Travel reviews by Mr K Mendip from UK
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
Zambia is the friendliest place we've visited
Zambia between 13 Sep 2007 and 23 Sep 2007
"Overall, a fantastic holiday. We probably could have done with one or two days less in South Luangwa. The game was not that different between Nkwali and Nsefu. It may have been better to go to the Lower Zambezi e.g. Sausage Tree Camp for a very different experience.
Having said that, Nkwali and Nsefu were great, and we saw some fabulous wildlife. Particularly a number of leopard sightings at night and during the day - something we hadn't managed to see in Tanzania last year.
The Zambian people are amazing. So friendly even thought many of them are very, very poor. Everyone waved at us, everywhere we went, whether they were very old or very young.
I found Expert Africa very helpful and got good advice from Chris when I originally was planning the holiday.
One suggestion is to name a back-up when the lead contact is going to be aware. I think this would be a nice courtsey. On a few occasions, I called to speak to Anna. She was away and it would have been nice to know who was providing support in her absence."
Having said that, Nkwali and Nsefu were great, and we saw some fabulous wildlife. Particularly a number of leopard sightings at night and during the day - something we hadn't managed to see in Tanzania last year.
The Zambian people are amazing. So friendly even thought many of them are very, very poor. Everyone waved at us, everywhere we went, whether they were very old or very young.
I found Expert Africa very helpful and got good advice from Chris when I originally was planning the holiday.
One suggestion is to name a back-up when the lead contact is going to be aware. I think this would be a nice courtsey. On a few occasions, I called to speak to Anna. She was away and it would have been nice to know who was providing support in her absence."
Feedback response
Thanks for this helpful advice. All of us do travel extensively, which is vital to keep up our high levels of local knowledge – but it does mean that team members are sometimes away from the office.
However, we work very much as a team here, and with five team members who know Zambia well, if one person is travelling… then there will always be someone in the office to help with specialist knowledge.
Nkwali
"Great experience and luxury at Robins House"
4 nights
Arrived
13 Sep 2007
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Nsefu
"Excellent guiding and viewing at Nsefu"
3 nights
Arrived
18 Sep 2007
"Nsefu wasn't quite as comfortable as Nkwali but was of a good standard with good views from the Rondavels. The food was excellent.
What made Nsefu stand out was the guiding and viewing. Braston, our guide, was excellent at reading signs leading to us viewing excellent leopard. He could also spot game from an amazing distance such as Eland that we'd failed to see at Nkwali. He also had a very good spotter in Julius who we know is also training to be a guide.
One thing I really appreciated (and I would like my thanks to be passed onto Braston and all at Nsefu) is that I left my camera battery charger at Nsefu when we left. I remembered and told Braston on the way to the airport. He (and others at Robin Pope) managed to organise for it to be taken to Sausage Tree Camp and then flown onto Livingstone and delivered to Tongabezi. It arrived the day after we did and it meant I was able to take photos of Victoria Falls. It would have been disastrous if they hadn't been able to arrange this."
What made Nsefu stand out was the guiding and viewing. Braston, our guide, was excellent at reading signs leading to us viewing excellent leopard. He could also spot game from an amazing distance such as Eland that we'd failed to see at Nkwali. He also had a very good spotter in Julius who we know is also training to be a guide.
One thing I really appreciated (and I would like my thanks to be passed onto Braston and all at Nsefu) is that I left my camera battery charger at Nsefu when we left. I remembered and told Braston on the way to the airport. He (and others at Robin Pope) managed to organise for it to be taken to Sausage Tree Camp and then flown onto Livingstone and delivered to Tongabezi. It arrived the day after we did and it meant I was able to take photos of Victoria Falls. It would have been disastrous if they hadn't been able to arrange this."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good
Tongabezi
"Fantastic luxury and excellent activities"
3 nights
Arrived
21 Sep 2007
"Tongabezi was amazing. The cottages were luxurious and having our own valet was great. The variety of inclusive activities was brilliant and we took full advantage of being on the banks of the Zambezi. It was also very easy to arrnage for extra activities like helicopter ride.
After the slightly less luxurious safari lodges, Tongabezi was very, very relaxing and we thoroughly enjoyed being pampered (dinner outside our cottage, san pan breakfast on the Zambezi and pedicures for both of us!).
And of course Vistoria Falls and swimming in Devils Pool is beyond comparison."
After the slightly less luxurious safari lodges, Tongabezi was very, very relaxing and we thoroughly enjoyed being pampered (dinner outside our cottage, san pan breakfast on the Zambezi and pedicures for both of us!).
And of course Vistoria Falls and swimming in Devils Pool is beyond comparison."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
We were very well looked after by Terry and Ali, and the food was very good. Obi was a very knowledgable guide who grew on us over the time we were there. I really like the spotting tick lists for birds and mammals provided by Robin Pope. The postcards are also a great idea but the time taken for them to be posted and delivered actually means that it's a little pointless.
One downside to Nkwali is that because it is outside the National Park, it takes a while to get to where most of the animals are, and it takes some time to get back. I also thought the drives were a little short. I would have preferred to stay out a bit later in the morning (we were usually back at Robins House by about 10.30am) and to have gone out earlier for the evening drive (we didn't usually leave until gone 4pm so had around 6 hours of dead time)."