Fig Tree Bush Camp
Kafue National Park
Located in a beautiful and undiscovered part of Kafue National Park, the intimate Fig Tree Bush Camp is an exciting ninety minute drive from its sister camp Mukambi Safari Lodge. The camp is situated on the banks of the Shishamba River and as its name suggests, is built around an enormous fig tree. Lagoons are formed seasonally along the river, leaving sprawling, sandy beaches along its length. Fig Tree has one such beach of its own, allowing you to unwind under the illustrious African stars after dinner, around a hearty campfire, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the bush. This lagoon which has pods of hippo and crocodile, maintains its water throughout the season attracting an array of wildlife including that elephant, puku, impala, warthog, zebra, hartebeest, roan, sable and much more. Predators like lion, cheetah, leopard, hyena and wild dog are prey on the concentration of game. Your accommodations are in one of only four luxury safari tents that are raised on ten foot high platforms. Each tent overlooks the beautiful Shishamba lagoon but also has a private view of the plains behind the camp that offer unique opportunities to spot wildlife. In addition, all tents
have an en-suite bathroom and veranda. The raised main guest area comprises a dining area, bar, lounge and campfire all overlooking the watering hole in front of the infinity pool. In between activities and at days end, this is a wonderful place to savor delectable cuisine and fine wines.
The enormous 8,649 mi² Kafue National Park is a unique area. The many different habitats and the huge variety of mammals and birds make it an area waiting to be explored. Mass tourism does not exist here leaving the park pure and unexplored. This is what a real safari should be like, excellent game viewing with a rich diversity of wildlife and stunning landscapes unspoiled by the masses. The park is named after the Kafue River that runs through it for over 160 miles. It enters the park in the north east and forms Lake Itezhi-Tezhi south of the park, a beautiful dam with big herds of wildlife roaming around on its shores. Other well-known rivers in the Kafue are the Lunga and Lufupa River which both feed into the Kafue River. The rivers and lake dominate the landscape in the northern and eastern parts of the park. The Kafue River itself has spectacular riverine forests on its banks and flows throughout the year changing from a wide slow flowing river over 340 yards wide in several areas broken up by clusters of small islands with fast flowing water. The river attracts a wide variety of animals and birds and is filled with hippos and crocodiles of all sizes.
Activities at Fig Tree focus on game drives and walking safaris. These are available twice daily, one in the morning departing at sunrise, and one in the late afternoon which turns into a night safari. The guides take you from camp on a tour of the several surrounding loops, where you can see a mix of vegetation from the open plains and tall grass, to the areas of thick bush. You will see wildlife parading in the open and camouflaged with the African bush. Then following sundowners over the hippo pools, the night safari and the search for nocturnal animals begins. Walking safaris typically depart in the early morning after the sun rises to avoid the heat of the day. You may even come across the odd predator or two, but do not fear, the highly trained guides will show you the African bush at its finest. The walks last approximately three hours before returning to camp for a deliciously prepared breakfast.
A visit to Fig Tree combines perfectly with either Mukambi Safari Lodge or Busanga Plain Camp. An ideal week’s stay.
AT A GLANCE
- 4 luxury en-suite tents on raised ten foot high platforms
- Vast Kafue National Park home to more species of ungulate than any national park south of the Congo Basin
- Includes lion, leopard, cheetah, hyena, wild dog, elephant to name a few
- Twice daily game drives - early morning and late afternoon game drives that continue into nightfall
- Guided walking safaris
- All Inclusive: 3 meals daily, soft drinks, house wines, local brand spirits and beer, two safari activities daily, laundry
- Electricity: Runs fully on solar power with backup generator
