Travel reviews by Mr N. from Milan

"Everything was perfect.

Two guides welcomed me at the airport and we drove from Mfuwe to the camp. We immediately had a very good contact, were joking together. When arriving at the camp, Jen and Nick welcomed me and brought me to my bungalow. I settled in for 15 minutes and went to the bar for a beer.

Jen called me to show me a 2m50 python right behind my bungalow, saying how lucky I was and they could only rarely be seen (I'm not sure lucky is how I would describe my feeling on the spot). Good beers and a lovely dinner.

Also in the morning all was perfect : hot shower, good breakfast, great view over the river with the hippos and then the transfer on the small Cessna plane to Takwela."

"My first comment is on the team. This is where I really got to know my guide Steven. I must say that we got on extremely well, we had a similar sense of humour but most of all he was so knowledgeable about all the wildlife (mammals, birds, insects, plants) that I was never tired of listening to his explanations.

The scout Dave was also great : he was shy and talked very little but had clearly a huge experience and made me feel totally at ease even when chasing a lion track or getting close to an elephant. Finally we had two apprentices to become guide with us who were both very nice and promise to become very competent. More than once they were the first to spot an animal or a track.

The walks were great. We usually walked about 15km a day and one day we did a full day walk, whereby a jeep brought us up the Malweshi river and we walked back to camp (about 20km). I am very pleased with the wildlife we saw. This has been a fantastic experience.

The camp was great as well, very comfortable and the staff very welcoming and helpful. The only downside were some other guests : a group of elderly Americans who I felt were a bit obnoxious and bossy."

"I enjoyed this camp a lot. Partly because I was the only guest there and partly because of the terrace above the dining area with a great view over the bush. Several times we sat there having tea and could see impalas, zebras or elephants.

The hiking team was great, although a bit less so than the one I had in Takwela. The scout was a bit younger and less experienced (but still very much up to the job, this is not a negative comment on him and he managed pretty well a couple of delicate situations) and was also very interested in knowing more about the Western world. And Sussa the tea-porter was more shy than the ones in Takwela.

The hiking was excellent here as well, maybe even a bit better. I have the feeling that we could get a bit closer to the animals as these are slightly more used to visitors compared to North Luagnwa (especially following a covid year with hardly any visitors at all)."

"Tafika was the end of my safari.

As I had not spotted yet any lion, nor leopard nor hyena, I decided to do my first game drive, at night though. It was a nice experience, but was nonetheless a confirmation for me that walking is so much richer and emotional as an experience compared to driving.

Anyway, I saw my first (and only) leopard and hyena on that drive."

"The hotel was nice and I have no complaint about it, but I much preferred my safari bungalows. It felt a bit too "civilised". The visit to the falls was beautiful, especially as I went there at the opening in the morning and had the whole area to myself for about one hour.

Only downside : the entrance fee to the falls was included with my hotel booking, I understand, but the hotel did not give it to me and I had to pay 20 USD to access the falls."