Reviews of safaris to South Luangwa National Park
896 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include South Luangwa.
Dr & Mrs C
Henley
"my sep 13 trip"
I visited Zambia between 20 Sep 2013 and 5 Oct 2013
"another fine trip and Shiwa was an excellent add-on as so different.
Please can we talk about 2014 possibilities especially about some info we have on Zimbabwe and Kafue from other guests we met." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
Please can we talk about 2014 possibilities especially about some info we have on Zimbabwe and Kafue from other guests we met." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Miss M
Maidstone
"My Sep 2013 trip"
I visited Zambia between 18 Sep 2013 and 28 Sep 2013
"As you will have gathered we had a fantastic trip thanks to Expert Africa and NCS.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It's probably worth clarifying to clients about the seating in the jeeps so they know what to expect ie. if someone has to sit in the middle or not. Also we requested that the canopy be removed on one of the jeeps at Mchenja so that we could have a better upward view of birds and leopards in trees! This they did for us quite happily. It is worth people being aware of the option of an 'open' jeep which we managed to have throughout.
Just to mention re your staff - Ellie Dunkels was very helpful when Claire was not available. NCS seemed to think highly of Chris, Claire and Ellie." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
It's probably worth clarifying to clients about the seating in the jeeps so they know what to expect ie. if someone has to sit in the middle or not. Also we requested that the canopy be removed on one of the jeeps at Mchenja so that we could have a better upward view of birds and leopards in trees! This they did for us quite happily. It is worth people being aware of the option of an 'open' jeep which we managed to have throughout.
Just to mention re your staff - Ellie Dunkels was very helpful when Claire was not available. NCS seemed to think highly of Chris, Claire and Ellie." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Dersingham
"South Luangwa re-visited"
I visited Zambia between 18 Sep 2013 and 30 Sep 2013
"This was the second time we had visited Zambia. We liked our first trip two years ago so much that we returned to exactly the same camps, changing only the order in which we visited them. In all our travels this is the first time that we have ever done that, and we were not disappointed.
Of course we saw many of the same animals as before, but every encounter is different, and we now have even more precious memories and photographs." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari
Of course we saw many of the same animals as before, but every encounter is different, and we now have even more precious memories and photographs." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr & Mrs S
Cheshire
"My Sep 2013 trip"
I visited Zambia between 15 Sep 2013 and 29 Sep 2013
"Trip was very enjoyable (as expected, since we've been to these camps before). Once again, having assistance through immigration and with ground transport was very helpful and time saving."
Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs R
Aberdeen
"My Sep 2013 trip"
I visited Zambia between 14 Sep 2013 and 30 Sep 2013
"Ellie yet again organised a great holiday, everything went like clockwork. The camps were all fantastic and met our requirements perfectly. We are not sure how she managed to organise three different Aardvark sitings but we are glad she did. The title Expert Africa justified comletely.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Pangolin sightings next time" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Zambia safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Pangolin sightings next time" Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs G
Devon
"Goodfellow/Williams Trip Sep 2013"
I visited Zambia between 13 Sep 2013 and 26 Sep 2013
"This trip exceeded our expectations in all respects.
From initial contact with Expert Africa to the conclusion, all details were well and timely arranged and we were kept informed along the way of all matters. At each "choke point" where things might have gone wrong i.e. flights with Proflight, the arrangements worked without a hitch. Transfers between camps occurred seamlessly, and we were expected at each venue.
Congratulations, therefore, to the Expert Africa team for putting together the trip.
The business of tipping we found irksome. At some stages guides and game guards changed and were missed. At others, notably Chongwe, there were so many for the different activities that we lost count. We ended by giving a sum of money to one of the staff at Chongwe and asked that it be distributed fairly among the guides, while also putting money in the tip box. However fair one tries to be, there is always the nagging doubt that some deserving soul has been missed. You ask for money for a donation of £20 to offset carbon emissions from the flights ( for which we have already contributed over £400 for our flights from London , grr), so perhaps there could be a donation similarly for the staff ?.
Throughout the trip the staff were most helpful, courteous, obliging, and knowledgeable and could not be faulted.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Perhaps see comment above re tipping, but otherwise no, we think you are a good organisation with whom we would travel again and which we would recommend to friends.
Thank you." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
From initial contact with Expert Africa to the conclusion, all details were well and timely arranged and we were kept informed along the way of all matters. At each "choke point" where things might have gone wrong i.e. flights with Proflight, the arrangements worked without a hitch. Transfers between camps occurred seamlessly, and we were expected at each venue.
Congratulations, therefore, to the Expert Africa team for putting together the trip.
The business of tipping we found irksome. At some stages guides and game guards changed and were missed. At others, notably Chongwe, there were so many for the different activities that we lost count. We ended by giving a sum of money to one of the staff at Chongwe and asked that it be distributed fairly among the guides, while also putting money in the tip box. However fair one tries to be, there is always the nagging doubt that some deserving soul has been missed. You ask for money for a donation of £20 to offset carbon emissions from the flights ( for which we have already contributed over £400 for our flights from London , grr), so perhaps there could be a donation similarly for the staff ?.
Throughout the trip the staff were most helpful, courteous, obliging, and knowledgeable and could not be faulted.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Perhaps see comment above re tipping, but otherwise no, we think you are a good organisation with whom we would travel again and which we would recommend to friends.
Thank you." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Prof V & Mr T
Oxford
"Superb holiday!"
I visited Zambia between 13 Sep 2013 and 26 Sep 2013
"Just amazing! The time spent with Remote Africa (Tafika, Chikoko, Crocodile) was the best, but the other camps were also great.
Fantastic service and stunning animals." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
Fantastic service and stunning animals." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr P & Ms F
Stirling
"Mary's Birthday safari"
I visited Zambia between 11 Sep 2013 and 21 Sep 2013
"I booked this trip as a Birthday treat for my partner. I wanted it to be spectactular, exciting, interesting, and memorable. It was all of those things and more.
Claire Scott listened to my wishlist and produced an itinerary which allowed us to see more than we thought possible in the limited time we had available.
One of the reasons I chose Expert Africa was I wanted someone else to do the organising this time, so as not to have to worry about connections bookings etc. Well, it certainly was properly organised. We even had someone meet us BEFORE passport control in Lusaka who organised our visas for us, and we didn't have a raise a finger on our own behalf for the whole trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really, but thanks to Claire for not laughing when I told her how much I expected to pay for the trip! ;)" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Claire Scott listened to my wishlist and produced an itinerary which allowed us to see more than we thought possible in the limited time we had available.
One of the reasons I chose Expert Africa was I wanted someone else to do the organising this time, so as not to have to worry about connections bookings etc. Well, it certainly was properly organised. We even had someone meet us BEFORE passport control in Lusaka who organised our visas for us, and we didn't have a raise a finger on our own behalf for the whole trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not really, but thanks to Claire for not laughing when I told her how much I expected to pay for the trip! ;)" Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr F & Mrs B
Dorset
"wonderful experiences enhanced by Expert Afr"
I visited Zambia between 9 Sep 2013 and 19 Sep 2013
"The arrangements from the outset were carefully researched, and you put together a fairly complex itinerary in which we tried to fill time between BA flights in and out of Lusaka on the available days. It is unfortunate that no longer will BA fly Lusaka direct.
For us Premium Economy was an advantage, though others may well find economy is satisfactory.
Each of the arrivals, transfers and departures was eased by the reps involved, looking out for us, and aware of our plan ahead.
The choice of game parks was excellent for us and staff were outstanding. Good value for money compared with our experience of two hotels. The small numbers at Lodges made a better holiday of it, and contact with staff was informal, informative and careful attention was given to individuals. So often a hotel visit is a commercial exercise, Lodges at once suggest they are there for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I do not recall seeing a brochure, wish I had one, but might have passed it to another member of our party of four, but we could not find it. The Bradt guide was an excellent companion in advance, and will be a fine reference book.
I could have done with more detail in breakdown in price. After an estimate we were shown minor differences, as adjustments were made. If I had done everything myself I may have saved some money, but your price gave us the confidence of expertise and back up that was essential for a trip of this complexity not least since our combined age is over 320! We were at no time anxious about planning or arrangements as they happened without problems, and with the assistance we anticipated at every stage." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
For us Premium Economy was an advantage, though others may well find economy is satisfactory.
Each of the arrivals, transfers and departures was eased by the reps involved, looking out for us, and aware of our plan ahead.
The choice of game parks was excellent for us and staff were outstanding. Good value for money compared with our experience of two hotels. The small numbers at Lodges made a better holiday of it, and contact with staff was informal, informative and careful attention was given to individuals. So often a hotel visit is a commercial exercise, Lodges at once suggest they are there for us.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
I do not recall seeing a brochure, wish I had one, but might have passed it to another member of our party of four, but we could not find it. The Bradt guide was an excellent companion in advance, and will be a fine reference book.
I could have done with more detail in breakdown in price. After an estimate we were shown minor differences, as adjustments were made. If I had done everything myself I may have saved some money, but your price gave us the confidence of expertise and back up that was essential for a trip of this complexity not least since our combined age is over 320! We were at no time anxious about planning or arrangements as they happened without problems, and with the assistance we anticipated at every stage." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Dr G & Dr E
UK
"fabulous return to zambia"
I visited Zambia between 6 Sep 2013 and 19 Sep 2013
"fabulous trip. interesting to see how things were different to 2009. Much drier and hotter in both parks.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
better access to information regarding special offers" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
better access to information regarding special offers" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Zambia safari
Overall trip
Excellent
896
reviews of South Luangwa by travellers since August 2007
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