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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 71-80 of 343
Duration
Arrival date
Ms G
Florida

"Great hospitality in a remote, rustic setting"

4 nights Arrived 21 Oct 2020
"Tafika seemed to grow on me with each successive day. Hosts and staff were kind, attentive and very accommodating. Game drives covered a variety terrain. My knowledgeable guide (Amon) worked diligently in my behalf. (Alas, the wild dogs eluded us.) We did see a variety of wildlife and I was able to benefit from his expertise. In addition to night and day game drives, I went on a walking Safari. We saw leopard on foot, something not typically encountered. Cape Buffalo are definitely more intimidating at eye level! Anyone visiting the area should not pass up this opportunity.

While not a "foodie", I must mention that meals at this camp are exceptional. The hosts have an organic garden. Food is plentiful, diverse and incorporate a variety of cultural influences.

During my stay, I was able to spend a few hours at the nearby village. I toured the school, listened to the church choir and even got to meet some locale dignitaries. Everyone was extremely warm and welcoming. Thanks to all for your efforts to make my stay a memorable one." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mrs M & Mr D
Germany

"Tafika review"

4 nights Arrived 1 Oct 2020
"Tafika was a real highlight. From the moment we arrived, it really felt like visiting friends & family. The hospitality of the Coppinger family was amazing. The camp has been completely refurbished recently and looked top-notch. We loved the fact that it integrated so well into the natural habitat using all local materials. The hides for the carmine bee-eaters and the elephants were much fun too – great for photographers. Our guide Makupa was reading the bush like the bible ! We spotted 8 leopards of which some up in trees 😊. In addition to other game seen on other safaris, we spotted for the first time the Thornicroft giraffe, the bushy tail & white tail mongoose, civets and many many genets ! The area is absolutely stunning – we loved it for its remoteness. Basically there was only one vehicle besides ours out in the area. What a luxury !" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

8 sightings

Lion

4 sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr R.
Cowbridge

"Walking safari from Tafika Camp"

1 night Arrived 9 Oct 2019
"Again, having experienced both Chikoko and Crocodile camps, and knowing that Tafika was the main camp we were still overwhelmed by the attention to detail, the standard of the accommodation, meals etc and the personal welcome by the owners.

The location was fantastic and it was lovely seeing elephants cooling themselves off right outside the compound and also being free to wander around inside. We were pleased to be able to have the option of a night drive and another walk in the bush.

The night drive was very exciting and the whole experience enhanced by the highly qualified and experienced guide and ranger" See all these reviews: 5n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr & Mrs B & A
UK

"Tafika Camp"

3 nights Arrived 1 Oct 2019
"Excellent location, excellent guiding. Again being outside the park was not a problem. Indeed several sightings were outside the park.

Over attentive service for a bush camp." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Buffalo

5 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Spotted Hyena

2 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Paul
North Yorkshire

"As wonderful as first visit"

6 nights Arrived 29 Sep 2019
"This camp is astounding in its services, guiding and friendliness.

Feel like part of a family and all staff are so supportive and caring.

Animals habituated to people and vehicles so easy to approach and photograph but park remains quiet with very few vehicles." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mrs S.
Zürich

"Warm welcome to a great Safari experience "

3 nights Arrived 7 Sep 2019
"We‘ve stayed at Tafika before - nothing changed much to our great pleasure.
The staff is very well trained, knowledgeable and helpful. Animals are plenty, Elephants and Hippos sometimes roam through the Camp but no need to worry as there is always somebody there to look out for you.
My husband enjoyed the bike ride with John - very different to home and so many interesting explanations and hints. He joined us then for the sun downer, John did take care that someone else rode the bike back to Tafika" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia; 6n in Malawi
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

8 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

3 sightings

Spotted Hyena

6 sightings

Wildebeest

1 sighting

Zebra

10 sightings

The A team
London

"Tafika review"

2 nights Arrived 3 Aug 2019
"We were in the family suite which was simply fabulous. Great location and the food and our hosts were superb." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

4 sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

1 sighting

Spotted Hyena

2 sightings

Zebra

2 sightings

Two Travellers
UK

"Tafika review"

3 nights Arrived 22 Jul 2019
"We really enjoyed our stay at Tafika.

The location right on the river was fantastic and we found the atmosphere wonderfully relaxed and welcoming, due in no small part to the warm and inclusive hosting of Carol and John and the unfailing patience and empathy of the delightful Michele. It was also great to be assigned the family chalet, which seemed perhaps a bit more secluded than some of the other rooms and had the added amazing bonus of having its own hide.

Although we initially anticipated doing some walking at Tafika we actually ended up focusing on game drives, but felt that this was OK given that our other Remote Africa camps focused on walking. That said, and knowing all too well that nothing on safari can ever be guaranteed, we felt that sightings on game drives could be a little 'stop-start' and that a visit perhaps slightly later in the season might have resulted in the game being a bit more concentrated? The sense of exclusivity was very nice however and we barely encountered another vehicle." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
E Sussex

"Lovely Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 17 Jul 2019
"This was our third visit to Tafika and was every bit as good as the previous visits.

Everyone involved in the running of Tafika from the Bosses to the night watchmen are very cheerful and helpful.

A visit to South Luangwa would not be the same with out a visit to Tafika." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

3 sightings

Eland

1 sighting

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

6 sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Spotted Hyena

10 sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Zebra

2 sightings

D & S
NZ

"A charming institution"

2 nights Arrived 7 Jul 2019
"The drive in to Tafika, through the Game Reserve and then the National Park, was depressing because of the amount of burnt land, and then the numbers of dead mopane trees standing. But Tafika itself is a vibrant and attractive camp, obviously an institution of long standing. It glories in the fresh food from its gardens and the obvious long-term family care it embodies, and has many very happy repeat visitors, though for us it felt a little large and busy,

Location:
Tafika's gardens are possible because it is not actually in the National Park, but it feels as if it is, with a beautiful site on the bank of the Luangwa River and immediate access to the wildlife world.

Accommodation:
The rooms are solid, beautifully detailed and comfortable, though a little enclosed at night for our taste.

Activities;
The game drives were very good, with plenty of sightings of birds, elephant, bushbuck, hippos, crocodiles, baboons, leopards, big herds of buffalo, giraffes, zebra. Night drives showed us hyenas ( in pairs rather than groups, as they apparently focus on stealing leopard kills rather than hunting in that area), genets, elephant shrews, scrub hares and a chameleon. Lloyd's guiding was excellent.

David went for a bicycle ride with founder John Coppinger and a few others - an interesting variation.

As our next few camps would be walking ones we didn't do walking from here." See all these reviews: 19n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

5 sightings

Elephant

4 sightings

Giraffe

4 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Zebra

9 sightings

Showing 71-80 of 343
98%
343 reviews of Tafika by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
316
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