Wilderness Shumba newsletter – August 2024

There was a lot of drama from exciting predator sightings in the Busanga Plains this month. 

The return of the lone nomadic male lion Alex, one of Queen’s cubs born in 2019, makes it apparent that he determined to reclaim the Busanga Kingship from Mohawk, who is at the moment very vulnerable after losing his coalition mate, General. His roars have created panic among Mohawk and the entire pride. One of the females, Yaya, with her six cubs, has been in alarm mode, as is Killing Machine. After scampering in all directions, Killing Machine was seen returning to relocate her hidden cubs one by one in her mouth.

Alex and the Bad Boys were chased from the Busanga Plains by Scarface in 2021. As the drama unfolds, we are watching closely to see if Alex will team up with Mohawk or try to rule the Busanga Plains alone.   

On the cheetah front, the three Nkala Boys – that traveled many kilometres all the way from the southern part of Kafue National Park to the Busanga Plains – seem to want to build a territory as they were seen scent-marking on several occasions in the area. This now brings the total number of cheetahs seen in the Busanga Plains to seven. We are hopeful that with the current lion drama they will survive.

Our guests are at the core of our experiences at Shumba. As such, we continue to treat them all as VIPs, especially couples celebrating anniversaries, and we set up romantic dinners on their room decks as well as private boma and lantern-lit poolside dinners.  

“Incredible experience! Job very well done. Will absolutely be back soon!” AG & HH – North Carolina, USA

“Thank you all for having us, thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, brilliant camp and game!” M&N – UK

“Incredible camp with absolutely lovely staff. We have enjoyed the experience and beautiful animals”. Fay – Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Management: Evidence, Dawid & Rose 
Guides: Isaac and James