Ruckomechi Camp

Old Feb 9th, 2007, 09:23 AM
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Ruckomechi Camp

Hello,
are there any recent experiences with the Ruckomechi Camp?

or should we decide on the zambian side (Chiawa, Sausage Tree, ...)?

thx
Bernd
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 10:21 AM
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Here is a link to the camp's latest newsletter. Where you should stay really depends on what else you have planned for your trip. What you want to do/see? Are you just in the thinking stages or do you have an itinerary?

Good luck!
Sharon


http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/ne...item_id=392304
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 10:34 AM
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1st leg -> 2-3n Vic Falls
2nd leg -> 3n Lower Zambezi (Zimbawe or Zambia)
3rd leg -> 10d CC Africa's "Botswana Explorer" mobile safari from VicFalls to Maun
4th leg -> 3n Okawango Delta (which lodge would fit best to our itenerary)

regards
Bernd
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 01:18 PM
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Isn't Ruckomechi closed at the moment because the operator has consolidated his business since few tourists are going to Zimbabwe? If it is open, I would like to know it, because Ruckomechi is my favorite safari camp in Africa. ZZ
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Old Feb 9th, 2007, 09:01 PM
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It is rainy season right now on the Zambezi, and the canoeing camps are closed until May. I don't know about Rukomechi in particular, but Vundu will re-open in May. They have had record breaking flooding this last week on the Zambezi, Robin Pope camps in Zambia have had to cancel some trips, and close up camps because they have literally been flooded out. Things are drying up now, and will soon be back to normal- or with new and different channels. But in Zim, the riverside camps are dismantled every year at this time.
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 05:28 AM
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in sept when visiting Duma Tau camp, some of our co-visitors had just been to Ruckomechi and were raving about it. they had a leopard with a kill in the tree above them and the general game concetrations were huge at that time of year. As far as i know WS still runs the camp and i would not hesitate to visit there. The rates are very cheap for obvious reasons and the camp wasnt crowded, in fact the guests that we met had the camp to themselves and this was in high season. I would venture to say that this camp along with Makololo in Hwange (i have visited this one personally) are the best value for wildlife. We found safety to be a total non-issue in zim.
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 05:48 AM
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Bernd,

There is one other option on the Zim side and that is Vundu Camp, which belongs to the reputable new operator, African Bushcamps who also operates Linyanti Bushcamp in Botswana and Somalisa in Hwange.

www.africanbushcamps.com (Vundu may be accessed from here)

Then on the Zambian side you do have quite a few choices starting with Chiawa at the high end:

www.chiawa.com
www.chongwe-river.com
www.kasakariverlodge.com
www.sausagetreecamp.com

I do like that on the Zambian side you will be able to easily combine South Luangwa, an amazing park.

However, if you do choose the Zim side, Hwange is a nice combination.

Really you could not go wrong with either combination.

What month are you thinking of visiting?
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 07:18 AM
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HI! My sister and I are planning a 2008 trip where we want to include canoeing on the Zambezi. We have been mostly looking at the Zambian side (Chiawa and Old Mondoro) but reading about this camp in Zimbabwe makes me wonder if we should go there instead.

Has anyone here been to both sides of the river? Are there little channels for canoeing on the Zimbabwean side like there are near Chiawa?

We are also spending about 9 or 10 days in Botswana and that looks like it will be very expensive, so less expensive would also be a big plus.

Moira
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 07:28 AM
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Moira,

The only downside I am finding with Zimbabwe is that the air transfers tend to be much more expensive than in Zambia. So, while you may save on the accomodations, you will more than likely lose even more on the air.

There are some great less expensive options in Zambia in Lower Zambezi such as Kasaka River Lodge and Chongwe River Camp. I really enjoyed both of those camps very much so if Chiawa/Old Mondoro are out of the budget they both represent excellent options.

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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 07:46 AM
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I am glad to hear about Ruckomechi. Having stayed there three times, once for five nights, and having canoed the Zambezi on a separate occasion from Mana Pools to Kanyemba on the Mozambique border, I can vouch for plenty of channels and islands. It is a beautiful area, with the Zambian escarpment in front of you as you face the river from the camp. The canoeing and tiger fishing are great. Getting there has always been expensive---almost prohibitively so---but we always thought it was worth it. ZZ
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 07:54 AM
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I should add about canoeing any distance---like from Mana Pools to Kanyemba---that it is not nearly so easy as one might believe. Although you are going east with the flow of the river, there is often a very strong east wind against you. I can remember paddling like crazy and not making any headway. But, it is a wonderful experience. ZZ
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Old Feb 10th, 2007, 10:57 AM
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People are flying into Lusaka and getting ground transport to Chirundu or Kariba for about $225/vehicle if memory serves. The canoe operator picks up the clients from there. Then the return is arranged in a similar fashion to continue the safari. Everyone I helped with that had no complaints.
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