Zambia: reviews from our travellers

"This was a truly fantastic holiday. It was our first family safari and it exceeded all expectations.

The guides were superb at all 3 lodges ,allowing us to spend time watching animal behaviour. We learnt a huge amount about both the environment and the wildlife, both plant and animal. The accommodation and food couldn't have been better. We really felt we experienced Zambia.

Robin Pope safaris staff were friendly, welcoming and great fun to be with. Brilliant holiday.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Can't think of a single improvement - it all went so well.

Thank you." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"Worth every penny. I will take my granddaughter in 2 years time, when I have saved up.

Trip of a lifetime, life-changing, and not a moment wasted, perfectly balanced and fine-tuned, yet room for the unexpected as we were in the bush where we humans can respond to what we find, but not control it.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

no. all good." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari

"My only hesitation about saying "very satisfactory" is that I feel there were too many unnecessary errors in the booking process, including mistakes on the itinerary about which terminal we were supposed to depart from at Johannesburg.

This was confusing and time-wasting until we figured it out." Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"Great trip. Really enjoyed all 3 of the camps. I agree that it would have been a little better to visit in a different order (as Expert Africa recommended, it was availability that forced us to do it in a different order) but it wasnt a big deal. Really enjoyed lack of wifi - a real treat." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari

"This is more than likely to have been our last safari to Africa.

It was therefor a safari of mixed emotions one of some sadness, being a goodbye, but on the other hand another of great experiences and memories which will last for years not only of the wildlife and environment but of the many people we have met over the years whose whole outlook was to look after you and maximise your enjoyment.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Over the many years we have had the pleasure of dealing with Expert Africa we have always received the most friendly advice and assistance.

We cannot make any suggestions for improvement and can only give them our most grateful thanks." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari

"This trip replicated one I did on my own two years ago - I raved about it so much this time I persuaded my partner and some friends to come along too. A superb place to have a safari holiday - great animal sightings and lovely camps to stay in.

I've not been there other than in July so cannot comment on timings in comparison with other times in the year, other than to say the early morning drives start a bit chilly so warm clothing and a hat essential - but the days 'hotted' up as soon as the sun was up, but never to the extent that it was uncomfortable or made sleep difficult.

Outside of the park there are recommendations to stop at Tribal Textiles and the South Luangwa Project before returning home. We found Tribal Textiles a bit of a disappointment - we understood that the proceeds went to the local community, but the prices were very high to the extent that we felt extortionate.

On the other hand the South Luangwa Project shop was much better, and although we realised we were paying more than a 'local' price, were happy to do that to help the local economy, and those the Project was supporting. If we ever manage to get back to the South Luangwa we would stop at the Project shop on the way in - they will take measurements and make you up clothing to collect on the way home - that would be a great reminder of the holiday." Read full review: 9 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"Once the problem of our missed connection was dealt with most efficiently and good naturedly on a Saturday morning by Richard, Freddie and Chris, everything went smoothly.

No changes of plan and no further hiccoughs meant that we had a wonderful holiday in south Luangwa. This was our 2nd trip and we enjoyed it even more than the first.

Our 3 camps were in a similar area, being on either side of the river, but as each game drive is different and covers different areas around each camp, the similar location didn’t matter at all. In fact we were thrilled to finally see a wild dog pack whilst at our 3rd camp, although the dogs were very close to our 1st camp but we hadn’t managed to find them there. As always on safari, expect the unexpected!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari

"We have done several safaris before in different countries.

Having visited South Luangwa twice before we decided to try a mixture of 4 camps - 2 new ones to us, one totally refurbished and one familiar, with a mixture of results

Lion camp still has a wonderful location with excellent game viewing and guides although the new decor and food regime was not to our taste and if the price goes up appreciably in the future it will cease being our "go to" choice in South Luangwa

Tafika we had not visited before but were very impressed with most aspects of our visit.

Kafunta (twice before) has increased in size, with more families with pre-teenage children and a move away from communal dining to separate tables. In the past the pontoon shortcut into the park has always been working - when it is unavailable it does take quite a time out of game drives to access the park and return. The guide was disappointing and unfortunately stayed with us for 2 days here and 3 more at 3 Rivers (Kafunta's bush camp)

Three Rivers, new to us was a small nicely arranged camp with only 5 well designed chalets with good views over the bush (or the Luangwa river) and upper viewing platform with "star beds". These had mosquito nets so you could sleep out at night with a view of the African star lit sky. The camp was best suited to walking safaris and bird watching. There were more tsetse flies here than elsewhere. The staff here were all excellent with a nice relaxed but professional attitude to their guests, especially TJ who was the epitome of an ideal camp manager prepared to give us the benefit of his experience and knowledge over sundowners ." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari

"Provided a very well researched and considered experience for the four of us. Good variety of activities and accommodation. All transport and connections worked well. Maruska went to a lot of trouble to design a good trip for us at short notice. Would certainly recommend Expert Africa." Read full review: 27 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip

"Our trip was excellent and our expectations were not only met but exceeded. We enjoyed the varying landscapes, the animals and the people.

The trip, which we requested at the very last minute, was superbly organised. From the time of my initial contact, all requests/queries were handled in a timely helpful manner. All the components (fly, drive, transfers) fitted together well and all connections/transfers went smoothly.

The only changes we would have made are those that could only have been made with hindsight!

So again, thank you very much Maruska and Expert Africa.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service: These are very minor suggestions and comments and are made purely to try and be helpful.

(1) An explanation off what one can expect in relation to meals when your accommodation is on a full board basis and you arrive around lunchtime. Our first full board accommodation was at Canyon Lodge and we arrived at lunch time. We were greeted with some information about the facilities and times for dinner and breakfast, but no indication of whether there was any lunch available or whether we were entitled to lunch. Subsequent enquires resulted in us being directed to the dining room.

At a later lodge, we realised that we could have had lunch even though we arrived early in the afternoon but had already had lunch just in case.

(2) If people are doing an overnighter at Cheetah View Lodge it would be good to know that the cheetah feeding is at 2 o'clock, which is the only time that this is held, is also included in the cost of the accommodation i.e. so that if possible you would make sure you got there in time for that. The other paid activities did not seem to be good value. I did note that on EA's notes of this lodge, that it EA thought that there needed to be a better integration of activities with the overnight experience, and we agree.

(3) I think that Hyena Pan did include laundry facilities.

I apologise if I should have known some of these things. I did look up all the accommodations on your website (which I thought was most extensive and the reason I choose the company initially), and make notes before our trip, but possibly I missed bits.

We wish that the tipping thing could be made easier. Australia does not have a tipping culture and so it always comes as a surprise and what seems like a lot of extra money on top of what are not insubstantial costs, at least in some places. While were tried to follow the guidelines, sometimes we were caught out when guides changed or we had an extra guide.

It is impossible to single out 'other' people, other than guides and polers for example, as there are always people behind the that contribute to your enjoyment and comfort on a trip." Read full review: 27 nights in Africa; 17 on a Namibia trip