phernska

Hot off the press from my travel agent:

"Kalamu Camp--remote southern part of South Luangwa, 4 Meru tents--Luamfwa Concession"

Beginning July 1...wheeeeeeee

atravelynn

That's before you arrive, I believe.

Thembi

Howdy phernska! We were also really excited to hear this news too - first heard in January, immediately emailed our TA and wanted it included in the Zambia leg of our 60+ day 2008 MegaSafari.

But! WS is charging Botswana prices in South Luangwa...

We have opted for an independant operator, Shenton's Kaingo
http://www.kaingo.com/shenton.asp
Will be there 5 nights 9th thru 14th August 08. 2 Nights at Kaingo and 3 nights at Mwamba. Costing 3,635.55 USD pp for 5 nights (730pp pn) all inclusive compared to WS which was twice this price.

Anyway - if cost is not a factor ENJOY! Jude

hguy47

Jude,
Am I understanding you correctly that WS is charging over $1,400 pppn for their new South Luangwa camp? And what is included in these all inclusive prices? Thanks.

HariS

Jude,

Kaingo itself is Botswana pricing......at $730pppn

If WS is charging double this, then my assumption would be that it is a 6 paw camp of theirs in Zambia....

Hari

Thembi

Woah! - Ok - i will be honest here - the "Half the Price" tag came from my TA, and I have checked all my documentations, various incarnations of the itinerary for the MegaSafari and cannot locate the exact pricing for (what was originally 6 day request for the WS SLNP camps).

I have asked my TA for clarification via email since reading these posts. Do NOT want to give anybody a bum steer.

Will report findings!

As to 730pp pn (all inc) being Bots prices - the camps we are staying in on next trip are more than that pp pn - so didn't think so - but there are way more experienced travellers on this board so will bow to experience, Hari.
Cheers
Jude

Thembi

OK! have found the original quotation that included 5 nights combined at the new camps Chinegwe Bush Camp (WS) and Kalumu Tented Camp (WS)was $5000 (US) pp which works out at 1000 bucks pp pn.

The statement above was also from my remembering that the whole of the Zambian leg of journey (7 nights - 5 in SLNP and 2 at River Club in Livingstone, came to a hefty - $6,620 USD.

So apologies for the statement that it has been "halved" but it is now 3,600 - which is substantial.

The original $5000 cost was also without the charter flight - which has to be done specially as it is not on any current route and too far to drive there. Shentons uses the Mfuwe landing strip and then a drive to camp.There are regular flights from Lusaka to Mfuwe and on return to Livingstone. The quote we have for Shentons also includes the internal flight from Lusaka and to Livingstone.

I hope this has cleared up my original bold statement - but the intention was 'pure'

nyama

FYI, Chinengwe Bush Camp, announced earlier this year by WS, will not be built this year.

steeliejim

Another independent camp in So. Luangwa, Luangwa River Lodge, was wonderful in all respects, and our guide, Victor, is the most amazing and special person, as well as guide--and more--for now I am honored to call him my friend.

LRL rates were a little over $500. per night per person when we stayed early last Oct.

Victor just wrote via email (he sent a letter written in long hand at Christmas time), that floods have receded and cleanup is well underway, making the camp ready for the first visitors in April. He wrote poignently of baboon families trapped in trees by the flooding, getting weak from lack of food, and finally falling into the water where they were devoured by crocodiles waiting below. Not only a great guide but a great story teller, of the beliefs and myths of his countrymen. They are afraid of owls, would not kill a zebra or giraffes, and the village rainmaker is in a heap of trouble this year for overdoing it. Of course, these are just tidbits. To hear him, in his lilting accent, tell us the stories, and history, was a real treat.

JIm

Jim