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Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika

Reviews of Tafika

Wildlife sightings and reviews

318 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, 78 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Tafika.
Lion

87% success

Leopard

92% success

Wild dog

45% success

Hippo

100% success

Giraffe

99% success

Zebra

99% success

Elephant

97% success

Buffalo

92% success

Spotted Hyena

91% success

Wildebeest

49% success

Eland

11% success

Roan antelope

3% success

Sable antelope

2% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 271-280 of 318
Duration
Arrival date
Mr & Mrs MB
Farnham

"Disappointing stay at Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 13 Sep 2009
"Our stay at this camp followed Nkwali where we were made to feel so special so we came down to earth with a bump. Tired, stressed, overworked guides and staff did not add to the ambience in anyway. Cost cutting was very much in evidence. The cheapest wine possible (the red came out of a box) almost undrinkable. Good food at lunchtime but very disappointing in the evening. The camp is predominantly for those who only stay one night and then do a walking safari. Unfortunatly, we were booked in for three. The guides work the way they want and make no allowances. One example, the walking safari each morning starts at 6 am and finishes at 11 am with a break for coffee. One couple asked if it could be shortened as they were not up to it's lengh. It was their last camp and were returning home afterwards. Their request was given a blunt no.

Coincidently, we met a guide who had worked at Tafika and he agreed that time off was a big issue for the staff. This is no excuse when they are charging such high prices. Expert Africa is their biggest customer and I can only think they behave differently when their staff stay at the camp.

We were not introduced to any staff other than the guides, Heather the hostess and Rona the caterer. Everyone seemed on edge and when Carol and John were present you could cut the atmosphere with a knife. I would not recommend this camp when there are so many others to choose from." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Terrible
Activities:
Poor
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs S
Lymington

"Tafika review"

3 nights Arrived 11 Sep 2009
"Again a first rate and very professionally run camp. However our least favourite as the atmosphere was more formal.

The relationship between owners and senior staff and general staff quite formal. Staff did not appear to be encouraged to interact with guests and as a result were more distant and seemed content." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

"great return visit"

3 nights Arrived 8 Sep 2009
"lovely to see the team again.

We repeated last year's trip and loved every minute." 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 P
Wales

"Tafika Review"

6 nights Arrived 29 Aug 2009
"Microlight flight was a highlight - something very different to do, and we both did this. We went on a morning walk - we had to be careful where we put our feet, but did see some game.

I found that we saw a lot more game from the vehicle. We had great leopard sightings - virtually a different leopard every day!

We also saw a pennant-winged nightjar, first sighting of the season." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Dr R
Birmingham

"Tafika review"

4 nights Arrived 26 Aug 2009
"Excellent guiding from the manager Bryan
Very good for photography with good advice from guide
Excellent accomodation
Superb food, especially lunch
Excellent game...we saw 4 leopard in approximately 24 hours. In the 2 1/2 days before we arrived, there had been 17 leopard seen! We also had good lion sightings as well as wild dog on the hunt...a memorable experience. Very good close up experiences of elephant, including in camp. Also lots of giraffe around.
Another highlight was watching 2-300 crowned cranes coming in to land in the morning
Highly recommended and one of the best experiences we have ever had in sub Saharan Africa
The absolute highlight however was the Microlighting with the owner John Coppinger. This is an absolute MUST DO. $110 for 15 minutes. A bargain" 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 S
Italy

"Tafika review"

2 nights Arrived 10 Aug 2009
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

"Tafika review"

3 nights Arrived 2 Aug 2009
"Arrangements ran smoothly, very welcoming atmosphere, despite the camp being full. We were lucky enough to see a lion kill and a leopard on the first evening during a drive with John Coppinger.

Food was of a very high standard, as was the accomodation. Microlight flight outstanding.

Guides (Alex) took a specific interest in what we wanted to see, and were extremely knowledgeable. We liked the way that there was a different "host" for each meal.

Would be very happy to return/recommend Tafika & Remote Africa" 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 V
Coulsdon

"Tafika review"

3 nights Arrived 1 Aug 2009
"Heather greeted us as we arrived and gave us a welcoming G&T after our journey. This camp is very different to the Kafue camps but very comfortable with lovely huts and facililties. Again, on an absolutely idyllic site, with monkeys and antelope making siesta time too interesting to siesta.

The microlight trip is an absulute must, I felt very safe with John and really enjoyed the birds eye view of places I would see later on. Carol and John make our stay there very comfortable with nothing too much trouble, even organising us to meet up with a friend we had made in Kafue. Again, lovely food and fabulous bread thanks to Rhona's expertise.

Our guide Alex was very knowledgeable about plants and animals but couldn 't give me information about the geology of the springs and delta. We really enjoyed our 2 day stay here and would have liked to stay longer!" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia; 3n in Botswana
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs P
Germany

"Tafika: feel the heartbeat ot the valley!"

3 nights Arrived 30 Jul 2009
"Tafika offers more than enough comfort for a lengthy stay but retains a real bushcamp intimacy. High standards are maintained across all aspects of your stay, but above all this is an operation for people serious about understanding the wildlife and ecology of the valley. Remote Africa provide a very exclusive experience, in 7 days (four walking) we encountered no one from another camp.

Make no mistake, this is not a 'fringe' camp, sightings here were spectacular: a leopard hotspot; lion kill; massed buffalo. Not only is the standard of guiding excellent, but there is a professionalism that manages the sensitivites of the bush with those of the client.

For a truly wonderful package make sure you take in the lovely riverine walks, a sunrise microlight flight with John Coppinger, and a visit to the local village." 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 B
Liverpool

"Friendliest place I've ever visited"

2 nights Arrived 21 Jul 2009
"From the moment I arrived in Mfuwe airport until I returned there I had the most fantastic experience. Nothing was any trouble for the staff and their friendly, helpful attitude made me feel that I was the most important person at the camp." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 271-280 of 318
98%
318 reviews of Tafika by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
294
21
2
1
0
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Other lodges in South Luangwa National Park

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Nkwali

Nkwali

On the banks of the Luangwa River, with its own access to the national park, the intimate Nkwali is open year round.


96% (238 reviews)
Kaingo Camp

Kaingo Camp

Small and owner-run, the riverside Kaingo occupies a a quiet but excellent game area, with a series of wildlife hides and a focus on photography.


97% (213 reviews)
Nsefu

Nsefu

One of the Luangwa's oldest camps, Nsefu is a great safari camp in a remote, beautiful and game-rich location with top-rate guiding.


98% (191 reviews)
Tena Tena

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One of the Luangwa's best camps, in a beautiful, remote bush location, Tena Tena is very small, exceedingly well-run and has top-rate guiding.


95% (154 reviews)
Mwamba Bushcamp

Mwamba Bushcamp

Small, remote and owner-run, Mwamba offers first-class walking, 4WD safari drives and superb hides, with excellent guides and a real bush feel.


99% (152 reviews)
Chikoko Tree Camp

Chikoko Tree Camp

Chikoko Tree Camp is an excellent small, rustic bushcamp that concentrates on walking safaris, and is run by a top-quality operation.


98% (119 reviews)
Big Lagoon Camp

Big Lagoon Camp

Big Lagoon Camp is a great little rustic bushcamp built to high standards that focuses on excellent walking safaris, with the emphasis on top wildlife guides.


98% (93 reviews)
Kapani Lodge

Kapani Lodge

Kapani Lodge is now the main office base for Norman Carr Safaris, one of the Luangwa's oldest safari operations.


95% (78 reviews)
Flatdogs Camp

Flatdogs Camp

A relatively big safari camp, Flatdogs offers value for money with great guiding and good food in a comfortable, relaxed setting.


98% (74 reviews)
Luangwa River Camp

Luangwa River Camp

Luangwa River Lodge is a small and consciously stylish lodge in the Mfuwe area, overlooking the Luangwa River and the South Luangwa National Park beyond – an area renowned for great game.


96% (73 reviews)
Mchenja Bushcamp

Mchenja Bushcamp

Set in a shady ebony grove on the banks of the Luangwa, Mchenja is a smart tented bushcamp. It combines well with Kakuli and Nsolo – its sister camps with a focus on walking safaris.


99% (68 reviews)
Kakuli Bushcamp

Kakuli Bushcamp

Beside the Luangwa River, Kakuli is a comfortable tented bushcamp offering 4WD safaris and walking safaris – the best of which are camp-to-camp walks linking Kakuli with its nearby sister camps.


97% (65 reviews)
Nsolo Bushcamp

Nsolo Bushcamp

Nsolo is a small, comfortable bushcamp overlooking one or two pools in the usually dry Luwi riverbed. It concentrates on walking safaris in an interesting and diverse area, led by a knowledgeable guide.


97% (54 reviews)
Kafunta River Lodge

Kafunta River Lodge

Kafunta is a laid-back, friendly and good-value lodge on the outskirts of South Luangwa National Park.


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Luwi Bushcamp

Luwi Bushcamp

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Robin Pope Safaris bush-camp

Robin Pope bush-camp

RPS bushcamping in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia


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Lion Camp

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94% (25 reviews)
Robin Pope Safaris Mobile Safari Camp

Robin Pope mobile

RPS mobile safari camps are at the heart of their set-itinerary walking safaris in South Luangwa National Park, which start and finish at a permanent camp.


98% (24 reviews)
Puku Ridge

Puku Ridge

Puku Ridge is a luxurious designer camp set in a stunning location, high on a hill overlooking a floodplain within South Luangwa. Explore from here on 4WD safaris and walks.


96% (21 reviews)
Kapamba Bushcamp

Kapamba Bushcamp

In the remote far south of South Luangwa National Park, Kapamba is a small and very comfortable bushcamp offering good walks and game drives.


95% (20 reviews)
Mfuwe Lodge

Mfuwe Lodge

In a game-rich area close to the South Luangwa’s main Mfuwe Gate, Mfuwe Lodge is relatively large by park standards, but it’s stylish, modern and family friendly.


94% (18 reviews)
Kuyenda Bushcamp

Kuyenda Bushcamp

Kuyenda Bushcamp is a classic bushcamp with particularly delightful hosts and offers top-class walking safaris in South Luangwa National Park.


99% (16 reviews)
Luangwa Safari House

Luangwa Safari House

Luangwa Safari House is a vast and very smart four-bedroom house specifically designed for families and small groups, and offering an exclusive and flexible safari experience.


100% (14 reviews)
Three Rivers Camp

Three Rivers Camp

In the remote far south of South Luangwa National Park, Three Rivers Lodge sits at the confluence of three of the valleys rivers.


95% (13 reviews)
Island Bush Camp

Island Bush Camp

Island Bushcamp is a good-value, rustic, walking-only camp, in arguably one of the most remote parts of the South Luangwa, well away from all other camps.


100% (13 reviews)
Chinzombo

Chinzombo

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98% (13 reviews)
Bilimungwe Bushcamp

Bilimungwe Bushcamp

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95% (12 reviews)
Chindeni

Chindeni

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97% (12 reviews)
Robin's House

Robin's House

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95% (11 reviews)
Kawaza Village

Kawaza Village

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95% (11 reviews)
Chamilandu Bushcamp

Chamilandu Bushcamp

A comfortable little bushcamp, Chamilandu has a picturesque setting by the Luangwa River, in an area with a range of habitats to explore on foot and by 4WD.


100% (5 reviews)
Mwamba Camp-out

Mwamba Camp-out

The Mwamba-Camp Out allows you to have an incredibly adventurous night in the bush, sleeping under mosquito nets with activities led by some of the best guides in Zambia.


92% (5 reviews)
Zungulila

Zungulila

Zungulila is a small, comfortable tented bushcamp with an emphasis on walking safaris, in the remote southern section of the South Luangwa.


93% (3 reviews)
Shawa Luangwa Camp

Shawa Luangwa

Opened in June 2021, Shawa Luangwa Camp is a small, intimate and rustic camp, with a good location in a remote section of the South Luangwa National Park.


93% (3 reviews)
Chichele Presidential Lodge

Chichele Lodge

Currently undergoing renovations, Chichele Presidential Lodge stands high within the park, with superb views, and is due to reopen in late 2022.


100% (1 review)
Luwi Riverbed Sleepout

Luwi Riverbed Sleepout

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100% (1 review)
Mapazi Camp

Mapazi Camp

Mapazi Camp is a basic safari camp in the far north of the South Luangwa, with walking safaris led by renowned guide Deb Tittle.


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Chikunto Safari Lodge

Chikunto

Chikunto Safari Lodge is a more traditional property in the South Luangwa National Park, sitting on a peninsula of land created by the meandering Luangwa River.


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