Reviews of Old Mondoro Bushcamp
(99%) From 74 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Superb stay
We spent 2 nights here at Old Mondoro after having spent 3 nights at the sister camp Chiawa. While not nearly as luxurious as Chiawa, Old Mondoro has its own special charm that makes for a very enjoyable experience.
Lynette did a canoe trip both here and at Chiawa and still raves about the experience. Jonathan and Karen - the managers - were great hosts and fun to spend time with. James and Sebastien were the guides and worked hard to find plentiful game on our drives. I spent a couple of hours on the river with Ruben fishing for the elusive tiger fish.
All in all a wonderful experience with a great (and fun) team at Old Mondoro.
Saved The Best for Last!
I "discovered" Old Mondoro Bushcamp last year, and believe it to be the best-run safari camp in Zambia. It is truly a special place; small and intimate, beautifully-situated and -designed, comfortable and friendly, with professional and efficient staff that go out of their way to make your holiday magical.
As with sister camp Chiawa, Old Mondoro is located on the banks of the Zambezi, with gorgeous views over the river channels and many islands. If it weren't for the outstanding wildlife on tap, I could imagine visiting and just chilling for days on end, staring at the gorgeous view! However, this would be losing out on the camp's location near spectacular, game-rich areas!
The rooms at O.M. face the river (or, a small lagoon off the river in the case of cabin #4) and are fantastic. The tent/cabins consist of reed walls on three sides; the front facing the river has a reed, three foot high divider on the bottom but is open from the top of this divider to the roof. There are canvas and fly sidings that can be closed at night for those guests who don't care to be so close to open nature. The open air shower and bathtub -- with stunning view of the Zambezi! -- are delightful.
The service, as I've alluded to in the first paragraph, is top-notch, and I honestly don't see how it could possibly be improved. I've stayed in hundreds of hotels, guest houses, inns and camps over the years, and this is one of the very few that truly made me feel both "special," and "at home." Bravo!
The food served at Old Mondoro was hands-down the best of the trip, and probably the best I've had at any safari camp in Africa. Lunch is served buffet style, and was always fresh, interesting and varied. Dinners were plated and were truly something to look forward to every night.
As with Chiawa, there are numerous activities to choose from. The safari drives were excellent, with great sightings of everything (with the exception of the elusive serval and pangolin, which I have now gone twenty years worth of safaris without seeing!). I love the fact that at both Chiawa and O.M. vehicles are usually limited to four guests each, which of course is excellent for those of us who are photographers. The canoe trip through Discovery Channel was a very memorable afternoon, and I also enjoyed going out on the river a couple of times via boat.
Overall, Old Mondoro remains my favorite camp in Zambia, if not all of Africa. I'm hoping to make it back very soon!
Old Mondoro Bushcamp review
This was just a fabulous experience. The chalets are great, the food really good, the activities great and varied and the guides really knowledgeable.
We had elephants wading across the lagoon in front of our chalet and then around our chalet - all the wildlife you could want without stepping outside your door.
The range of animals - leopards every drive, honey badgers, porcupines, civets and serval - was outstanding. I can't wait to return.
Wonderful Safari at Old Modoro
A truly wonderful experience ,a leopard on the journey in and one when we left
Game drives and walk,s excellent guides very knowledgeable.
Sundowner,s drifting down the river unforgetable
Old Mondoro - return after 11 years
We ended our holiday with 4 nights at Old Mondoro where we spent 2 magical nights in 2005. We were not disappointed by our return trip. Although it does not feel quite as 'remote' as before (because of updated facilities) the location remains stunning. The rooms and catering are excellent.
Our game viewing started in spectacular style on the transfer in from the airstrip when James spotted a female leopard lounging on a branch. When we thought she was going to leave she simply turned around and presented us with her other side. Later during our visit we were treated to a similar sighting of a very relaxed male leopard.
As well as walks and game drives we took a river trip and had great views of elephants crossing and playing in the water. There is much to be seen while in the camp with animals and birds passing through and enjoying the lagoon.
Old Mondoro is still a very special place to stay.
Elephants at Old Mondoro
This is a wonderful, intimate, bush camp with just four tents. We stayed in the same tent that we stayed in five years ago.
The pods of the acacia tree overhanging the tent are an irresistible attraction for elephants, so we experienced some splendid close encounters. Old Mondoro has excellent guides and, like Chiawa, offers a wide range of land and water-based activities. Drifting down the Zambezi at sunset is idyllic.
Compared to Chiawa, there are more open plains which make spotting easier in some respects.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp review
The best of the four camps we stayed in. Incredible opportunity to get close to wild elephants with the two 'residents' Cheeky and Midget regularly two or three feet from the main terrace or the front of the chalet where we were standing. On the last day we had 8/10 elephants in the centre of the camp including a huge bull shaking the Winterthorn trees to bring down the pods they were eating.
Made very welcome by the managers Pam and Ryan and their team. Good food, good guiding and a wide range of activities, all very well organised.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp review
What a perfect place in which to end our safari! The camp was everything we'd hoped and more - right on the water's edge, with lions in view and ellies frequent visitors. The game drives urned up multiple sightings of all Zambezi's big game and small and the boat rides took us close to crocs, hippos and a wealth of colorful birdlife.
The camp itself was perfect - small and comfortable, with spectacular water views right from our bed. Ryan and Pam were terrific hosts - organizing everything from a surprise bush brunch with ellies to an amazing birthday cake for Peter. The food was excellent and the guiding unbeatable.
This is the other camp we'd love to return to.
Mondoro is still our favourite camp in Zambia
This was our third visit to Old Mondoro and it lived up to our very high expectations. We travelled in June on this trip and expected to see less animals but we still saw a lot including lion with young cubs and leopard.
The guiding (Sebastian, Joseph, Johan and Reuben) was excellent on drives and walks. We enjoyed our boat and canoe activities as much as ever.
We were well looked after by Pam and Ryan
We will return
Old Mondoro Bushcamp review
Wonderful "Bushcamp" (Luxury in my eyes), very nice setting and completely different terrain with the Jeki Plains etc. compared to Chiawa and Camps more uptstream the Zambezi.
Wonderful stay and fanatastic Host and Room No. 3 as well. View from the bed upstream the Zambezi! Fantastic!
4 Nights stay and 6x Leopard sightings! A Place to go back!
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.
