Puku Ridge CLOSED alternative Lodge needed
May 2nd, 2007, 05:00 PM
#41
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Hi Nyama
Your Q -"And which accommodation do you use at Flatdogs? Tented, standard chalet or Jackal-Berry House?"
Will be staying overnight at the standard chalet which faces the river. The reason why we chose Flatdogs for our final night was that we won't miss any morning game drives here (as I'm sure you know) also better than o'night in Lusaka ;-) and it's close to Mfuwe Airport for our morning departure.
BTW, Do you know exactly how long transfer to the Airport is from here?
Cheers
Marc
Your Q -"And which accommodation do you use at Flatdogs? Tented, standard chalet or Jackal-Berry House?"
Will be staying overnight at the standard chalet which faces the river. The reason why we chose Flatdogs for our final night was that we won't miss any morning game drives here (as I'm sure you know) also better than o'night in Lusaka ;-) and it's close to Mfuwe Airport for our morning departure.
BTW, Do you know exactly how long transfer to the Airport is from here?
Cheers
Marc
May 2nd, 2007, 05:24 PM
#42
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africaddict-from flatdogs to mfuwe airport shouldn't take more than 30-45 minutes. see if you can fit in a stop at Tribal Textiles...beautiful stuff there.
nyama-what I was getting at was that Flatdog's vehicles are so full, that if I were to stay there with own vehicle, could I drive from there to a lodge in North Luangwa? I'm not a camper so would just drive there and park and they could do the rest, but in S.L. do our own drives.
luangwablondes-still thinking about your last e-mail...
nyama-what I was getting at was that Flatdog's vehicles are so full, that if I were to stay there with own vehicle, could I drive from there to a lodge in North Luangwa? I'm not a camper so would just drive there and park and they could do the rest, but in S.L. do our own drives.
luangwablondes-still thinking about your last e-mail...
May 2nd, 2007, 06:56 PM
#43
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Luangwablondes - Kafunta still showing their N.Luangwa trip on their website for 2007. No idea if they are having problems booking Buffalo, but I was thinking maybe they are considered "full board" and not subject to the 2 week booking restriction since they book the chalets.
In the past in addition to bringing their own guide these Kafunta trips brought their own food and a cook from Kafunta. The Kafunta cook uses the kitchen at Buffalo camp to prepare the meals. I was told this food option was considered a much better food option by Kafunta than the regular Buffalo Camp food. The reason being this way the food is freshly prepared each meal whereas the standard Buffalo meal procedure was that they would prepare and freeze the meals at Kapishya and truck them over to Buffalo.
10 nights South/North Luangwa Safari
2 nights Kafunta River Lodge
2 nights Island Bush Camp
1 night Wilderness Camp Luambe National Park
3 nights Buffalo Camp North Luangwa
2 night Kafunta River Lodge
In the past in addition to bringing their own guide these Kafunta trips brought their own food and a cook from Kafunta. The Kafunta cook uses the kitchen at Buffalo camp to prepare the meals. I was told this food option was considered a much better food option by Kafunta than the regular Buffalo Camp food. The reason being this way the food is freshly prepared each meal whereas the standard Buffalo meal procedure was that they would prepare and freeze the meals at Kapishya and truck them over to Buffalo.
10 nights South/North Luangwa Safari
2 nights Kafunta River Lodge
2 nights Island Bush Camp
1 night Wilderness Camp Luambe National Park
3 nights Buffalo Camp North Luangwa
2 night Kafunta River Lodge
May 2nd, 2007, 07:35 PM
#44
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GreenDrake
It is my understanding that it was too late to change the website for this year. And they are having problems with arranging tours to Buffalo Camp, because they get the selfcatering rate and bring their own supplies.
And to be honest. I don't know what the story is with what they are telling you, but I doubt the one about frozen foods is correct. Logistics is a major problem in the valley. Refrigeration is difficult, even with the best equipment. To think they are capable of freezing and keeping it frozen till use is somewhat unbelievable to me. Thats a lot of solar panels or a generator(not a popular item in any camp), freezers, batteries. No. I think Kafunta is beating around the bush to avoid saying the food is not that good and my experience says the same.
It is my understanding that it was too late to change the website for this year. And they are having problems with arranging tours to Buffalo Camp, because they get the selfcatering rate and bring their own supplies.
And to be honest. I don't know what the story is with what they are telling you, but I doubt the one about frozen foods is correct. Logistics is a major problem in the valley. Refrigeration is difficult, even with the best equipment. To think they are capable of freezing and keeping it frozen till use is somewhat unbelievable to me. Thats a lot of solar panels or a generator(not a popular item in any camp), freezers, batteries. No. I think Kafunta is beating around the bush to avoid saying the food is not that good and my experience says the same.
May 3rd, 2007, 06:22 AM
#45
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That is a really unfortunate that they are having booking issues. Prior to the great price you quoted on the walking trip out of Delia Camp, that Kafunta trip was the only one I could find as a solo traveler, without going the self drive/self catering option, that got me to the N.Lunagwa at a reasonable price.
Refrigeration issues you point out make sense to me luangwablondes. The food story was what my guide Martin told us last Oct. when we were at Buffalo. Food always down my list of priorities so I did not really pay it much attention, but then again I sure enjoyed the great meals I did have and if I am being charged upscale rates I would not want to be nickel and dimed with poor quality food.
Refrigeration issues you point out make sense to me luangwablondes. The food story was what my guide Martin told us last Oct. when we were at Buffalo. Food always down my list of priorities so I did not really pay it much attention, but then again I sure enjoyed the great meals I did have and if I am being charged upscale rates I would not want to be nickel and dimed with poor quality food.
May 3rd, 2007, 06:47 AM
#46
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GreenDrake
There are a couple other companies like Kafunta going, so next time, if you want to go overland again, I'll add a couple other few other tours to look at. They would most likely be using Nkalamo Camp in the future though.
africaddict
You chose a busy place like Flatdogs over this--
http://www.trackandtrailrivercamp.co...10/photo1.html
And especially this
http://www.trackandtrailrivercamp.co...matherapy.html
There are a couple other companies like Kafunta going, so next time, if you want to go overland again, I'll add a couple other few other tours to look at. They would most likely be using Nkalamo Camp in the future though.
africaddict
You chose a busy place like Flatdogs over this--
http://www.trackandtrailrivercamp.co...10/photo1.html
And especially this
http://www.trackandtrailrivercamp.co...matherapy.html
May 3rd, 2007, 01:27 PM
#47
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luangwablondes was right re self-drive visitors to Kutandala/Mwaleshi. Sorry for the misinformation.
I just received the following from Rod Tether of Kutandala:
"Yes we take self-drive guests but only on a full-board pre-booked basis and we have a minimum booking policy of three nights.
The North Luangwa NP has a fairly strict policy on self-drive visitors due to a few instances in the past of vehicles getting lost and stuck in the
Mwaleshi (for several days!) and nobody knowing anything about them -
therefore self-drive vehicles are only permitted to visit the Mwaleshi area
of the Park if they have made a booking with one of the operators on the Mwaleshi - the scouts contact the relevant camp to check this when the
vehicle goes through the ZAWA gate - and then the vehicle should only be used to get to and from the camp (ie not for private game-drives).
The open access road runs through the North sector of the park from the
pontoon to Mano and there are campsites to cater for self-driving visitors at either end."
I just received the following from Rod Tether of Kutandala:
"Yes we take self-drive guests but only on a full-board pre-booked basis and we have a minimum booking policy of three nights.
The North Luangwa NP has a fairly strict policy on self-drive visitors due to a few instances in the past of vehicles getting lost and stuck in the
Mwaleshi (for several days!) and nobody knowing anything about them -
therefore self-drive vehicles are only permitted to visit the Mwaleshi area
of the Park if they have made a booking with one of the operators on the Mwaleshi - the scouts contact the relevant camp to check this when the
vehicle goes through the ZAWA gate - and then the vehicle should only be used to get to and from the camp (ie not for private game-drives).
The open access road runs through the North sector of the park from the
pontoon to Mano and there are campsites to cater for self-driving visitors at either end."
May 3rd, 2007, 10:26 PM
#48
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Here's what John Coppinger (Remote Africa Safaris) says about self-driving:
"We welcome self drive guests at Mwaleshi, but only on a full board basis and although they wouldn't technically have to pre-book it would be advisable for 2 reasons: firstly to avoid disappointment in the situation of no availability and secondly we need to notify the scouts at the Park entry that the guests are booked with us. This is because self drivers are restricted to certain roads within the Park and wouldn't normally be allowed to drive to or in the vicinity of Mwaleshi Camp. There have been occasions where self drivers have ventured off the allowable routes and been stuck for several days before being discovered – I found one such couple some years ago near the Mwaleshi confluence and they were close to hysteria, having been stuck for 3 days. They spent 2 uncomfortable nights in their car which had water (Mwaleshi river) half way up their seats - the hyaenas had discovered them and were lurking ever closer!"
"We welcome self drive guests at Mwaleshi, but only on a full board basis and although they wouldn't technically have to pre-book it would be advisable for 2 reasons: firstly to avoid disappointment in the situation of no availability and secondly we need to notify the scouts at the Park entry that the guests are booked with us. This is because self drivers are restricted to certain roads within the Park and wouldn't normally be allowed to drive to or in the vicinity of Mwaleshi Camp. There have been occasions where self drivers have ventured off the allowable routes and been stuck for several days before being discovered – I found one such couple some years ago near the Mwaleshi confluence and they were close to hysteria, having been stuck for 3 days. They spent 2 uncomfortable nights in their car which had water (Mwaleshi river) half way up their seats - the hyaenas had discovered them and were lurking ever closer!"
May 3rd, 2007, 11:14 PM
#49
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Anke Cowan of Kafunta River Lodge (www.luangwa.com) wrote me the following:
"It is true that we have been using Buffalo Camp as 'self-catering' by supplying our food and cook, this arrangement has worked well for both parties (Kafunta Safaris and Shiwa Safaris) the reason being logistics not the standard of meals at Buffalo Camp. I am aware that Buffalo Camp have changed there policy on self-catering booking to short notice only but after a good working relationship of over 10 years we have a special arrangement with Buffalo Camp and will continue our trips as before. We have no problem booking this (other then technical with might delay the reply to our mails) and our website is up to date!"
"It is true that we have been using Buffalo Camp as 'self-catering' by supplying our food and cook, this arrangement has worked well for both parties (Kafunta Safaris and Shiwa Safaris) the reason being logistics not the standard of meals at Buffalo Camp. I am aware that Buffalo Camp have changed there policy on self-catering booking to short notice only but after a good working relationship of over 10 years we have a special arrangement with Buffalo Camp and will continue our trips as before. We have no problem booking this (other then technical with might delay the reply to our mails) and our website is up to date!"
May 4th, 2007, 01:02 AM
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Hello Everybody,
Just to clarify concepts. I hope it can be helpfull:
The selfcatering options are a private decision from each company in the Park, there are not official restrictions.
All the Bushcamps are in the “semi-wilderness” area, the propose of this area is to preserve the pristine wilderness, while permitting limited visitors use. Walking Safaris, Game Drives and Night Game Drivers are only allowed by the Tour Operators.
So, YES, you can drive with your car to the Bushcamps, but you can not use your car for Game Drives.
YES, you can drive from South Luangwa to North Luangwa, but in the Kanunsha entrance Gate you must inform the Scouts what’s your destination is (Mwaleshi, Buffalo, Katandala, Nkalamo or Delia) when they confirm your booking you can go ahead. But remember that inside the Park you can use your vehicle only for “transfer”. Game Drives in the “semi-wilderness” area are only permitted to Tour Operators.
In the Northern part of the Park, from the Pontoon to the Fulaza river, its allowed to use your vehicle, because it’s a General use are.
About “self-catering”. For me it means that the customers is going to the Camp only looking for accommodation, no food, no activities. Nkalamo Camp can offer that.
“self-catering” plus full board, I just call it “self-arriving”….
Cheers, and good Safari.
Ramon
www.infoafrica.net
Just to clarify concepts. I hope it can be helpfull:
The selfcatering options are a private decision from each company in the Park, there are not official restrictions.
All the Bushcamps are in the “semi-wilderness” area, the propose of this area is to preserve the pristine wilderness, while permitting limited visitors use. Walking Safaris, Game Drives and Night Game Drivers are only allowed by the Tour Operators.
So, YES, you can drive with your car to the Bushcamps, but you can not use your car for Game Drives.
YES, you can drive from South Luangwa to North Luangwa, but in the Kanunsha entrance Gate you must inform the Scouts what’s your destination is (Mwaleshi, Buffalo, Katandala, Nkalamo or Delia) when they confirm your booking you can go ahead. But remember that inside the Park you can use your vehicle only for “transfer”. Game Drives in the “semi-wilderness” area are only permitted to Tour Operators.
In the Northern part of the Park, from the Pontoon to the Fulaza river, its allowed to use your vehicle, because it’s a General use are.
About “self-catering”. For me it means that the customers is going to the Camp only looking for accommodation, no food, no activities. Nkalamo Camp can offer that.
“self-catering” plus full board, I just call it “self-arriving”….
Cheers, and good Safari.
Ramon
www.infoafrica.net
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