Great Adventure Trips

Zambia

Robin Pope's Luangwa / Zambian Spice / Tongabezi and Sausage Tree / Victoria Falls
South Luangwa Walking Safari / Real Zambia / African Expedition / Capricorn Safari

Robin Pope's Luangwa

As conducted to/ from Lusaka International Airport

Day 01 & 02: Fly from Lusaka International Airport to Mfuwe Airport where you will be met and driven to Nkwali Camp. Spend two nights at Nkwali Camp in a twin bedded bamboo and thatch chalet. Accommodation is on a full board basis including scheduled activities. Activities include afternoon and evening game-drives and walks.

Nkwali is located on Robin's private land, overlooking the National Park. The area surrounding Nkwali is superb game viewing country, with a beautiful area of ebony woodland and open grasslands. We have put driving loops in this area and often see as much behind camp as in the park - including leopard, lion and occasionally wild dog. This area is particularly good for elephants and Thornicroft giraffe (an endemic species) Elephants also regularly cross the Luangwa, seen from the bar, or come to the waterhole near the thatched dining room.

The chalets are large, cool and spacious, with a great view of the river. The front of the room is open during the day and then closed by a grill doors at night. The ensuite bathroom has double sinks and showers, which are open to the skies during the dry season. The bar area, right on the edge of the Luangwa banks, is built around a huge ebony tree with fantastic views of the river and across to the park. The open deck is wonderful for moonlit dinners. The dining room is a simple thatched structure, by the lagoon but we rarely eat meals there - they are served under the trees by the lagoon or the river, on the deck, or in the bush!

Although the camp is outside the national park we access the park by either by boat (2 minutes) or our nearby pontoon (10 minutes). And of course the main bridge is only 15 minutes away - giving us 3 options for entry. We therefore easily cover a large game viewing area from Nkwali. This central area of the park is accessible all year and so the game is very relaxed and used to the vehicles. This gives great photographic opportunities as the game allows the vehicles to get close.

Day 03, 04 & 05:
Morning game-drive to the Luangwa River, where a banana boat transfers you across the river to Tena Tena. Spend three nights at Tena Tena in a twin bedded large custom-made tent. Accommodation is on a full board basis including scheduled activities. The emphasis at Tena Tena is on flexibility and great game-viewing. There are daily walks in the bush, game-drives and all-day drives with bush picnics.

This remote and small camp lies within the National Park and enjoys a stunning location on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River.It was Robin's first camp and have remained a favorite of many safari lovers over the years.A grove of mahogany trees shade the "suite" tents - a tent with a vehanda, dressing room and large open bathroom. The waterhole that runs in front of the tents, is highly productive and the siestas can be spent watching and photographing from the bed The main area is a large canvas marquee placed between two mahogany trees. The view from sitting area, down the Luangwa River, is 60 km to the hills. Dinner is served on the platform, under the stars, again with a view of both the river and the waterhole.

(Day 04 + 05) may be spent at Nsefu Camp.

On a sweeping bend of the river, 12 kilometers north of Tena Tena and in the heart of the South Luangwa National Park, lies Nsefu. This was the first photographic safari camp in Zambia and dates back to the early fifties. The Nsefu Sector was recognised then as a phenomenal area and it still is. We re-opened the camp in 1999, in keeping with the original style, and operate the only two camps in the Nsefu Sector of the park. The view of the river is superb and includes a terraced area where game grazes during the day. The bar and sitting room, tucked in beside a huge extinct termite mound, overlooks a waterhole that is very productive for game, especially leopard at night. Any animal that enjoys mud spends many hours there - wallowing warthogs and buffalo are frequent visitors and of course many families of elephant will come down to drink and bath. The common antelope are seen throughout the day and are a feature of the camp. All this can be seen from the comfortable armchairs of the close by sitting area.

The original rondavels have been extended, with a spacious bathroom added. The furnishings and fittings are in keeping with an "old fashioned" feel. As one guest put it - Nsefu is "understated elegance". Each room has a clear view of the river, through both the large windows and from the wooden verandahs. The dinning room has a superb view of the river and throughout the heat of the day, elephants come to drink and then cross the river. The camp lies in the heart of the undeveloped Nsefu sector and so offers charm and total comfort in remoteness and seclusion.

Day 06: A final game-drive through the Park before returning to Mfuwe Airport for your scheduled flight to Lusaka International Airport.

2009 Price Per person sharing: May 22-June 30= US$3113. Per person single room supplement = US$490
July 1-Oct. 31 = US$3544. Per person single room supplement = US$738

what you get…
" Twin or single accommodation
" Meals on a full board basis
" Scheduled flight: Lusaka International Airport / Mfuwe Airport / Lusaka International Airport
" Scheduled transfers: Mfuwe/Nkwali/Tena Tena/Mfuwe
" Game-viewing activities as offered by the camps/lodges
" National Park entrance fees
" Drinks as offered
" Laundry
" Emergency medical evacuation insurance

…and what you don't
" Gratuities and all items of a personal nature
" Meals and drinks not specified above
" Visas (please thoroughly check requirements, depending on guests' nationality for the countries being visited, prior to travel)'
" Domestic departure tax of USD8.00 per person ex Lusaka Airport - to be settled direct
" Scheduled flights to and from Lusaka
" USD25.00 per person airport tax to be settled direct on departure from Zambia