Zambia trip itinery
 

Hi everyone,
My first time here, a great site!
Planning a safari for sept 2010 for my husbands "big birthday" Yes I know its planning well in advance.
I have recieved a itinery from "Signature Safaris" I wonder if you would take a look, and advise me as to the quality of the guides, food ect, and if indeed it gives a good mix of game viewing. My husband is a keen birder, as I am keen to see elephants and cats.
Kufue National park
4 nights Busanya Bvush Camp
4 nights Lufupa tented camp
South Luangwa
4 nights Kalamu Lagoon Camp
Possible stay at Toka Leya camp Livingstone.
Thanks for any advice/comments!
Jan

Hello Jan,,

How wonderful for you to celebrate a particular festivity in the bush!

Generally speaking 4 nights each camp is excellent!

I don't know any of the camps you mentioned but I am sure there are some others joining who will provide you with details.

Generally speaking birders and cat lovers in one vehicle means "insuperable" extremes but as a couple you should cope well ;-)

Enjoy the anticipation and the planning phase for the safari!

SV

Your agent is not really an expert on the best place for twitchers. And there are some camps/guides that are avid birders.

Found what I was looking for. A new book- The Birds of Zambia by Pete Leonard of the Zambian Ornithonlogical Society. www.nhbs.com

I gather Busanya Bush camp and Lufupa are both good for birdwatching from what I have read. Yes that book looks good I shall get that... thankyou
Jan

This is the book I meant.
http://tinyurl.com/atnjob

JanBristol,

I was at Lufupa and Busanga Bush Camp last August. That was my ninth safari, and I can tell you unequivocally between the two places Kafue is the best birding destination in Africa. You will get all the wetland birds as well as the miombo species endemic to the woodlands there.

Just be ready for the tsestes at Lufupa. I recommend a "bug suit" -- then you won't have to worry.

You can read my trip report if you would like. Just click on my name and you will see it.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...dude&fid=4
Here is my Lufupa/Busanga report

Oops, I think I messed it up. Just click on my name and it's the report posted on Sept 17, 2008. Cheers.

What a fantastic trip report, you have inspired me and convinced me that my travel agent has chosen very well. Thankyou!
Any tips to cope with those horrid tsestes flys?

For the tsetses, they were not a problem everywhere, just in pockets. Don't wear blue. They seemed to prefer dark colors. It will be hot in Sept, but long sleeves help, especially of a light weight fabric. Tan is a good color. I'd keep my feet covered with shoes and socks, not sandals.

Some of the more interesting bird sightings were: purple heron, Fulleborn's longclaw, rufous-bellied heron, lesser jacana, numerous watled crane, open billed stork in huge flocks with snails and things in their open bills, and black bellied korhan.

With all due respect, nothing works against tsetses except cigar smoke. Assuming you don't smoke cigars (I don't), I would recommend a bug suit. www.bugshirt.com No, I am not on commission with them but I swear by it. The new nylon material will keep you cool. No need to buy the pants if you have nylon material pants (they don't bite through them if the pants are sufficiently loose fitting). The gaitors are a must. Some of the guides in Kafue were so impressed that they ordered them themselves. The tsetse are not bad in Busanaga, but they are really bad around Lufupa. I heard they are bad in Luangwa as well. I am going back to Kafue in September, and I plan to bring an extra suit for the guide. It's really a shame not to explore the tsetse-ridden areas. Remember, people rob banks because that's where the money is. We should be exploring the tsetse areas, because that's where the animals are...

JanBristol,
I was in Kafue in Oct 2008 as part of a Zambia itinerary. I did stay at Lufupa Tented Camp and liked it very much. I did not find tsetse flies to be a problem in this area.

I did not stay at Busanga Plains Camp, but did stay relatively nearby at Musanza Tented Camp, and we drove daily to the Busanga Plains. I am not a twitcher, so can't tell you much about the birds, but the Busanga Pride of Lions was magnificent, and this area is probably the best prospect for seeing Cheetah in Kafue. Again, the tsetse flies were not too bad out on the plains, but in the woods and near the woodline, they will drive you to distraction. Loose fitting clothes is a very good idea, and a head net would also be helpful.

Temperatures in Oct were hot (up to 100F and above) but tolerable, and did not interfere with our enjoyment of the place.

Here's a link to my trip report, which includes a link to some photos: http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35167575

Cheers,

ricmck

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35167575