Reviews of safaris to South Luangwa National Park
896 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include South Luangwa.
Mrs L
Tunbridge Wells
"It was all 'perfect'"
I visited Zambia between 19 Apr 2014 and 30 Apr 2014
"We have not been to Africa before and wanted to have a 'safari' experience which would fit alongside some charity work which part of the family were undertaking in Zambia, but where to go and what to see? We talked to ExpertAfrica at length about what we would like to see/do as part of our trip, ie a walking safari, drive safari, seeing the local community, not too commercialised etc. and the South Luangwa Park fitted all our needs.
Thank you for the time and effort you put into organising an excellent trip for us. We needed extra luggage to be transported and had particular sleeping requirements, and all these needs were met.
The organisation and attention to detail was second to none." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari
Thank you for the time and effort you put into organising an excellent trip for us. We needed extra luggage to be transported and had particular sleeping requirements, and all these needs were met.
The organisation and attention to detail was second to none." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 7 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Family L
Lagos
"Wonderful Safari in Botswana and Zambia"
I visited Zambia between 21 Mar 2014 and 31 Mar 2014
"This trip went extremely well.
All the details were attended to, flights were met, transfers occurred as expected and memories were made. We've lived in Nigeria for the past 8 months and so did not have extremely high expectations for successful logistics. This trip proved us wrong in the most wonderful way.
We loved this trip so much that we are planning a similar trip for next year's spring break.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Expert Africa delivered exactly what they promised and we were very happy with our experience. We have and will continue to recommend Expert Africa to friends who are planning trips to Africa." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zambia safari
All the details were attended to, flights were met, transfers occurred as expected and memories were made. We've lived in Nigeria for the past 8 months and so did not have extremely high expectations for successful logistics. This trip proved us wrong in the most wonderful way.
We loved this trip so much that we are planning a similar trip for next year's spring break.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Expert Africa delivered exactly what they promised and we were very happy with our experience. We have and will continue to recommend Expert Africa to friends who are planning trips to Africa." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W-J
UK
"Zambian River Journeys"
I visited Zambia between 16 Mar 2014 and 24 Mar 2014
"RPS camps are still some of our favourites and we had a great time courtesy of El Presidente Daudi, the team and our fellow travellers.
Getting to Zambia is now something of a real long-haul as the direct BA flight has gone - perhaps we will explore other options next time." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
Getting to Zambia is now something of a real long-haul as the direct BA flight has gone - perhaps we will explore other options next time." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Richard/Mary
England
"Januayr 2014"
I visited Zambia between 9 Jan 2014 and 25 Jan 2014
"See introductory notes. We enjoyed our stay and everything we desired was provided.
The guides are the best in Africa. We are safari experts having been at it for twenty years at least twice a year." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zambia safari
The guides are the best in Africa. We are safari experts having been at it for twenty years at least twice a year." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms E
Auckland, NZ
"My Nov 2013 trip"
I visited Zambia between 22 Nov 2013 and 27 Nov 2013
"I had a fantastic and meaningful experience in Zambia-my first trip to Africa as an adult and part of the success of this experience was a great safari trip."
Read full review: 5 nights in Africa; 5 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr M & Ms T
Ongar
"Our best safari so far."
I visited Zambia and 1 other country between 2 Nov 2013 and 13 Nov 2013
"The whole trip went very well. We enjoyed the hotels, camps and the game drives. The animals were varied and plentiful. The gudiling to a very high standard. Loved it.
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
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
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs LK
SW London
"My Oct 2013 trip"
I visited Zambia between 25 Oct 2013 and 2 Nov 2013
"This was a really super holiday.
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
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
Overall trip
Good
Ms C
Massachusetts
"Excellent experience in Zambia"
I visited Zambia between 21 Oct 2013 and 26 Oct 2013
"Expert Africa helped me plan a fabulous week of safari at Mfuwe National Park where I capped off a three week stay in Zambia, after visiting Lusaka and Livingstone, and staying in an Eastern Province village with U.S. Peace Corps volunteers. It was a perfect finale.
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
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
Overall trip
Excellent
Cj & Gav
NZ
"Incredible. We are hooked on Africa"
I visited Zambia and 1 other country between 21 Oct 2013 and 4 Nov 2013
"Thank you Expert Africa, especially Maruska, for making our honeymoon such a dream.
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
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
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms G
Washington
"Zambia is a unique and beautiful destination!"
I visited Zambia between 12 Oct 2013 and 18 Oct 2013
"What I wanted in a safari was density and variety of wildlife without lots of other people around. It's a very rare place indeed that can meet these requests. Zambia exceeded my expectations! I'm glad I went at the end of the dry season so that the animals were easier to view due to lack of vegetation as well as being in more concentrated numbers due to limited water sources.
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
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
Overall trip
Excellent
896
reviews of South Luangwa by travellers since August 2007
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