Not as crowded as many others - yet lots to see.
Email Paul Sivley | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
South Lwange was amazing in May, Kafue had good wildlife sightings, but far fewer
I traveled via Cross Country Safaris to Zambia in May 2017. I visited 3 camps in Kafue and South Lwange. Cross Country chose beautiful camps in Chichele Lodge and Flatdogs Camp. Amazing wildlife sightings and great service and comfort at these two camps. I've been on about 6-7 wildlife safaris, and this ranked first or 2nd best. I wish Cross Country had told me more about Kafue, despite the fact that I read it had less wildlife. We did see typically one good game sighting each drive, but far less density of sightings than at South Lwange. If I went back to Kafue, it would be in September. Tseste flies were quite noticeable in Kafue. I found camp staff a little less well trained at Kafue than at South Lwange, and thought it was wierd that they have live shooting practice for rangers inside the park, rather than in the Game Management Area.
Email West Tribe | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
1) Highly accessible (English is the main language), prices are affordable, the local transit (while a little chaotic) is easily utilized, locals are generally friendly and helpful
2) Safe, there was never any sense of risk that I experienced in Lusaka, Livingstone, Kasanka or Mfuwe. Police are corrupt but not so much so that I had to pay for, or herd of people being harassed for bribes.
3) Amazing sights and activities, my personal highlights included swimming at the edge of Victoria Falls, while little fish nibbled the dead skin off my body like some Vietnamese spa, watching up to 10,000,000 fruits bats take off from the canopy in Kasanka National Park, rafting down the Zambezi and a seemingly endless number of great sights in South Luangwa.
I can only base this on our experience in South Luangwa, but from what we heard from other guests, the other parks in Zambia are extremely good too.
This is based on South Luangwa.
Email Pim | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Five stars for most boxes. And 'only' four for birding because I didn't encounter much that I hadn't seen on previous safaris, despite South Luangwa's abundant bird life.
Email James Arden | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Zambia is a destination that has everything for everyone. From the novice safari goer to the experienced. The wealth of biodiversity and the level of knowledge from the guides is exceptional.
Somewhere a bit different to the usual areas. Just that bit wilder and less developed.
Email Allen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
No herds of Elephants, just individuals and small family groups, scenery is very much the same through out the whole park, no mountains but lots of water.
Email Wichjon | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
We were overwhelmed with the wildlife spotting in the South Luangwa National Park. While there were numerous safari operations with multiple vehicles in the park, the park was large enough, there were enough routes for the guides to pick that kept us from encountering them except on rare occasion.
Four star on the scenic beauty question to advise that the parks are not rain forests. They are flat flood plains where the elephants have decimated the forests. For some, this might be undesirable, but the open grassy plains made spotting animals easier. For one who comes from the central United States that is an open prairie with open sight lines to the horizon of ten to fifteen miles or more, this had a feeling of 'home' and was quite welcoming.
All of our camps fit our group size of 15 perfectly without others.