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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 201-210 of 343
Duration
Arrival date
Mrs & Mr O
California

"Excellent Guiding and Wildlife at Tafika"

4 nights Arrived 13 Oct 2013
"Tafika is owner-operated, and it shows--they care! Their operation is very professional, while conversations are very inclusive on any number of issues. John and Carol are attentive to every detail; their daughter Jenny is an absolute delight, adding a soft, more casual, relaxed persona--she's going to make a great addition to the management team; Brian offers great experience and advice (though, in the future, I'll make sure never again to say my husband is the primary photographer); Heather was very helpful, concerned everything was just right. There is a distinct effort made to ensure you enjoy a wide variety of experiences, while accommodating guests' individual preferences as best possible. Guests, guides, and dinner tables were rotated, so encouraging engagement of different people in the smaller groups.

We were given the family chalet; it's location and veranda overlooking the Luangwa River, with the never-ending bird and wildlife, was fabulous! The open-ended thatched chalet was our favorite of the trip, allowing any breeze to pass through, including lovebirds and weavers to share the second bedroom unused by us; the sausage tree overhead invited birds and elephants to visit, dropping flowers into the area leading to the sink. What a delight!

We enjoyed all the activities we partook: the Carmine bee-eater hide was well worth visiting, as was watching the morning arrival of the innumerable gray-crowned crane; a morning walk was educational (good thing we weren't responsible for lighting the fire, using wood and friction, for the tea-break), with many good animal sightings; game drives were very productive, especially the variety seen at night--a highlight was watching a serval successfully catch then eat a fish; but the overall highlight of our stay was the microlight flight--as close to enjoying the freedom of a bird as a human is able; John is an excellent pilot; the aerial view adds an eye-opening perspective; I cannot recommend it highly enough.

We certainly hope to be return visitors." See all these reviews: 16n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
B family
Switzerland

"Tafika beats all expectations"

2 nights Arrived 6 Oct 2013
"It's a great location, the Coppinger family are wonderful hosts and the staff is motivated and well trained. Lloyd our guide greeted us with cool drinks at Mfuwe airport and on the way back showed us wild dogs that he had spotted on the way to the airport. Never having seen any wild dogs in Africa before this was a stunning begingning. Could it go on this way? Yes it did. Our beautiful bush chalets, the quality of the food and the committment of our guide Lloyd and in the evening drives his spotter where just fantastic. It goes too far to number all species that we saw, we saw nearly everything! I

t's wonderful that Tafika also sponsors the village school, besides employing many people from Mkasanga village. We can fully recommend Tafika." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Harvey and Jo
Lewes

"The camp that has that extra something"

5 nights Arrived 5 Oct 2013
"Our third camp on this holiday, and (without taking anything away from the excellent time we had at the other two) the one that we put top of our list for a return visit if we can manage one in future. Partly that is to do with the additional activities on offer. The microlight flight at dawn costs extra, but boy was it worth it for both of us: words can't really capture it.

A short bike ride through the elephant zone near the camp costs nothing, but certainly adds spice. Back in Zambia for the third time, having worked there long ago, we would have reservations about a local village visit being a tourist show, were it not for the big support and involvement which John & Carol Coppinger have put into the school and the village: it was a lovely visit with a genuine response both ways.

The food was superb, and the direct contact with the family owning and running Tafika, and their employees who live in the village, the sense of continuity and the atmosphere it added, all gave something extra to our holiday that we valued and enjoyed, and we had a great five days." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Lisvane

"Great family, private camp."

4 nights Arrived 5 Oct 2013
"We last visited Tafika in 2007 and have also visited the three walking camps. Pleased to say the standards are still very high, particularly the catering which is second to none!

It was great to see wild dogs on three occasions and spend time observing behaviour amongst the pack.

since our last visit a number of guides have moved on or been re-assigned to the walking camps and it was good to see new faces and share their perspectives on flora and fauna although we missed the experience of the other guides." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr S
Hong Kong

"Tafika Camp Review"

3 nights Arrived 3 Oct 2013
"Tafika camp is an institution in the valley. Hosts John and Carol have made this valley and their camp operations part of the pulse of the region.

I loved going to the local village and school, the walking safaris with guide Brent were the best I had ever done anywhere in Africa. Tafika is for serious safari goers. The rooms are more rustic and basic and the overall feel of the camp is not about luxury but rather functionality.

The game sights were awesome, the guiding phenomenal. All in all a truly wonderful experience." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Dr & Mrs S
Cheshire

"Tafika review"

8 nights Arrived 21 Sep 2013
"Another most enjoyable stay at Tafika. Very welcoming, good guiding and excellent food.

Thanks again to the Coppingers (all three of you!), Bryan, Heather, Rhona and all the staff." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Dr & Mrs C
Henley

"Tafika 6th visit and as good as ever"

4 nights Arrived 21 Sep 2013
"they continue to make small improvements without changing the bushcamp atmosphere" 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 B
Dersingham

"Our second wonderful stay at Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 19 Sep 2013
"It was great to be welcomed back like old friends, and soon settled into the routine of the camp. The meals are superb with such a rich variety of dishes. There is no way you can remain hungry at Tafika! We had excellent game viewing, though just missed out on seeing wild dogs and lions - just the luck of the draw as they had been around both before and after our stay. The highlight for us was to sit and watch the hundreds of crowned cranes arriving at the salt springs area from their overnight roost.

This time we had asked to visit the local village and school which is supported by the Tafika Fund. We were guests of honour at the school, where we were entertained by children of all ages singing, dancing and reciting poems they had written. Wherever we went in the village we were surrounded by crowds of young children, all wanting to have their photo taken - and then to see the results on our cameras. A really worthwhile experience, and highly recommended." 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 P & Ms F
Stirling

"Tafika - Extraordinary"

3 nights Arrived 15 Sep 2013
"Located on the high bank of the Luangwa, with our open sided grass hut built around a living tree.

Elephants and hippos who wandered in and out of the camp. Walking safaris which begin with a canoe crossing of the river. Evening game drives had sunsets along the banks of the river amongst large flocks of Red-billed Quelea.

On our first night drive here we witnessed a face-off between two Leopards and a Hyena over the remains of an old kill. On one morning walking trip our guide (the long suffering [we did ask lots of questions!] but always courteous Brent Harris), along with scout Levy and tea-bearer Justin found the recent tracks of a Lion. We (they!) tracked her for two hours to a successful sighting along with two males. An amazing Birthday present for Mary, which the camp staff continued when she was treated to an african chorus of Happy Birthday and a specially decorated cake. I hadn't even mentioned this to anyone, which illustrates the care they take of their guests at Tafika." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Prof V & Mr T
Oxford

"Great start of our safari"

2 nights Arrived 15 Sep 2013
"Absolutely wonderful - a really stylish, friendly, well-run camp. The staff were all great and the Coppingers were extremely hospitable. Everything felt very relaxed. Fantastic food and lots of close encounters with elephants!

The microlight flight was an amazing experience!" See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 201-210 of 343
98%
343 reviews of Tafika by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
316
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0
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