Reviews of Tafika
(98%) From 117 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
| 
What a great safari experience at Tafika
Had an amazing time at Tafika, great guides taking you out and then the best of hospitality when you return to camp.
Microlighting at sunrise is one of the best expereinces ever.
We loved it but I would say its not for those who don't like insects or for those on a first safari.
Good variety of game
John and Carol are good hosts and have created a very pleasant environment.
This is generally a strong camp which we enjoyed, although we felt that a couple of the staff were perhaps ready for the end of season! We did however very much appreciate their flexiblility when we needed to change the itinerary around.
The terrain is varied and, in addition to good leopard and lion etc, we enjoyed the flocks of crowned crane, our first oribi and a best ever serval sighting. Brian was a good guide. The night drives are particularly rewarding, while the microlight flight with John is just not to be missed....
Microlight Highlight
Our stay at Tafika was excellent in every respect - the highlight being the dawn microlight flight which offered a whole new perspective (even relative to balloon safaris).
John and Carol and their team really make their guests feel at home. Great atmosphere, excellent food and really nice people.
Both walking and game drives were expertly guided - underlined by the fact that we found leopards on seven of our eight outings (although our first ever elephant shrew sighting was also a high point).
All in all, srongly recommended.
3rd visit and still wonderful
The range of activities and the experience of the guides makes this our top choice in S Luangwa.
Facilities are effective and unpretentious, but the food and help is excellent. John & Carol always make us feel very welcome to their home, and we are pleased that the local school is benefitting from their support.
It is a fine centre for walking safaris as each bushcamp has its merits but also has the same high standard of service & food and more than adequate comfort. The number of guides available means that we can always do what we want, without having the tedious business of gaining agreement for one activity which is what happens at some other camps.
After 3 visits we love this place and hope to return.
Will be back!
A new camp for me and one that I would love to visit again. John and Carol are fantastic hands-on hosts and the whole team was terrific. It's obviously a very happy workforce! We were guided by Bryan, Stephen and Alex and they were excellent.
Tafika is very well laid out and we loved the space and distance between the chalets. I also liked the little hide. The security provided at night by the night watchment was much appreciated as the layout and nocturnal visitors can be a little tricky.
I can't believe I did a microflight trip given the vertigo I usually suffer from. but John inspires total confidence - and I liked it so much I did it again the next day!
Relaxed atmosphere at Tafika
The staff and the management really made us feel like part of a family right from the start when we where warmly welcomed by Heather. We felt very sad to have to leave after our three nights here.
Our guide, Mukupa, was very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. We had a lot of fun together and saw many special things (the highlight must have been the wild dogs - third sighting at Tafika this season).
Also, seeing the Luangwa from the air in a microlight was very special. Doing so with someone who knows the area as well as John is a great privilege.
Tafika review
Tafika is a great place where to start. The night drives are amazing and the guides are very experienced. All activities were very well handled, guides and staff always present but not overwhelming. The wildlife is ubiquitous,....., including in the camp. We saw a leopard every night (not in the camp) , I understand we were lucky.
Only one disappointment. The food was really average and we were expecting less chicken, minced meat, vegetables in jelly, lasagnas and stews and more "real meat".
Tafika review
We loved everything about Tafika.
The expertise of the guides was everything we'd hoped for; we enjoyed every single drive and walk and they contrived to make each one a different experience by rotating the guides and spotters and taking us to different areas. Because of the length of the drives, and perhaps because our stay was a bit longer than average, we really felt we got to know several of the guides well and to understand a bit about the lives of the local people from what they told us.
The accommodation was very comfortable and most attractive, the food was excellent, but most importantly the staff were uniformly friendly and helpful. Everyone was genuinely concerned when Alice was unwell for a couple of days (she had picked up a flu-type bug, probably on the plane) and found us appropriate medication, re-organised transfers to the bush-camp etc.
Tafika - Wow!
What a wonderful place - no other place has filled us with such happiness and such a desire to return! John and Carol are wonderful hosts and ALL the guides are "top notch" (Stephen, Alex and Brian) - good english (even Brian!), knowledgeable and, importantly, very helpful. Being met by Mkupa and Lloyd to canoe us across the Luangwa was a super experience.
Tafika rewarded us with the best game sightings of the holiday and also the longest drives.
The "house" staff also are great and we enjoyed our tour of the kitchen garden with Isaac!
A number of nice touches: purpose built steps to aid access to the jeeps - taken on trips when those less agile were aboard; light on in the bedroom on return from evening drives; Good electricity; super showers that really made one wet and warm.
The open grassy area gives such a wonderful feeling of space - one is instantly relaxed.
We loved the visit to the village and school - very moving.
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.
