hours
· Shorter guided walks ± 2 hours
· Specialist birding walk/drive ± 3 hours
· Boat trips on the Lunga River
· Fishing on the Lunga River
Drinks and extra payments
Local Drinks are included and premier brands are at an additional charge.
Extras can be paid for by cash, MasterCard or VISA. Cheques are not accepted. Foreign currency and rand traveller's cheques are also accepted.
Laundry Policy
Same-day laundry facility is included.
Getting there
From Livingstone to North Kafue - 1hr 45mins
From Lusaka to North Kafue - 1hr 20mins
Airstrip Details
We utilise the Lunga Airstrip.
The Busanga area is home to thousands of red lechwe, ubiquitous puku, stately roan and sable as well as the diminutive oribi and blue duiker. Defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, Lichtenstein's hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full set of antelope. This wealth of game on the plains is also a big attraction for predators, with cheetah, leopard and African wildcat often seen, wild dog, pangolin, and caracal spotted occasionally, and prides of lion up to 20 strong.
The birdlife is certainly an attraction for many people visiting the Busanga Plains, including five species of rollers, six bee-eaters, nine kingfishers and fourteen egrets and herons. There are also specials, such as Wattled and Crowned Cranes, Fulleborn's and Rosy-throated Longclaws, Lanner Falcon and large flocks of Open-billed and Yellow-billed Storks.
Kafue National Park
At 22 500 square kilometres, Kafue National Park is one of the largest National Parks in Africa. It is fed by three rivers, the Lufupa in the north-west and the Lunga and Kafue in the north-east. The Lufupa River floods in the summer, creating a large floodplain delta system that attracts thousands of waterbirds. The Lunga and Kafue rivers are wide and slow-flowing, banded by riverine forest.
Habitats in the Park are diverse, and include floodplains, miombo woodland and dambos. It has good concentrations of plains game and their predators as well as the largest species diversity in Zambia, including animals that are rare or non-existent in other southern African countries, such as Lichtenstein's hartebeest, roan antelope, Defassa waterbuck and oribi. Birdlife is spectacular, consisting of 491 species.
In the extreme north of the Kafue lies the Busanga Plains - one of Zambia's most significant wetland resources and one of the few areas in the world that remain untouched by development and human activity. Covering 750 square kilometres of breathtaking wilderness, it is considered the jewel in the Kafue crown; hence Wilderness Safaris' interest in bringing guests to this spectacular area. This is the best area in Zambia to see cheetah!
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