Zambia: reviews from our travellers
Unedited reviews written by our most recent Zambia travellers
"My 11 day, 4 camp safari in Dec, 2013"
I have already commented on all the camps, so I'll just comment on the overall organization. I think the selection of camps for me was just perfect. I had a river camp, a desert camp, a jungle camp and a combination river/bush camp. This allowed me to never get tired of what I was seeing and always experience something new. I also think Maruska gave me great advice in suggesting that I do 11 days rather than 7, because the game viewing is trickier in the rainy season, so you see less, so you need more time. So because of my timing, I traded off game viewing for privacy, but because I made a longer trip, I still saw all the game. The advantage to safaris in December is privacy. On 8 of my 20 game drives, I was the only person in my safari vehicle! For 24 hours at Tubu and 8 hours at Savuti, I was the only guest in camp!
But the most impressive thing for my were the transfers. My first day, I left Lusaka and flew to Livingstone where I was met at the airport and whisked away. At the border between Zambia and Botswana, I was met by a boat, which had been waiting for me, was zipped across the river and met by a safari vehicle. This vehicle then whisked to a rendez-vous with the safari camp's vehicle, with then met the afternoon game drive from Mucheje camp part way and I was on a game drive! So I left Lusaka and noon and 5 transfers later, all done seamlessly, and I was on a game drive at 4pm!
Another example is: at Tau Pan in the Kalahari, I went on a morning game drive, came back to camp to have brunch and pack and then had a one hour game drive to the air strip. 5 minutes after arriving, the plane landed and 5 minutes later we were airborne. After a 1 hour flight where I was co-pilot, I landed at Little Tubu and was on a game drive 10 minutes later! So, I was on a game drive in the Kalahari at 2pm and on another in the Okavango Delta at 4pm. What amazing logistics!
Really, really, really well organized trip all in all. It's a rare trip that I leave all the logistics to someone else, but I am very glad to have left it to Expert Africa!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The only thing I can think of is for you to probe a little more into what exactly we are hoping to experience. For me, this was my first safari, so I really wanted to see big cats. I'm not sure the camps chosen for me were the absolute best for this (I'm not sure they were not either), but I would have benefitted from some more info as to why those particular camps were best for me in that particular area. I had no idea there were so many options to choose from.
All in all, you guys are awesome and I will certainly recommend you and use you again. I was referred to you by a good friend who has used you a couple of times." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
"My Nov 2013 trip"
"Our best safari so far."
Before the trip when BA changed our flights, Ellie was extremely helpful and diligent in ensuring that the itinerary (that had to be completely revamped) was fine tuned to meet our expectations despite us changing our minds a few times on the routings and camps!. Definitely an 'exceeded expectations' experience." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
"Our safari trip"
We travelled with my sister and her husband, who booked with a different agent. Although this meant that our connecting travel was different, we felt that in the event our timings were better, and the advice which we were given always seemed superior. We were for example advised to book international flights ourselves to save money (unlike my sister) which added to an already highly significant price difference between the two otherwise identical holidays.
We were highly impressed by the knowledge and advice given by Expert Africa, not only on the safari part but also in the remainder of our holiday in the Cape Town area." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
"My Oct 2013 trip"
Ellie's guidance on camps was spot on.
My only grouse concerns the BA change of flight - see below." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari
"Excellent experience in Zambia"
During the planning of my safari week, Maruska assisted with every aspect, answering all my questions with great care and patience. She knows Zambia and the safari camps first hand. It was such a relief knowing she had arranged every fine detail including a seamless transfer between two camps at mid-point.
I wholeheartedly recommend Expert Africa.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
This is not a criticism, but an observation about tipping. Expert Africa materials and other materials I've read, all seem to imply that tipping is not expected in Zambia. I think there was a suggestion that it might be appropriate to leave something for the guide. I did that at Flatdogs (for the guide and the assistant who rode at night with the light). However, I'm wondering if I should have left something additional for the staff.
When I got to Tena Tena, among the informational materials in the tent were envelopes to use for tipping at the end, specifying host(s), guide(s), camp staff. Of course I was happy to do that...but felt awkward I didn't do the same at Flatdogs if people were expecting it...So this is really just a heads up since you might want to see if the practice is changing at other places in addition to Robin Pope Safaris. Happy to talk with you about it if you want.
What a wonderful time I had. Thank you so much for helping make my journey unforgettably special." Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari
"Incredible. We are hooked on Africa"
We had a fabulous time in Africa and we enjoyed all three places (Nkwichi Lodge, Mwamba Bushcamp and Old Mondoro) enormously.
We absolutely intend to return to Africa - next trip Botswana!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Something we had not fully understood (being first time Safari goers) is how much time we would spend with other guests.
We had such a terrific time at Nkwichi Lodge with like-minded people; suffered terribly uncomfortable dinners at Mwamba Bushcamp with a taciturn guest; and felt as if we had to be on our best behaviour at Old Mondoro with the terribly middle-aged and middle class Britons.
We do acknowledge it is the luck of the draw and I think Maruska did a great job of planning for us. But next time we will ask to be with people in our demographic as much as possible :-)" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari
"My Oct 2013 trip"
Temperatures were a challenge at times but the itinerary worked better than I ever expected and ticked every box!
Thank you." Read full review: 17 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
"Zambia is a unique and beautiful destination!"
What also made Zambia so unique was that there are sub species of giraffe and zebra that are only viewed in Zambia (and maybe Malawi). Somehow that made the experience that much more special.
I came back from my trip sad that I had to leave and immediately telling my friends on Facebook that they needed to put Zambia on their bucket list! (My images of all the wildlife I saw helped convince many that they too needed to go!)
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Your feedback form is critical if filled out by customers. I like that you follow up trips with a way to leave detailed feedback and I hope (and I believe) that you use the feedback to improve and update your info on the camps. I can't really think of any suggestion I can recommend to improve your system.
Exert Africa has been fantastic. I had no glitches with my arrangements and felt confident that if I did I'd know who/what to do, thanks to your information you provided." Read full review: 6 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zambia safari
"Nichols in Zambia"
As we were there in mid-October the temperatures were very high which would have deterred a lot of people, but it did mean that animals congregated around the water sources which certainly increased our sightings." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 13 on a Zambia safari