Safari Nzuri's Africa Voyages

Zambia

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After reviewing our Zambia page, below, please feel free to drop us an email at: mail@safarinzuri.com If you would let us know your party's size; your goals and expectations for your safari; and when you'd like to visit Zambia, we would be glad to provide you with particular guide or camp materials that should best meet your requirements.

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South Luangwa National Park in Zambia offers some of the best uncontrived leopard photography opportunities in Africa. The BBC chose South Luangwa as the locale for two years' intensive leopard photography.

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A lightly-populated, woodland wilderness, this is Old Africa. A nation of unspoiled rivers, there are more hippo and crocodile in Zambia than anywhere in the world, and its leopard and lion opportunities are unparalleled. Its tourist industry is young, and the crowds have yet to arrive. Zambia is developing a fine network of safari opportunities through the creative efforts of Tongabezi, Sausage Tree and Robin Pope Safaris. Through these three world-class operations, you can build a custom safari that combines:

  • Zambezi canoeing with some of the region's most experienced canoe guides;
  • Description: C:\Users\Jon\Documents\Safari Nzuri\tonga.jpgan elegant stay at Victoria Falls;

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At the right: Safari Nzuri strives for grace, even in the wild. We find it at places like Tongabezi, our favorite Victoria Falls hermitage on the Zambezi River.

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  • an expedition to the lion-rich Busanga Plains in north Kafue National Park;
  • a remote luxury tented safari in Lower Zambezi National Park; and, of course,
  • the extraordinary predator and prey in South Luangwa National Park.

 

For the latest State Department information on Zambia, click here.

Safari Season

The season here is from May-October. The Zambian summer (November-March) is hot and rainy, and many camps close during that period.

Drawbacks

The country's infrastructure is poor, and air service is historically spotty; however, reliable air service along the Vic Falls/South Luangwa/Lower Zambezi safari route now exists. During the dry season, which is also the tourist season, Zambians burn the country's grasslands, which is an annoyance.

Walking Safaris:

Robin Pope's Classic Walking Safaris

SGC's Robin Pope leads the most acclaimed walking safaris in Africa, and these varying expeditions are customarily filled 6-12 months in advance. The walking safaris that Robin Pope Safaris leads are as follows (all Robin Pope walking safaris have a maximum of six guests):

 

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Left: Walking in the rich Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa National Park is not exactly your typical African jungle bushwhacking

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  • Robin Pope Walking Safaris (Note: in 2011, Robin Pope will be adding a $10/person/night surcharge to fund the local South Luangwa conservancy—a non-profit cooperative effort with the local residents to deter poaching, improve education and build the local economy.)

2011 Guaranteed Set Departure Schedule and Availability: For current availability, Click Here

These 10-night walking safaris have come to be known as the wilderness experience of South Luangwa. After 2 nights at Nkwali Camp (see below), the party walks for 5 days (4 days when Robin Pope is leading the safari) covering approximately 10 km. per day, following the Mupadmadzi River in the remote northern frontier of South Luangwa, a full-day's drive away from the tourist route. This clear river is a major tributary of the Luangwa. The area is remote and wild, the terrain and habitats varied and the game shy and unused to man. From ants to buffalo, a bird's nest to tracking lion, you will learn the many faces of the African bush. The fully serviced mobile camp is extremely comfortable and well-equipped with walk-in tents and full bedding. A final 3 nights at Tena Tena or Nsefu Camp (see below) completes the safari. The 2011 price is $5870/person plus park fees, and there is no single supplement.    For a detailed itinerary of this expedition, Click Here. 

                                                          Fly-Camping Between Tena Tena and Nsefu

Most walking safaris traverse areas with (in most cases) moderate game populations, at best.  The high-density game areas are generally reserved for game drives.  The Popes, however, give their guests an opportunity to fly camp in the wilderness between Tena Tena and Nsefu Camps (both described below)—a venue that is perhaps the most game-rich in the entire park.  Guests walk between these two camps, fly camping at night.  The 2011 rates are $505/night/person plus park fees.  There is a minimum of 2 people, and a maximum of four.  As part of a South Luangwa safari, do not miss this extraordinary on-the-ground experience.

A Sample of Small Permanent Camps:

South Luangwa National Park

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To the right: sunsets at Buca Buca lagoon near Tena Tena Camp always produce pleasant surprises

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Tena Tena Camp

Pope's Tena Tena camp is one of Africa's very finest--it is honored in the prestigious "Classic Safari Camps" guide. "Tena Tena ... is altogether beyond superlatives, and must be one of the best safari camps in the whole of Africa," according to the London Times. This remote camp within the National Park enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River. A grove of mahogany trees shade seven large custom-made tents. From the thatched dining room and bar guests can watch the elephants, hippo and antelope on the river banks. Near by there is a spectacular lagoon, Buca Buca, where a whole morning can be spent quietly sitting while the game comes down to feed and drink. Being remote, Tena Tena has these scenes to itself. Hyena and lion are abundant quite near the camp, and leopard are regularly spotted. Walking and open vehicle game viewing is done from the camp, and the array of antelope, buffalo, zebra and other big game is endless. The high season rates are $605/person/night double occupancy plus park fees, with no single supplement.

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To the left: the Thornicroft's giraffe is found in South Luangwa National Park near Nkwali Camp, and nowhere else.

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Nkwali Camp

Tena's sister camp, Nkwali, is situated in similarly rich scenery, and offers perhaps the best uncontrived leopard viewing opportunities in Africa. Nkwali's rates are $515/person/night plus park fees in the peak season, with no single supplement. Nkwali is located on Robin's private land, overlooking the National Park. The land is superb gameviewing country, with a beautiful area of ebony woodland and open grass plains. Its lush forests are home to the full range of customary African characters, along with some rare ones--like the Thornicroft's giraffe. Elephants often cross the Luangwa, seen from the bar, or come to the waterhole near the thatched dining room. The chalets are cool and spacious, overlooking the river. Access to the park is through the main entrance over the bridge, by boat or by nearby pontoon.

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The Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa Nat'l. Park includes stretches of the Luangwa River that contain the thickest concentrations of hippo and crocodile in the world. Nobody floats the Luangwa River!

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Nsefu Camp

Nsefu was the first game camp in Zambia and dates back to the early fifties.

The Nsefu Sector of South Luangwa National Park is a remote salient that has always been recognized an especially scenic and abundant area. At the end of the 1970's Nsefu Camp was abandoned. Robin Pope reopened the camp in 1982 and this is where he made his reputation. He managed Nsefu for 5 years, during which time he used the Tena Tena site as a fly camp. In 1986 he left Nsefu and moved to Tena Tena full time. Pope is now reopening the camp, in keeping with the original style, and so will be running the only 2 camps in the Nsefu Sector of the park.

The view of the river from this 12-guest camp is superb and includes a terraced area where game grazes during the day. The bar, tucked in beside a huge extinct termite mound, overlooks a waterhole that is very productive for game, especially leopard at night. The original rondavels have been extended, with a spacious bathroom added. Each room has a clear view of the river, through large gauzed windows and from the new wooden veranda. The camp lies in the heart of the undeveloped Nsefu sector and so offers charm and total comfort in remoteness and seclusion. Both night drives and walking safaris, as well as day game drives, are conducted out of Nsefu. Rates here are $605/person/night plus park fees, with no single supplement.

Stay a Week and Save

Book 7 consecutive nights at Robin Pope camps (not including walking safaris), and your rate is reduced by 10%.  Or, you can have 7 or more nights at Pope camps in South Luangwa for only $495/person/night plus park fees (minimum 2 persons, double accommodations), if you let the Popes pick your camps (they promise at least two, and will notify you of the camp order at least two weeks out).  Or, come during the comfortable “shoulder season” of June and save $70-$100/person/night on your room cost.

Sausage Tree and Lower Zambezi National Park

Sausage Tree Camp

Along the Zambezi, Sausage Tree Camp is situated in one of the few true wilderness areas in Africa-Lower Zambezi National Park--nestled amongst mature mahogany trees and a large shady sausage tree on the banks of the Zambezi River, opposite Mana Pools National Park. The camp offers both rich scenery and varied wildlife. Huge herds of buffalo, elephant, hippo and plains game occur here, along with lion, leopard and cheetah. Canoeing, walks, boat game viewing and both day and night game drives are arranged out of Sausage Tree. The camp is run with Mayfair propriety by its luxury-conscious owners). The camp is comprised of large, cool, oval-shaped marquee-style tents, each privately located with expansive river views. A typical Sausage Tree day: depart for an early morning walk, return for a bush breakfast followed by an exploratory few hours of canoeing through the channels of the Zambezi River. Have a picnic lunch before returning to camp for a relaxing afternoon followed by an evening game drive. 2011 high-season rates are $895/person/night, with no single supplement.  Stay at Sausage Tree for 4 nights for the price of 3, or 6 nights for the price of four. 

Victoria Falls

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To the right: remote Sindabezi Camp, on its own island in the middle of the Zambezi where elephant cross the Zambezi River each night between parks, is one of our favorite hiding places in all of Africa

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Tongabezi and Sindabezi Island

At Victoria Falls, 16-bed Tongabezi is a luxuriant hermitage on the Zambian side of the falls, with superb day canoeing along this abundant stretch of the river. While the tourists are all bunched up on the Zimbabwaen side of the falls, you'll have this natural wonder to yourselves, in a roomy and gracious riverside tented cottage, with your shaded lawn sloping down to the Zambezi. The staff, of course, arranges all the customary Victoria Fall's activities--from whitewater rafting to tiger fish fishing to bunjee jumping, and the lodge keeps an ornithologist on staff. It is, however, the elegant isolation in such an otherwise busy tourist area that makes Tongabezi so special. As the London Independent put it, "Tongabezi is what Tarzan might have achieved had he had the cash flow." As David Bristow, editor of Getaway Magazine concluded, Tongabezi is "the finest accommodation I have had the pleasure of enjoying in Africa."

Tongabezi also offers a remote, Crusoesque camp on a palm-fringed island called Sindabezi. The island sits on an utterly isolated stretch of the Zambezi just above Victoria Falls. It is sandwiched between national parks on both sides, and resultantly enjoys probably the best wildlife in the Vic Falls area. No more than 8 guests share 4 luxury riverside cottages. The island has its own staff to cater to those guests' whims. Have them pull your bed out on your own private veranda. That way, when the elephant cross the river directly under your bed at 4 a.m., as they most assuredly will, you'll be awakened sharp and proper. Because of its striking remoteness, idyllic canoeing and rich wildlife, Sindabezi is one of this agency's favorite places on this wonderful continent.

Tongabezi’s 2010 high-season rates for Tongabezi were $540/person/night for their charming river-front cottages (with a 40% single supplement), and $650/person/night for their Swiss Family Robinson-like luxury houses, double accommodation.  Sindabezi’s high season rates were $465/person/night, with no single supplement.  20ll rates are pending.

THE ZAMBIAN PACKAGES

 

For 2011, Robin Pope is offering two 3-park Zambian packages:

 

  • The Gem of Zambia, which splits 14 nights between a Robin Pope Safaris Camp in South Luangwa, either Chiawa or Chongwe Camp in Lower Zambezi National Park, and Busanga Bush Camp in Kafue National Park.  The Busanga Plains is home to absolutely extraordinary lion populations, as well as the plains game on which they feed.  It lies in Kafue National Park, which is Zambia’s largest.  The 2011 price is Description: C:\Users\Jon\Documents\Safari Nzuri\busangalion.jpg$12,149/person, which includes internal Zambia flights, with a minimum of two persons traveling; and
  • Zambia’s Classic Safari, a 14-night safari with 7 nights spent at a Robin Pope camp in South Luangwa,  4 nights at Chongwe River Camp on the Lower Zambezi and 3 nights at Tongabezi.  The 2011 price is $9534 per person sharing, which includes internal Zambia flights.

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Lion carpet the landscape on Kafue National Park’s Busanga Plain, where vast herds of puku and other prey keep them fat and plentiful.

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