petitfromage

I am considering a trip to Zambia. It would be my first to Africa and I would like to either participate in an organized tour or else hire a tour guide locally who could organize everything. Would anyone have any suggestions? I would be coming from the US.

P_M

I can't answer your question but whatever you do, do NOT bring Benadryl into Zambia. Please see the thread below, that info is just enough to put me off Zambia.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...enadryl.cfm?15

atravelynn

Excellent choice of destinations, especially if you want to include walking and/or canoeing on your trip.

Can you tell us when you would be going? Check out this chart which shows when Zambian parks (and others in Africa) are at their best and also when they are not open.

http://www.africa-adventure.com/dsp_besttime.html

Do you know which parks are of most interest to you? My favorite camp is Kutandala in North Luangwa.

There are lots of options for Zambia.

You mentioned joining an organized trip. Wilderness Travel in California and International Expeditions in Alabama are leaders in nature travel and they have Zambia interaries. Natural Habitat in Colorado does one and they are a great company that I've traveled with.

Zambia has some well established operators, most based in South Luangwa, that you can contact by searching for these names. Not only do they have camps, but they operate walking safaris where you go from one bush camp to the next. You can do a combo of a walking safari and staying at one camp and walking and driving.

Norman Carr (I was at one of their camps, Kakuli, last Aug and had a great time)
The Coppingers operate several camps including Tafika, which I really loved.
Robin Pope Safaris may be a name you are familiar with and their camps were good too.
The Shentons operate 2 camps I'd love to visit--Kaingo and Mwamba.

You could also use an Africa specialist to coordinate activities in a variety of parks--

Eyes on Africa, in Chicago which I've used and they were great
The Africa Adventure Co in Ft. Lauderdale, which I've used for custom Zambia trips and all was wonderful
Go2Africa in South Africa
There are many more.

Check out the Southern Africa index and search for Zambia for more trip reports.

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...port-index.cfm

Just thinking of North and South Luangwa, the Lower Zambezi and Kafue gives me goosebumps.

petitfromage

Wow. This is all so confusing...about the camps and such. So, evidently certain individuals or groups operate camps (and what exactly are those?). And, some camps are preferable to others? Sounds like some camp operators have a loyal following? What services would normally be provided by a camp?

cary999

little cheese- after your last reply, why Zambia, may I ask? I suppose you must have very particular reason, otherwise most first timers would choose another of the more well know countries.

Also, is budget $$$$ a consideration?

regards - tom (grand fromage )

atravelynn

Zambia generally appeals to the more adventurous traveler who wishes to exit the vehicle for a more intimate encounter with nature.

The camps I'll mention below and most reliable camps provide:
guiding whether in a vehicle, on foot, or in a boat/canoe, armed scouts when on foot, all food and drink (though sometimes certain alcohol is extra), transfers to the airport/airstrip/next camp, laundry, soap and shampoo, towels, nice beds and bedding. If on a mobile they'll provide the tents and erect them, and cots or sleeping bags, plus staff to feed you and haul everything. In other words, they provide just about everything.

If you are confused, you can use an Africa specialist or book with one of the small group nature trips.

The various camps do have loyal followings, but I would not hesitate to go to any of these.

Robin Pope operates these in South Luangwa
The famous Tena Tena
Nkawali
Nsefu
plus mobile walking safaris
They also arrange a visit for a few hours or days to Kawaza village for a cultural experience.

In North Luangwa they work closesly, but do not own, Kutandala, which is run by Rod and Guz Tether. You can add Kutandala onto any S. Luangwa itinerary.

The Coppingers (Remote Africa) operate these in South Luangwa
Takfika
Chikoko -- where you can walk to Crocodile
Crocodile -- where you can walk to Chikoko
In N. Luangwa they operate Mwaleshi

Norman Carr Safaris operates these in South Luangwa
Kapani
Then you can do a walking safari and stop at any combo of these camps:
Kakuli
Luwi
Nsolo
Mchenja
You can also just drive to any of these camps and stay there without walking between the camps.

Shentons operate these in South Luangwa
Kaingo
Mwamba
Both of these have some fascinating hides (secure areas that you sit in and wait for various species such as hippos or colorful birds to come by) that I'd love to try.

Now that's just South Luangwa. You could easily do your whole safari in South Luangwa alone, but if time and money permit, I'd suggest adding at least the Lower Zambezi, where caneoing is big, along with walking.

If you want to see Victoria Falls, spend a night in Livingstone.

To echo Tom's question, why Zambia?

petitfromage

Why Zambia? Well, I just finished listening to the "Great Courses" series called "The African Experience". The professor, Kenneth P. Vickery, spoke of Zambia in the highest terms, the people, the land, the nature. Now I think it is a "must see". Would there be any reason, Why Not Zambia?
My budget is certainly not in the "private jet" range but I would understand a cost of a few thousand dollars for, perhaps, two weeks on site and airfare. Does that sound reasonable?

cary999

Why not Zambia? Well, if you MUST see wild rhino, you won't in Zambia .
Other than that, sure, why not.
I've been there twice on safari and would go back. Both times at Robin Pope camps. Here's few snapshots from our 2006 safari there -
http://www.tomgraham.smugmug.com/gal...660313_HaQ4b/1

That trip was arranged by my TA (Travel Agent), we also went safari in South Africa and Kenya. Safari and only safari, probably not the experience you're looking for after Prof. Vickery's Courses. Wish I could recommend an agency or tour company that specializes in Zambia, but I can't. Maybe someone else here can. You could email, or call, the camps Robin Pope and Norman Carr and tell them what you're after and they maybe can put you in touch with a TA. As for budget, I think you're ok, $2,000 air from/to USA, another $4-5,000 for those camps.

regards - tom

petitfromage

Tom,
After looking at your pictures, now I KNOW I want to go. Thanks for sharing.

atravelynn

That's a great reason for Zambia.

Sometimes the camps even list agents they work with on their websites. It usually costs nothing more to use an agent.

Were there specific regions of Zambia that were mentioned by Professor Vickery?

cary999

Thanks PF. Did you notice on smugmug you can go to other photos? Those above were from 2006, here's a few from 2005, camp Nsefu-
http://tomgraham.smugmug.com/gallery/2636460_eeQY8
The three of the lion cub are my all time favorites.

regards - tom