Article On Zambian Safari Experience By Zimbabwe Resident...
Jul 22nd, 2006, 08:21 AM
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Article On Zambian Safari Experience By Zimbabwe Resident...
(Thanks to luangwablondes for forwarding me this article)
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/countri...826001,00.html
http://travel.guardian.co.uk/countri...826001,00.html
Jul 22nd, 2006, 08:37 AM
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Was this written by Rocco Jr? I'm positive you have contributed a great deal to Zam's popularity just from reading this board. Ok, so turn off the faucet so it doesn't get anymore costly, otherwise I will never be able to go there! Great article, just confirms everything you tell us.
Jul 22nd, 2006, 09:52 AM
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Carla
Much as Rocco has really helped a great number of Fodorites (and no doubt friends in real life) discover Zambia it was being strongly touted and pushed by many Africa specialists (certainly in the UK) at least 7 years ago - I remember talking to a number of small specialists who were really pushing it to their clients precisely because they knew that it would really gain in popularity over the next 5-10 years.
Mainstream operators and travel journalists haven't been pushing it as long - they tend to follow once a destination is clearly becoming a hot thing - but there were many many people who were already touting Zambia back when both Rocco and I and many of us here were safari virgins!
Much as Rocco has really helped a great number of Fodorites (and no doubt friends in real life) discover Zambia it was being strongly touted and pushed by many Africa specialists (certainly in the UK) at least 7 years ago - I remember talking to a number of small specialists who were really pushing it to their clients precisely because they knew that it would really gain in popularity over the next 5-10 years.
Mainstream operators and travel journalists haven't been pushing it as long - they tend to follow once a destination is clearly becoming a hot thing - but there were many many people who were already touting Zambia back when both Rocco and I and many of us here were safari virgins!
Jul 22nd, 2006, 10:36 AM
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Kavey,
No...I am solely respsonsible for Zambian's surge in popularity!
You need to get yourself to Zambia next time around!
Much as this Zim author wouldn't have believed six years ago that Zambia would become a coveted safari destination in Southern Africa, just over three years ago, when I first visited, I wouldn't have predicted that Zambia would become what it is today in so short a time period. Given a couple more years it will really be an incredible place as camps are built in unexplored parts of South Luangwa and as Kafue and North Luangwa have time to ripen just a bit more.
bat, ooh good, I will I have to dig up a couple more articles like this.
No...I am solely respsonsible for Zambian's surge in popularity!
You need to get yourself to Zambia next time around!
Much as this Zim author wouldn't have believed six years ago that Zambia would become a coveted safari destination in Southern Africa, just over three years ago, when I first visited, I wouldn't have predicted that Zambia would become what it is today in so short a time period. Given a couple more years it will really be an incredible place as camps are built in unexplored parts of South Luangwa and as Kafue and North Luangwa have time to ripen just a bit more.
bat, ooh good, I will I have to dig up a couple more articles like this.
Jul 22nd, 2006, 10:49 AM
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Rocco, you know Zambia was originally going to be on our 2001 trip but as we only had two weeks we decided to restrict it to Botswana and Namibia.
Then I thought about visiting on the long trip in 2004 but it just didn't work out with some of the other things I wanted to include.
It's absolutely on my list - I have at least one friend working out there, I have friends in the specialist travel industry who have been badgering me for years to go and of course I have absolutely loved reading all the stuff you and others have posted here on Fodors.
You know how sometimes you really, really mean to do something sooner but it just ends up taking longer than you intended?
We were hoping to get to (probably East) Africa this year and then look at Southern Africa next year or the year after but now we're going to India that's all shifted.
I'd love to do Zambia next year but we'll be on a really, really tight budget so don't know whether Zambia will work out. I'll email you or Julian for some thoughts on just how cheaply it would be possible to do a trip to Zambia!
Then I thought about visiting on the long trip in 2004 but it just didn't work out with some of the other things I wanted to include.
It's absolutely on my list - I have at least one friend working out there, I have friends in the specialist travel industry who have been badgering me for years to go and of course I have absolutely loved reading all the stuff you and others have posted here on Fodors.
You know how sometimes you really, really mean to do something sooner but it just ends up taking longer than you intended?
We were hoping to get to (probably East) Africa this year and then look at Southern Africa next year or the year after but now we're going to India that's all shifted.
I'd love to do Zambia next year but we'll be on a really, really tight budget so don't know whether Zambia will work out. I'll email you or Julian for some thoughts on just how cheaply it would be possible to do a trip to Zambia!
Jul 22nd, 2006, 11:21 AM
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Kavey,
Please no soliciting me on the forum!
Just as all of the Fodorites have returned recently from shoulder season Zambia enjoyed very nice pricing, they did so at the most luxurious camps. Places like Kafunta River Lodge and Chongwe River Camp, while being very nice, would still offer great pricing, as would Luangwa River Lodge for a long stay discounted rate.
North Luangwa and Kafue will need to grow in popularity a bit more before they are more affordable, except for the 10 night South Luangwa/North Luangwa package offered by Kafunta Safaris, which takes you overland in each direction (but you may avoid a 9 hour drive back if you fly back for $200 pp). On the way up there is an overnight in Luambe National Park, a tiny park between South Luangwa and North Luangwa and this eases the long drive, but on the way back it is a straight 9 hour shot from Buffalo Camp in North Luangwa to Kafunta River Lodge in South Luangwa.
I have pretty much decided that my second trip of 2007 (after visiting Zimbabwe and Mozambique in May/June) will be to North Luangwa, South Luangwa and Kafue. Maybe I will have time for a 3 night visit or so to Lower Zambezi but not much longer than that, I am afraid. Zambia really is shaping up to me a great safari destination with its own flying circuits available offering enough choices in camps/lodges to appease both a first timer or someone who has been on safari a dozen times before.
While the author tended to focus his admiration on the simplicity and quality of the Zambian bushcamps, a luxury safarigoer would not be disappointed with the luxury options.
I really look forward to my next couple safaris but my heart yearns to return to Zambia, which hopefully I will do in Sept/Oct 2007.
Please no soliciting me on the forum!
Just as all of the Fodorites have returned recently from shoulder season Zambia enjoyed very nice pricing, they did so at the most luxurious camps. Places like Kafunta River Lodge and Chongwe River Camp, while being very nice, would still offer great pricing, as would Luangwa River Lodge for a long stay discounted rate.
North Luangwa and Kafue will need to grow in popularity a bit more before they are more affordable, except for the 10 night South Luangwa/North Luangwa package offered by Kafunta Safaris, which takes you overland in each direction (but you may avoid a 9 hour drive back if you fly back for $200 pp). On the way up there is an overnight in Luambe National Park, a tiny park between South Luangwa and North Luangwa and this eases the long drive, but on the way back it is a straight 9 hour shot from Buffalo Camp in North Luangwa to Kafunta River Lodge in South Luangwa.
I have pretty much decided that my second trip of 2007 (after visiting Zimbabwe and Mozambique in May/June) will be to North Luangwa, South Luangwa and Kafue. Maybe I will have time for a 3 night visit or so to Lower Zambezi but not much longer than that, I am afraid. Zambia really is shaping up to me a great safari destination with its own flying circuits available offering enough choices in camps/lodges to appease both a first timer or someone who has been on safari a dozen times before.
While the author tended to focus his admiration on the simplicity and quality of the Zambian bushcamps, a luxury safarigoer would not be disappointed with the luxury options.
I really look forward to my next couple safaris but my heart yearns to return to Zambia, which hopefully I will do in Sept/Oct 2007.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 12:41 AM
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Hari,
I would love to add on Kafue but unfortunately with my arrival night in Joburg and my 3 post-safari nights in Sydney and travel time, I am already looking at about 26 days away from home.
LAX - SYD - JNB
Michelangelo Towers (1)
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge (3)
Mateya Safari Lodge (3)
Little Kwara (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
Park Hyatt, Sydney (3)
It would be easy to second guess everything at this point. Really, with 23 nights, I could have done something like this:
Lunga River Lodge (2)
Busanga Bush Camp (2)
Shumba Bush Camp (2)
Royal Livingstone (1)
Mateya Safari Lodge (3)
Little Kwara (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
However, once you have been to Zambia, you will understand why I am planning an all Zambia trip. I don't want to "corrupt" my Zambian experience with any outside influences, if possible. My very best Zambian safari was probably the one I added after visiting Italy. I had no time to visit anywhere else and I ended up spending 4 nights in the Lower Zambezi at Kulefu, 4 nights at Kaingo and 3 nights at Puku Ridge. Each of my other Zambian safaris also added time in the Sabi Sand. However, I foresee something like this for September/October 2007:
Tafika, South Luangwa (3)
Mwaleshi, North Luangwa (4)
Lunga River Lodge, Kafue (3)
Busanga Bush Camp, Busanga Plains, Kafue (2)
Shumba Bush Camp, Busanga Plains, Kafue (2)
Liuwa Plains and Mutemwa w/ Royal Barotse Safaris, Liuwa Plains and Upper Zambezi (7)
The above, I believe, will provide the ultimate "off the beaten track" Zambian safari experience. Much better than just stuffing in a few nights in Kafue on my next trip.
I would love to add on Kafue but unfortunately with my arrival night in Joburg and my 3 post-safari nights in Sydney and travel time, I am already looking at about 26 days away from home.
LAX - SYD - JNB
Michelangelo Towers (1)
Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge (3)
Mateya Safari Lodge (3)
Little Kwara (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
Park Hyatt, Sydney (3)
It would be easy to second guess everything at this point. Really, with 23 nights, I could have done something like this:
Lunga River Lodge (2)
Busanga Bush Camp (2)
Shumba Bush Camp (2)
Royal Livingstone (1)
Mateya Safari Lodge (3)
Little Kwara (3)
Lebala (2)
Lagoon (2)
Baines Camp (3)
Chiefs Camp (3)
However, once you have been to Zambia, you will understand why I am planning an all Zambia trip. I don't want to "corrupt" my Zambian experience with any outside influences, if possible. My very best Zambian safari was probably the one I added after visiting Italy. I had no time to visit anywhere else and I ended up spending 4 nights in the Lower Zambezi at Kulefu, 4 nights at Kaingo and 3 nights at Puku Ridge. Each of my other Zambian safaris also added time in the Sabi Sand. However, I foresee something like this for September/October 2007:
Tafika, South Luangwa (3)
Mwaleshi, North Luangwa (4)
Lunga River Lodge, Kafue (3)
Busanga Bush Camp, Busanga Plains, Kafue (2)
Shumba Bush Camp, Busanga Plains, Kafue (2)
Liuwa Plains and Mutemwa w/ Royal Barotse Safaris, Liuwa Plains and Upper Zambezi (7)
The above, I believe, will provide the ultimate "off the beaten track" Zambian safari experience. Much better than just stuffing in a few nights in Kafue on my next trip.
Jul 23rd, 2006, 12:59 AM
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Rocco,
Hi!!! Just got back from Sunday lunch....ran 12miles this morning, and 2 glasses of wine with lunch has me buzzing!!!
Hehe, anyways........
Honestly, the options 2 and 3 sounds much better than Sabi sabi and Mateya. You may just see the dogs at Lagoon/Lebala/Kwara anyways. Even a return trip to ur fav Zambia camps, sounds better. However, i do understand the reasoning to hv to chk out Sabi Sabi etc.
Hari
Hi!!! Just got back from Sunday lunch....ran 12miles this morning, and 2 glasses of wine with lunch has me buzzing!!!
Hehe, anyways........
Honestly, the options 2 and 3 sounds much better than Sabi sabi and Mateya. You may just see the dogs at Lagoon/Lebala/Kwara anyways. Even a return trip to ur fav Zambia camps, sounds better. However, i do understand the reasoning to hv to chk out Sabi Sabi etc.
Hari
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