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Zambia: Luangwa River Lodge, location & game drive areas

Zambia: Luangwa River Lodge, location & game drive areas

Old Sep 7th, 2005, 04:35 AM
  #1  
bwanamitch
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Zambia: Luangwa River Lodge, location & game drive areas

In the thread "Zambia: affordable dream safari for Sharon",
http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...4&tid=34670947
we had a discussion about where exactly Luangwa River Lodge is located and where these people are doing their game drives.

I've asked Barry, the manager of Luangwa River Lodge, to comment on this. He wrote me the following:

"I conduct my game drives in many areas. Nsefu Sector for all day drives as its 40 mins from my camp...I use this area for clients that love walking and are here for over 2 days as its good to experience different areas. I also drive down to Chichele as well as using the main Mfuwe areas. In night drives I tent to head for Kakuli and Mchenja as then I avoid all
the main traffic in the Mfuwe area....I am able to do this as I have all year round permisson to access the park right opposite camp by boat or by vehicle.......although this year from April up till recently I have been driving round and using the main gate as I have no pontoon and the river has
been too shallow to use a boat and too deep to drive! But I have a new alluminium swamp cruiser boat arriving in November in time
for the rains which I will be using instead of a banana boat for River Safaris which will double up as a passenger pontoon in the dry season. ie. my vehicles will drive around and meet the guests opposite camp and the clients will cross sing the boat acting as a passenger pontoon. My location is opposite the wafwa oxbow......south of the Chipela oxbow lagoon.....if u look on a map and follow the road to Mchenja from the main gate you pass two large oxbows the first is Luangwa Wafwa the second is
Chipela chindombo. On my side of the river I am between the Lupande and the Msandile
river....the property is the large peninsular you will see on the map......I
hope this makes sense."

In short: Luangwa River Lodge is located outside South Luangwa National Park in the Lupande GMA (Game Management Area), about 9 km upstream (northeast) of Mfuwe Bridge and the main gate of the park. Day game drives are conducted in the Nsefu Sector of the park (about 20 km northeast) and the more crowded Mfuwe Sector around Mfuwe Lodge (north of Mfuwe Bridge), night game drives in the park area north/northeast of the lodge.

Here are some links to Google Maps that illustrate the situation:

Luangwa River Lodge
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.07...25333+(Luangwa River Lodge)&spn=0.140423,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Luangwa Wafwa oxbow
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.06...20526+(Luangwa Wafwa oxbow)&spn=0.140431,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Lupande River
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.11...22414+(Lupande River)&spn=0.140403,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Msandile River
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.08...0782+(Msandile River)&spn=0.140418,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Mfuwe Bridge
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.09....786451+(Mfuwe Bridge)&spn=0.140411,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Mfuwe Lodge
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.07....792288+(Mfuwe Lodge)&spn=0.140423,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Kakuli Camp
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=-13.00...899147+(Kakuli Camp)&spn=0.140466,0.129158&t=k&hl=en

Mitch
 
Old Sep 7th, 2005, 05:38 AM
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Wow! Thanks Mitch. When I get time I will check it all out!
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Old Sep 7th, 2005, 09:43 AM
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Thanks Bwana for all your research! So it looks like the game drives will be good to great?
Dennis
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Old Sep 7th, 2005, 10:10 AM
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Dennis - I think we can breathe easy. I think I will plan to stay in 2 areas of S. Luangwa. The lodge, and a bush camp, probably Tafika. Now, for my Lower Zambezi accommodations.....
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Old Sep 7th, 2005, 10:14 AM
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bwanamitch
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Dennis,

Good or great game drives? It always depends on luck and the quality of the guides. However, they have at least three different areas where to go. That's more than most other camps offer you. If they have good 'bush drums' they should know about current wildlife activities in the different sectors and drive you there. So chances are good that you'll have great sightings.

Mitch
 
Old Sep 7th, 2005, 10:17 AM
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bwanamitch
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Tafika is not a bush camp, it's the home of John and Carol Coppinger and the base of Remote Africa Safaris.

Mitch
 
Old Sep 7th, 2005, 10:20 AM
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Thanks again Bwana! You don't know how much your dedication to research has helped not just me but many others. Cooncat-we'll be staying at chongwe in lower zambezi-except for the elephant crashing through tent #4, sounds like a nice place. there was a thread recently from someone who stayed there.
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Old Sep 7th, 2005, 11:36 AM
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Mitch - thanks for the clarification on the camps.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 11:23 AM
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Cooncat,

What are your latest plans?

I would strongly suggest that you combine South Luangwa with the Lower Zambezi, especially if you are planning a visit between about June to October.

Although Tafika appears to be a lovely camp, if there was one camp that I would choose to splurge on in Zambia, it would probably be Chiawa. I toured Chiawa while staying at Chongwe River Camp and it is absolutely beautiful.

Chiawa is one of the very few camps in the national park and this will save you quite a bit of driving. Plus, the amount of game right in camp, mid-day, was incredible. Another plus would be that their tents are all luxuriously appointed, well shaded by trees and are strategically placed by trees that smell heavenly such as Mahogany Trees and possibly Wild Jasmine.

Send me an e-mail when you get a chance and let me know what your current thoughts are and I will best try to answer any questions you may have. For the moment, however, I cannot access my e-mail.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 11:39 AM
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bwanamitch
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If it comes to the top end, why not Old Mondoro, the more bushy version?
Same company, same guiding quality, same amount of game - but less people and nearer to the elephants. ;-)

Mitch

ftp://www.podszuck.de/po/podszuck.de...deTent3-2.jpeg
 
Old Sep 15th, 2005, 12:22 PM
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Hi Rocco! I will send you an e-mail as soon as I get a few things ironed out. My plans have been changing by the hour, so it may be a couple of days. Chiawa is actually at the top of my list; I may combine it with Old Mondoro if they are far enough apart or different enough to make that worthwhile. At this very moment I am leaning heavily toward going mid-late May based on costs. A couple of people have assured me that game is still plentiful at this time although not I supposed optimum. Again, I've got to get some prices and I'll be better able to sort it all out. I'll drop you a line shortly! Thanks for asking.
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Old Sep 15th, 2005, 02:17 PM
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Hi Rocco,

Can't wait to read your trip report and see your pictures!

Cheers,
Julian
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Old Sep 16th, 2005, 06:09 AM
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Hey Julian,

I am torn between posting what I have now or trying to learn Photoshop Elements a bit more first. More than likely I will post some immediately next week upon my return but then the others will follow later.

At Puku Ridge, we had spectacular lion spottings daily and on one particular day I had each a full grown lioness and later a full grown male lion within two meters of me while I was in the doorless passenger seat of Puku's vehicle. That was quite a rush and if not for getting a false sense of security behind the camera lens I may have needed a change of underwear!

I am still looking forward to the close encounters with leopards and that should start tomorrow night at Simbambili, although I am obviously concerned about the full moon and the effect it may have on the leopards coming out to play.
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Old Sep 17th, 2005, 03:55 AM
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Hi All,
First trip to Africa, just got back. Two weeks ago (Sep 1 , 2005) we were at Robin Pope safari camps at Nsefu and Tena Tena. Loved them both. Long game drives twice a day. The first from 6am to about 10 am and the last 4pm to 8pm. This afternoon/evening one is important, the lions come alive at dusk and start their hunt. We saw a kill envolving 5 lioness and 2 antelopes. Make sure your safari guide is allowed to go into the National Park after dark. After those 4 nights we went to Khwai River Lodge and then to Mala Mala. When we go back we will return to Robin Pope (and to Mala Mala I hope). At Nsefu we met a couple who safari for 3-4 weeks every year in Africa going to the top camps. For the past several years they start their safari(s) with a five night stay at Robin Pope. I asked why and they said they like the "casualness" of the camps. I agree.
regards - tom
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Old Sep 17th, 2005, 04:52 AM
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Hi Rocco,

I know what you mean about the rush -- during my last visit to Londoz, I had a leopard and hyena fighting over a warthog kill right next to my vehicle!

Cheers,
Julian
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Old Sep 17th, 2005, 05:58 AM
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Hi Tom,

Which camp do you like more, Nsefu or Tena Tena?

I stayed at Nsefu, and up to now it's my most favourite camp in Africa (although I usually prefer tented camps). I liked this clear and bright indoor design. But the best thing was this view along the Luangwa where you could see all kind of wildlife crossing the river while sitting in the 'breakfast area' or in the bar, including 'Big Boy' (at that time the shooting star among the lions). And of course, this 'casualness' was great, not to mention the laid-back game drives. I had my best 'surprise' bush dinner at Nsefu, after watching lions and two leopards during the night game drive.

I also paid a short visit to Tena Tena. This camp is great, too, but I found the electric fence a little disturbing.

I will be back to RPS, that's for sure.

Mitch
 
Old Sep 17th, 2005, 10:09 PM
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Hi BWMitch
Well, I stayed only at Nsefu, 4 nights, Tami stayed 2 nights at Nsefu and 2 at Tena. She liked Tena best. She did not mention electric fence, I'll have to ask her about that. The only thing I did not like about Nsefu was the totally open windows on the cabin and the bathroom. Only the bed itself had netting around it. You get up at night to go pee and you are wide open to bugs. Tami said that Tena had netting over the windows and bathroom area. Did not see any leopards at Nsefu but Tami saw a nursing leopard cub at Tena!!!!!
We are starting to think about making plans to go back next year.
regrds - tom
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