Kaingo-Mwamba- Camps
 

Hello
What are your opinions? 5 nights at each camp.
Geting ready for booking our first trip to this part of the world.
Appreciate any advise, with thanks
Jeanie G

Hi Jeanie,

Is this the entire scope of your safari? What month are you intending on visiting?

If this is your entire safari, and you are visiting between August - October, then I would suggest something like the following:

Kaingo (4)
Mwamba (3)
Luangwa River Lodge or Puku Ridge (3)

Kaingo is an excellent camp. My only concern is that you are not allowing yourself to see any other part of the park if you do all 10 nights in the north. I have been to South Luangwa three times now and while I very much enjoy the area that Kaingo is located, I think it would be a shame to miss the other parts of the park, especially the Chichele area where Puku Ridge is located. Luangwa River Lodge has a good location but the main reason for visiting is because it is such a fantastic luxury lodge that is owner operated and the owners are very likeable and excellent hosts.

Hi JeanieG,

I have read great things about the Kaingo camps.....havent been myself. I just wanted to say, pl share your trip report here on return. Thanks in advance

Hari

Haha, Rocco.....i was just thinking about you and our posts crossed!!!

hari

Hi Roccco
Thanks for replying so promptly. The other two camps look very interesting.
we are hoping to go out in September 2007. Flying in direct London- Lusaka.
then to Kaingo-What would be the best way of transfer to Luangwa. It looks like we will have to overnight at hotel in Lusaka on the way back to Ldn. My husband and I are really excited about this trip. March 2007 we will be in Zambia to see Falls, on to Susuwe and Ntwala and then visiting family in Joburg. What camp whould you suggest Luangwa or Puka?
Thanks again for your time.
Mad about Africa, born there but living in the UK

JeanieG,

Wow...you have really put me on the spot, asking me to choose between two of my favorite lodges in Puku Ridge and Luangwa River Lodge!

I don't know...flip a coin! :)

If you would like to end in luxury surrounded by fantastic hosts, fantastic food and with excellent guides, then go with Luangwa River Lodge.

If you want to be in the middle of the action in the middle of the national park (most lodges are just outside the national park), have beautiful views from camp and from your room, an outdoor shower, a beautiful swimming pool with views to die for and be in a prime area for predators (both leopards and lions) then go with Puku Ridge.

Getting to South Luangwa will be fairly simple as you will be met upon arrival by the charter air company and then escorted to the place where your connecting flight departs. It is about a 1 hour 20 minute light air transfer from Lusaka to Mfuwe, and then about a 90 minute drive from Mfuwe to Kaingo (you are met at the airport by your guide in your safari vehicle).

Wherever you stay in South Luangwa, you cannot go wrong. Every lodge I have visited (and I have been to quite a few) have had very high standards and there is not as much of a variation between the camps as you would find, for example, in Tanzania. (at least that is my opinion from my sole trip to the northern circuit in Tanzania)

Hope you don't mind my chiming in with a hearty second for Luangwa River Lodge, which Rocco booked for us plus going to the Lower Zambezi. We stayed for six nights. I read somewhere of concern that staying that long at any one spot might be boring. Let me assure you that every on every trip our experience was different than the one before. I was going to add "and better" but no, they were all wonderful.

Yes, you will see other vehicles from time to time, but they were infrequent and did not deter from great sightings. There was rarely a minute that there weren't land animals, lots of them, in sight. Our accommations were stunning, Victor, our guide, was amazing, Sean and Mary Ann, our hosts were most gracious, and the chef, Marco, came up with the most wonderful meals.

LRL is on the bank of the Luangwa River just outside of the park, and, rather than having to go through the main entrance each morning as many other visitors are required to do, we just rolled across through the shallows in the Land Rover, crossing the river each morning and evening. Kind of a neat experience in itself. During high water season, a boat carries guests across. There are so many places to see in Africa, but we do intend to return to LRL.

Jim

Our next safari may be to Zambia. If we choose Zambia, it will be to Kaingo and Mwamba for a similar duration as your trip. As good as other locations may be, I would not 'water down' the experience by shortening the stays at my first-choice camps. I've long taken the view that it's best to see one or two places in some depth (as much as I can afford). I broke that rule last year because I wanted to check out another place as well as my favourites, and while I don't regret it, I wouldn't do it again.

John

Kaingo is a great choice. We stayed 3 nights and it wasn't enough, next year i plan to stay 5 nights and 2 nights at Mwamba. You will love every second and it is in such a wonderful area of the park. It's my favourite place in the world.

It's a tough choice between Puku Ridge and LRL but you really can't lose either way. Or maybe you can visit both for 2 or 3 nights each. Whatever you chose it will be a great trip. Have fun.

Aloha JeanieG! I've been to Luangwa River Lodge twice and Puku Ridge once and in two weeks will be at Ntwala and Susuwe camps. LRL is my favorite camp and will probably return sometime next year to see Sean and MaryAnn's new baby. I did love Puku Ridge also. LRL has chalets with thatch roof, large bathrooms, sunken tub, huge shower, excellent food, guides and hosts. Puku Ridge has huge canvas tents, with sitting area, shower and big tub with a shower outdoors also, excellent food and hosts. LRL overlooks the Luangwa River, Puku Ridge overlooks a flood plain, both with animals visible while sitting on your deck. The only thing I didn't like about Puku Ridge was when you pull out for game drives you see the Chichele Hotel which makes it seem less being away from it all. I would stay at both places again in a flash! Watch for my trip report about Ntwala and Susuwe sometime in mid November.
Dennis

oh forgot to say, Kaingo is on my wish list also!

Hi Dennis,

Definitely look forward to your trip report

Hari

Many thanks for all your thoughts.
Will let you know what we decide and post in 2007.
I have tried with no luck getting into the web site of Luangwa river lodge. Can one book direct or through an agent?

Luangwa River Lodge is in the process of revamping their website. I know that Fodor rules prohibit self-promotion, so permit me do a little for Rocco and his (and Julian's) Destiny Africa (I have no affiliation with DA, other than being a customer and fan).

We had spent quite a bit of time on the internet and reading books re. where to go in Africa, and getting more confused all the time. We knew/know little about Africa and even less about Zambia. Then we discovered this forum. We saw that Rocco was most helpful in answering others' questions, and soon was helping us home in on a trip that would meet our desires.

At no time did I ever get the sense that there was any motivation other than to convey his considerable experience and passion for Africa and Zambia.

Well into our education process, he announced that he and Julian had started Destiny Africa, and we decided (not without a bit of trepidation--after all, we had never met Rocco, and we would be his first(?) clients).

Well, it all worked out wonderfully, even better than he promised--from the wildlife, to the camps, the food, the people, the logistics, and even price, because there was no markup as he dealt directly with the camps rather than transferring the booking to another agency as some do.

Just to confuse you a bit more, have Rocco (or whichever agency you choose) also take a look at the Lower Zambezi. We also stayed there, and we can't speak highly enough of our experiences at Chiawa and Old Mondoro Bush Camps. Only on one drive in a total of seven nights there did we see a vehicle from another camp, and then only briefly.

You can find more about our trip on the thread I've just started, "Zambia--a most amazing journey!".

Good luck, and if you have any questions, I would be happy to try to answer them.

Jim

Hi Jeanie
I would also consider visiting Chiawa Camp in the Lower Zambezi NP (http://www.chiawa.com/pages/home.htm)
This will certainly add some spice to your trip. A 3 or 4 night stay here and then onto S Luangwa will be the perfect combination.
Mark

Chiawa--ah, yes, but do also consider spending some days at Old Mondoro Bush Camp, which is run in a partnership between Chiawa and Sausage Tree. We stayed there three nights, and could have easily spent a week there without ever getting enough.

Mark,

Hi! Having spent a lot of time in Botswana, i'm intrigued about Zambia....although i'm more intrigued about Kafue than other parks, i would like to collect as much info as possible.

Which of the Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa camps do you recommend based on your personal visits? and why?

Appreciate your recent report from WS camps in Kafue.

Thanks
Hari

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Check out the Game sightings from Shumba camp in the WS website for the month of August ........ some amazing game they are seeing!

The most important info is this "12th of August"...