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Tafika
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Tafika
Tafika

Reviews of Tafika

Wildlife sightings and reviews

343 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Tafika and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in May-2018, 100 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Tafika.
Lion

85% success

Leopard

92% success

Wild dog

41% success

Hippo

100% success

Zebra

99% success

Giraffe

99% success

Elephant

98% success

Buffalo

93% success

Spotted Hyena

91% success

Wildebeest

46% success

Eland

9% success

Roan antelope

3% success

Sable antelope

1% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 191-200 of 343
Duration
Arrival date
Miss P
London

"3rd visit, still awesome"

3 nights Arrived 7 Jun 2014
"They moved my walking days to coincide with another group, so I had 2 nights at Tafika before the walking camps and one after, which was fine.

This was my third visit to Tafika, and as ever the hospitality, guiding, food, rooms, and everything really was excellent. I love the family atmosphere, pets and all, of this place. It was lovely to see Jenny taking her place in the family business, and maybe look forward to being guided by her next visit now she has passed her exams........

The only minor gripe, and not sure if this should go under the Tafika review or the walking camps review, is that at the walking camps the noise from the microlight is quite audible which slightly spoils the wilderness feel. There isn't much that can be done about the noise level, but on my last morning walking back from Crocodile it was particularly noticeable as I think they were taking 7 people up. I think they need to think about limiting the number of flights in one morning, to minimise the disturbance at the walking camps." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs M
Sudbury

"Tafika review"

2 nights Arrived 7 Jun 2014
"Excellent accommodations, superior service, warm and informative staff.

Really stood out as first class for those really interested in experiencing the true Africa" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Mr D & Ms Z
NJ

"A truly marvelous experience at Tafika!"

3 nights Arrived 3 Jun 2014
"Tafika was the best. We really liked the accommodations. The grass chalets were very comfortable and fun.

The entire staff were professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. They made our stay at Tafika special. We would like to mention each by name but there were so many and we would not like to omit someone due to our poor memory. We like that we had several different guides. Each brought his own unique perspective to the game drives and walking safaris. Their knowledge and passion for their work made our experience the best ever!

The food at Tafika was as good or better then most of the best restaurants to which we've been. Rona and her staff worked magic in their kitchen.

Lena enjoyed the microlight flight so much that she did it twice!

John and Carol run a very smooth and efficient operation. Quite impressive! We also appreciated how much they assist and support the local village and its people." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Glos

"A warm welcome at Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 31 May 2014
"Lovely location. Staff very welcoming.

We were lucky enough to be the only guests during our stay and were well looked after." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs T
Reading

"Terrific Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 17 May 2014
"From arrival to departure at Tafika we were made to feel totally at home and part of the family. The location is superb and it is hard to think of anything that can be better than dinner under the stars on the banks of the Luangwa river listening to the sound of hipos and lions.

We were very lucky to be there at the beginning of the season and although the animals were a little shy it made it even more exciting to find them. The walking safari with Alex was great and the sight and sound of yellow billed storks nesting was amazing.
We enjoyed getting to know our guide Lloyd who taught us so much and always managed to find the unexpected.

The microlight flight with John is not to be missed and gives a whole new view of the park.

Tafika is a special place run by very special people and we hope to be able to return again." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
The S party
Devon

"An experience of all that is"

3 nights Arrived 7 May 2014
"This place is wonderful, it's location gives one an idea of all that is truly wild in Africa. We were lucky to arrive at the start of the season and had the place almost to ourselves. Except that is, for the lovely staff who are a credit to the family owners.

John and Carol had to be at a Trade Fair for much of our stay but we were left in the capable hands of Heather, Rhona and their daughter Jenny. It leaves you feeling that you have been guests in a family home which is very special. We were lucky enough to see five leopards and enjoyed our game walk with Alex which involved a python appearing as we stopped to look at a bird's nest on the ground. The night drives are fabulous and new to us and they extend the number of sightings to nocturnal animals. Our guide was very knowledgeable and as delighted as we were with our large animal sightings and not forgetting the smallest elephant shrew and chameleon.

It was lovely to have our delicious meals with members of the family and staff and were most impressed with the food especially the salad and vegetables grown on the site. One meal was interrupted by a hippo taking out some of the newly erected fence around the compound!

We would be very happy to return one day and look forward to doing just that." See all these reviews: 6n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr M & Ms T
Ongar

"A real back to nature experience - brilliant"

3 nights Arrived 5 Nov 2013
"The hospitality shown by the family and the team was great. The team operated very professionally and efficiently to provide a great overall safari experience.

The rooms are very rustic but comfortable and fully acceptable. Our only comment would be that compared to the other camps the beds had more insect life that needed clearing out before sleeping commenced!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs LK
SW London

"Amazing time at Tafika"

2 nights Arrived 28 Oct 2013
"We had a wonderful stay at Tafika. The camp is situated about 5 minutes outside the park, but this is not an issue, as the bush and animals continue beyond the gate. In spite of it being at the end of the dry season (late October/early November) there was a lot more water around than we had expected and Tafika has an attractive outlook over a river/riverbed.

The rooms are made of straw and open to the air at the bathroom end. This does allow insects etc quite easy access (easier than in a netted tent), although mosquito nets around the beds work well at night. We weren't troubled by this, but others should perhaps be aware. Otherwise, clean sheets, well equipped and everything worked well.

We were the only guests staying at the time and the Copinger family and others invoked were completely welcoming and charming - we even joined in the daughter's birthday celebrations. So nice to be hosted by Zambians with genuine long-standing knowledge of the country.

The microlite flight is an absolute must-do: you should have complete confidence in John as a pilot, he is very experienced and careful.

The guiding was excellent (Brian, part owner and …). Leopards all over the place. The pack of 19 wild dogs on the salt pans were mesmerising the BBC were filming Waiting for the rains next door to us!" See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs N
London

"Nichols at Tafika"

2 nights Arrived 16 Oct 2013
"This was the largest of the four camps we stayed at and as it was the last camp on our itinerary at I was slightly concerned that it might be an anti-climax to the more intimate camps that we'd already stayed in. I need not have worried. The camp faces onto the river which ensures that a large variety of wildlife is always present. And far from the size of the camp deterring the animals, I was awoken during my first night by elephants browsing on the tree above our bathroom.

The walks and drives were largely along the river which ensured that we saw game in abundance, including large herds of buffalo and sizeable herds of elephant." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms G
Washington

"Wildlife Extravaganza!"

3 nights Arrived 15 Oct 2013
"Tafika is the place to go if you want to see all that Zambia has to offer as far as wildlife variety. It's absolutely amazing how much you see! Healthy lion prides, Cape Buffalo, Crawshay's zebra, Thornicroft zebras, civet, leopard, Elephant shrew, Pel's owl, Carmine Bee Eaters, Lilac Breasted Roller,Tawny Eagle, Fish Eagle, spotted hyena, even wildebeast (which have not been known to be seen much in this region). The list goes on! -I saw all of this and more while there for just 3 nights! An absolutely amazing experience!

What's also amazing is the food! It's all catered and varied each day. I never had a bad meal while there.

One thing to know about this camp is that the sleeping huts are open to the outdoors. This is both a plus and can be for some a negative. What I mean is that I love how much the hut is a part of the environment. What was sometimes a distraction was the insects. For most I'm sure this is not a concern in the least, but it's worth mentioning in case you are like me and not necessarily used to sleeping so closely with the smaller inhabitants of the park! There is definitely no health concerns to worry about though. You sleep with a mosquito net and there's bug spray on hand to use as well. I think it's just good to be aware ahead of time so you know what to expect! And it certainly didn't hinder my experience in the least! They were, in fact, very accommodating to my concerns!

You simply cannot beat the wildlife viewing while at Tafika. What's also nice is that you hardly run in to other vehicles while on drives! You really get the sense that you have the whole park to yourself!

The guides are absolutely top notch. Their level of expertise and training far surpasses what's needed to be a guide there. It's obvious this is a lifestyle choice for them and that they really love their job and the wildlife their showing you!

A fantastic camp that you will be sad to leave at the end of your stay!" See all these reviews: 6n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 191-200 of 343
98%
343 reviews of Tafika by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
316
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