Travel reviews by Mr Paul from Doha
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
2
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
7
Excursions taken
0
My June 2023 trip
Zambia between 18 Jun 2023 and 30 Jun 2023
Love Chisa Busanga particularly the birds nest rooms.
The plains are quite different to the Lower Zambezi and Luangwa parks. Wetlands nor unlike the Okavango delta.
On my trip in 2022 I witnessed lots of wild dog action in both parks which was the highlight of my trip. This time not quite as much.
Overall a very enjoyable trip."
Arranged By Claire Scott

Chisa Busanga Camp
"Chisa Busanga Camp review"

Buffalo
3 sightings

Hippo
6 sightings

Leopard
5 sightings

Lion
6 sightings

Sable antelope
4 sightings

Wildebeest
1 sighting

Zebra
3 sightings

Chiawa Camp
"Chiawa Camp review"
Watching the elephants crossing the river feeding on the islands. This is my second visit to Chiawa and it did not disappoint.
Hosted by By Simon and Juliet .I was in room 7 which has great views of the river. The camp has a great atmosphere with communal dining.
Elephants are possibly the main attraction at Chiawa camp, Lots of them ! The food is top notch with an early breakfast before the game drive and Bruch after at 11.30. Lots of choices. Evening meal is a communal affair. Generally on the first morning you have a Bruch boat cruise with bubbly.
I loved the afternoon canoeing on the channels avoiding the aggressive hippos."

Buffalo
3 sightings

Elephant
10+ sightings

Hippo
10+ sightings

Lion
7 sightings

Old Mondoro Bushcamp
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review"
I was in Room 4 overlooking the channel. The first afternoon in camp, visited by an Elephant on my from balcony. Great experience. Lots to see from the room balcony particularly the bird life. Spotted the two male resident lions sleeping by the river.
Camp hosted by Dave and Madeline. My guide for the duration was Boaz who is a great character with lots of experience.
After a 5.30 wake up call, breakfast is a communal affair like all meals at Old Mondoro. Food here like Chiawa was of a very high standard.
The pack of 26 wild dogs were in the area where they are denning. Tracked them for a short time. Some nice Kudu sighting and a Porcupine in the night drive. A particularly interning sighting was a leopard raiding a Hammerkop nest in the tree which was occupied by Owls. Watched a leopard kill an implant in camp.
Honey badgers spotted on a night drive.
One of my favourite camps."

Buffalo
4 sightings

Elephant
10+ sightings

Hippo
6 sightings

Leopard
7 sightings

Lion
8 sightings

Spotted Hyena
2 sightings

Wild dog
Many sightings

Zebra
3 sightings

Puku Ridge
"Puku Ridge review"
Arrived in camp late morning Room 8. This has to be the most Luxurious of the camps visited.
The rooms are fabulous with amazing views from your room. Food is gourmet. Hosted by Clint and Sarah. Innocent was my guide. Some great Lion pride sightings near camp after dark and Leopards.
Drove some distance from camp near to the main gate to view a wild dog kill. Seems like most of the park was there !"

Buffalo
5 sightings

Elephant
6 sightings

Giraffe
5 sightings

Hippo
6 sightings

Lion
6 sightings

Spotted Hyena
2 sightings

Zebra
3 sightings
My June 2022 trip
Zambia between 3 Jun 2022 and 14 Jun 2022
Old Mondoro small intimate bush camp. Puku ridge luxurious and Chiawa some where in between. Interesting the habitat from Old Mondoro and Chiawa is quite different even though only 40 kms down/ upstream.
Seeing both Leopards and Wild dogs make a kill was very special and a rare event on safari.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Cannot think of anything !"
Arranged By Claire Scott

Chiawa Camp
"Chiawa Camp June 2022"
Nobby was our guide for most of the 4 days. Moses for other trips. Spotted two male lions on our first drive. Night drives following sundowners are great at this camp. Spotted African civet twice and a Porcupine once and spotted genets many times. Leopards were also spotted several times including one chasing and capturing a baboon up a tree. One of the highlights of the stay was canoeing down the channel off the main river one afternoon. Herds of elephants coming down to the water to drink, fantastic !
Managed a bush walk one morning down to the Zambezi.
Lovely camp thanks to Simon, Nobby, Tarsi , Chris and all the team for a wonderful stay."

Elephant
4 sightings

Hippo
10+ sightings

Leopard
3 sightings

Lion
3 sightings

Spotted Hyena
3 sightings

Zebra
3 sightings

Old Mondoro Bushcamp
"Old Mondoro Bushcamp review June 2022"
The camp is quite small and intimate with the tents spread out along the main river and a channel. There is a real inclusive atmosphere about this camp with all guests sharing the camp fire and a communal dining table. I was room 3 facing the channel where you could see some excellent bird life and hear the morning call of the hippos.
Great twilight time viewing of a female leopard and cubs. the large pack of wild dogs 24 in total were back in the area after several weeks away. Watched the dogs as they stalked, chased and finally caught a warthog. Gruesome stuff! Earlier we watched the dogs finishing off an Impala and a Baboon. Lots go Ellie herds around camp.
Thank you for aa wonderful stay Juliette , Marshall and the team."

Elephant
8 sightings

Hippo
6 sightings

Leopard
4 sightings

Lion
3 sightings

Spotted Hyena
Many sightings

Wild dog
3 sightings

Zebra
Many sightings

Puku Ridge
"Puku Ridge review June 2022"
The food was excellent. One day on a morning drive we turned a corner on the track and found a dining table had been set up in the bush by Grant and his team and were welcomed to a stir fry cooked on gas. That was a nice touch. Andrew my guide was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and a keen photographer so would give me tips. We managed a full day game drive to the north where we managed to watch two separate lion prides.
We managed to watch Wild dogs hunting again and they caught an Puku. It could not be viewed as in thicket.
Special thanks to Grant, Amilee, Andrew, Mabel trainee guide, Moses and Masaki."

Buffalo
3 sightings

Elephant
10+ sightings

Giraffe
8 sightings

Hippo
7 sightings

Leopard
3 sightings

Lion
2 sightings

Spotted Hyena
4 sightings

Wild dog
3 sightings

Wildebeest
2 sightings

Zebra
3 sightings
Great small camp with the famous birds nest rooms which have great views but are quite small. Hosted by Pasha aided by Emanuel , Isaac , Newton was my guide.
The Busanga wetlands are fabulous similar in some respects to the Okavango. Newton my guide very experienced was excellent.
The main wildlife feature here are the enormous herds of Lechwe and Puku around the channels.This ensures that there are large groups of Predators Lions and Leopards. We spotted male and female leopards on a night drive and Porcupines.
Some great viewing of two female lions with their cubs.
Magnificent Sable antelope.
Lots of hippos in the channels. Most channels are too deep to traverse and no bridge's in place to cross."