Travel reviews by Dr J. from United Kingdom
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
Jun 2024 South Luangwa trip
Zambia between 18 Jun 2024 and 3 Jul 2024
The choice of camps and sequence proved to be ideal, not much I would change there. I'd love to return to South Luangwa one day - if I do, there are so many other parts of the park to experience, but it would be a tough choice to avoid returning to any of the places I visited this time."
Arranged By Amanda Bond
![Flatdogs Camp](/images/background-image/9ddd243f06e8434ea858d83689654263.jpg)
Flatdogs Camp
"Flatdogs Camp"
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Buffalo
4 sightings
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Elephant
10+ sightings
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Giraffe
10+ sightings
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Hippo
10+ sightings
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Leopard
4 sightings
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Lion
2 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
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Zebra
10+ sightings
![Chikoko Tree Camp](/images/background-image/115b4b501fd0421fa999c7d12b565b41.jpg)
Chikoko Tree Camp
"Chikoko Tree Camp review"
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Elephant
3 sightings
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Hippo
2 sightings
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Zebra
2 sightings
![Big Lagoon Camp](/images/background-image/86563c036f2945a99b29a35f7aadf470.jpg)
Big Lagoon Camp
"Big Lagoon Camp review"
Just as with Chikoko, the food is simple but superb, prepared in a bush kitchen complete with underground oven. Do ask to take a look at the kitchen while here!"
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Elephant
3 sightings
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Giraffe
2 sightings
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Hippo
3 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
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Zebra
1 sighting
![Tafika](/images/background-image/7ad1225b3f85449fafdcab4618f1c8f6.jpg)
Tafika
"Tafika review"
Game drives are in the north of the Nsefu sector where generally the only other vehicles encountered are other Tafika vehicles, and protocol is for no radio contact between guides, so we were alone at almost all wildlife sightings."
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Buffalo
6 sightings
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Elephant
10+ sightings
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Giraffe
10+ sightings
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Hippo
10+ sightings
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Leopard
3 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
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Zebra
5 sightings
![Nkwali](/images/background-image/c83efb84f6214264af3aa69d4b080560.jpg)
Nkwali
"Nkwali review"
There's plenty of wildlife around camp, just an hour after arriving a group of elephants came to drink from the lagoon in front of our lunch table. Being outside the park was offset by the location on the banks of the river with a very short boat ride from camp taking you directly into the park. This helped avoid the busiest parts of the central area of the park and I only felt sightings were crowded on the few occasions when we went to the central areas with a specific goal (lion and wild dog).
It was the only camp that allowed radio communication between guides. This proved a double-edged sword - it means greater chance of seeing something special if it's found by another Nkwali vehicle, but there were a couple of occasions where a voice over the radio felt intrusive if we were stopped at a sighting. Not a big issue for me, but worth keeping in mind depending on the type of experience you want.
On the whole, of all camps I stayed in on this trip, I felt the team at Nkwali went that little bit further in ensuring they gave me the very best experience possible (not that others were bad, the Nkwali team were just superb). This included shuffling some allocations of guests and guides to give me a dedicated "birding" game drive with Perry (offered to me without me asking, when they noticed my interest in birds), and arranging an extra-early departure for a morning game drive to find lions in time to watch the sun rise with them."
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Buffalo
3 sightings
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Elephant
10+ sightings
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Giraffe
10+ sightings
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Hippo
10+ sightings
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Leopard
1 sighting
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Lion
3 sightings
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Spotted Hyena
3 sightings
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Wild dog
1 sighting
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Zebra
10+ sightings
Tent number 1 was very comfortable and spacious, outdoor bathroom had hot running water, mains electricity was available in the tent for charging. It's nicely located at the riverside: sitting on my bed I could watch wildlife in and around the river including hippos, elephants, crocodiles, puku, and many birds. While not a priority for me, wifi in the main area of camp was a convenience for brief messages to family back home, and I often had signal from tent number 1 which is closest to the main area.
Unique to the safari camps I've stayed in, meals could be taken at any time you wished, and were ordered from a really varied menu - all my meals were excellent. Dining is not communal, but I never dined alone."