Reviews of Kapani Lodge
(95%) From 72 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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A Fascinating School Visit
Returning to Kapani was like meeting old friends again, although we met many new people. Our chalet overlooking the lagoon and adjacent to the swimming pool was splendid.
Besides some game drives we were very pleased to have the opportunity to visit Yosefe School to meet the head and some of his staff and to meet some of he children in their classrooms. The challenges created by large class sizes (an average class size of over 50), the high proportion of pupils who are orphans and the shortage of basic resources were very sobering, but the sense of commitment shown by the staff and the enthusiasm of the pupils was very clear.
We also made an interesting visit to the workshop and showrooms of Tribal Textiles, an enterprise employing many local people, which produces beautiful textiles using traditional designs.
Comfort at Kapani
You have to be ready for a lot more people than at the camps!
It was very comfortable and we liked having a swimming pool.
Abraham went out of his way to ensure that we had a walk in the afternoon on the last whole day of our stay. There was no scout available in the morning so we had to drive but he made up for it by going out early afternoon for a walk with us.
A Superb Introduction to South Luangwa
The drive from Mfuwe Airport to Kapani Lodge made a fascinating start to our holiday with all the colourful sights of a vibrant community all the way along the road. We were given a splendid welcome at Kapani and were soon into the round of activities of the holiday starting with an excellent brunch, followed by a siesta and then a game drive which continued after dark with a spotlight to observe the animals.
The sightings on our first drive were superb: a profusion of hippos and crocodiles, frequent sightings of antelope (mostly impala and puku), a pair of old bull buffaloes, a wealth of bird life, particularly water birds and the ubiquitous African fish eagle, and, after dark, several sightings of hyena close to the road. We had an excellent view of two lionesses with their cubs and, after dark, a fine view of a male lion who sauntered past our vehicle completely unconcerned by our presence. We stopped for sundowners next to the river and were impressed by a group of six bull elephants who came down to drink and then waded across the river.
The next morning we had our first view of the large numbers of carmine bee eaters who nest in holes by the river side as we set off on our long drive into the bush to Luwi.
Kapani Lodge review
Please see first page!
Read more about the whole safariExpert Africa comments
This client commented: "Our next stop over was to the Luangwa Valley. With one night at Kapani where Rosie was a great hostess and then followed by five nights at Mchenja (both with Norman Carr safaris)"
A good end to my trip
A more business-like approach with less of a family feel.
Standards however very high and probably had the best food of all the camps I visited.
Review of Nsolo Bushcamp
Excelllent see previous comments
Read more about the whole safariExpert Africa comments
This traveller commented on his whole trip, on the 'previous page:
"It was a splendid tour you had arranged for us in South Luangwa.
In all five lodges Kapani, Kakuli, Nsolo, Mchenja and Luwi. Anne Marie, Lora, Natasha, Warren, the guides Abraham, Lawrence, Shaddy, Sam, Jimmy and John plus the rest of the teams gave us a wonderful time. They were all incredibly hospitable and immediately made us feel wellcome.
The game experiences were unforgettable.The guides who were all excellent did their best to show the nature and the game in varied actions. Especially John, who was called out to take us from Nsolo to Mcenja, half way walk, two days at Mchenja and the walk from Nsolo to Luwi. He was a brilliant guide, who seemed to be fond of walking like we are, while some of the guides had a preference for driving."
Good value for the money
It was a splendid tour you had arranged for us in South Luangwa.
In all five lodges Kapani, Kakuli, Nsolo, Mchenja and Luwi. Anne Marie, Lora, Natasha, Warren, the guides Abraham, Lawrence, Shaddy, Sam, Jimmy and John plus the rest of the teams gave us a wonderful time. They were all incredibly hospitable and immediately made us feel wellcome.
The game experiences were unforgettable.The guides who were all excellent did their best to show the nature and the game in varied actions. Especially John, who was called out to take us from Nsolo to Mcenja, half way walk, two days at Mchenja and the walk from Nsolo to Luwi. He was a brilliant guide, who seemed to be fond of walking like we are, while some of the guides had a preference for driving.
Fantastic Safari at Kapani Lodge
Everything was well organised and all staff were very friendly and welcoming. The accomodation was very comfortable and food excellent. Our guide was Abraham Banda who was delightful and must know everything there there is to know about South Luangwa - a privilege to meet him.
We were amazed by the number and variety of animals and birds and had lots of unforgettable experiences - leopard with cubs, crossing the river at sunset, walking safari, feeling of wilderness - could go on and on!
Our visit to Yosefe School was very interesting and gave us an insight into the "real" Zambia of 2007.
First day in Africa - Kapani Lodge
A great and very reassuring start to a first visit to Africa. All staff were very friendly and professional. The rooms are lovely, bathrooms adequate. A reminder that the other Carr camps do not have a shop and do not sell local products would have been helpful. Also a reminder of the possibility to visit Kapani school - it slipped our minds, and we didn't visit a school until we arrived in Tongabezi - a comparison would have been helpful.
Kapani is ideal for two nights- any longer and the activities become a little repetitive, since walking, while theoretically available, is not actively promoted. But the drives are excellent - on our first night, we saw pretty much all the animals that were top of our list: lionesses suckling their cubs, a leopard dragging its just-killed impala onto a tree, arranging it carefully over a branch so that it wouldn't slip down, elephants, impala, warthogs, hyena, aardvark and many more.
Our guide, Abel, was very good: very knowledgeable, calm and friendly. Abraham, much cheekier, was clearly hugely experienced. We thought this lodge very good value for money. The food is outstanding, esp lunch, with great vegetables from the garden, and excellent meat too.
We were glad to hear that the guides at Norman Carr felt well treated as employees, with 12-month contracts, good training programmes and paid annual leave.
A relaxing introduction
Only there one night. Lucky enough to have Abraham. Great drive.
Really enjoyed our trip to Kawasi village and school on the way.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
