​User Reviews – Zambia

Sort By: Date Most Helpful 51-60 of 64 Reviews
snow-n-sun   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: September 2008 Reviewed: Nov 2, 2011

Email snow-n-sun  |  35-50 years of age

Fantastic park, great to see the animals up so close
Overall rating
5/5

Stayed at Flat Dogs Camp for about 4 days, and found it a great location to explore the park as it was very close to one of the entrances. The camp is open, therefore elephants, monkeys and hippos wander through quite a lot, so you can sometimes get a great view from the swimming pool. Our guide took us in using an open land rover, and knew all the sites where the animals would be located. This meant we got to see the lions quickly, which would have been impossible if we had tried to do it ourselves. Later, he and another guide took us walking in a section of the park (precautions were taken of course!!!) and described the various animals, tracks, and vegetation that could be seen. We used out own vehicle the following days, dividing the park into sections we wanted to visit as it was too big to do in one day. Was great just to be able to go where you wanted though don't advise getting stuck in the sand! Flat Dogs camp had great accomodation, good choice of food, bar, pool, and offered guided tours - definately recommended.

D Kiene   –  
United States US
Visited: August 2008 Reviewed: Oct 29, 2011

Overall rating
5/5

Zambia is still not overrun with tourists.

Rick Sooy   –  
United States US
Visited: June 2008 Reviewed: Oct 27, 2011

Email Rick Sooy  |  65+ years of age

A Valley lost in Time
Overall rating
5/5

The Luangwa Valley in south-eastern Zambia is all but lost when talking about the most popular tourist destinations in Africa. Few people outside of Safari enthusiasts and back-packing adventurers had ever visited the place before the late 1990's, and in that fact lies it wonders and its charm. The valley is small by African standards being only 482 km long and 120 km at its widest point. It is situated at the southern tip of one of the spurs of the Great African Rift.

In places where the rift formed land on both sides began to slump. Just such a depression formed the Luangwa Valley and isolated it from the outside world by means of steep hills and daunting cliffs. For centuries its very inaccessibility guarded a vast wilderness where wild animals thrived and few people visited.

The Luangwa Valley is one of the few really wild places left in Africa. It has high concentrations, and a wide variety of wild animals.

If you have ever wanted to visit a wild and wondrous place that you thought no longer existed, go to the South Luangwa National Park. You will find it is an experience that you can connect with, in a deeper sense, and as with me, it will keep calling you back; back to a vast wilderness where today animals roam the land much like they did when our ancestors walked the earth.

I've traveled the world a lot, but still my experience did not prepare me for a place like this – a place where hippopotamus came up from the river at four in the morning to eat the sweet grass outside my bedroom window, a place where wild lions watched me watching them from only a few feet away, a place where there are no bars or restrictions, except common sense, between you and these totally wild animals. I was not only a guest of Norman Carr Safaris, but of this truly remarkable place and its wildlife. I felt honored and privileged to be there. It was exhilarating to ride and walk among them as they continue to roam, with little or no fear of humans.

My first task was finding a safari outfit to which I was willing to entrust my life. This adventure would not be a concession ride, nor would it be a zoo. This, I was hoping, would be the real thing! As it turned out, I need not have worried. Most Safari operations in the area are small. Wholesale tourism has yet to invade this little corner of the world.

For me one operator, Norman Carr Safaris, stood out from all the rest. On its Web Site http://www.normancarrsafaris.com/ I read the history of how they got started and was impressed with Norman Carr’s philosophy and vision. Living in the valley most of his life he was appointed one of the areas first Game Rangers. He believed that there was a special appeal to walking the bush. Safari the Old Way was what it was called, and its success in the Luangwa Valley was due in no small part to the man who has been called "the father of the non-consumptive walking safari". Bush drives are great but you are only and "observer" of Nature. When you walk the bush (not some carefully selected path) you are a "participant" with Nature!

Eco-tourism is supposed to be a new concept, but Norman Carr was doing it more that 50 years ago. He strongly believed in sharing the profits of his enterprise directly with the indigenous peoples of the region, to help them become self-sustaining and provide an alternative to illegal poaching.

Norman Carr Safaris offer the variety of a luxury safari lodge and a selection of five authentic and wonderfully appointed bushcamps. All the guides are indiginous and a number of them, still there, were personally trained by Norman Carr himself.

The Luangwa Valley is a place where time, for time’s sake, is meaningless except to know when it was time to leave, and wishing you could stay just a little bit longer. It is said that if you ever find a place like this, you will always go back. I could not understand that statement or pull such a place exerts on something deep inside you, until I went there. I still don’t fully understand it but I can tell you it is there today, whispering in my ear, calling me back!

The first time I visited the Luangwa Valley was in March of 2007 during the birding season when the birds were displaying their colorful mating plumage. I went back in June of 2008, right before winter set in. Everything was still green and the animals were plentiful. I plan to return in 2012.


kachasu   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: September 2011 Reviewed: Oct 25, 2011

Email kachasu  |  50-65 years of age

Zambia is fabulous - wonderful scenery, wildlife and, generally the people.
Overall rating
5/5

Everything was as good as I expected when I lived there - only better. Saw stacks of wildilfe in the Kafue National Park/Lower Zambezi National Park, with the attendant prolific birdlife. The weather in Zambia is superb in September - warm, sunny, cloudless days and hot - but not the hottest months [October/November] aren't for the faint hearted as it gets VERY hot, particularly in the Zambezi Valley.
We drove around ourselves and found that generally the roads were good and have improved since I left home in 2001.
There has been much investment in the country; the bush camps are 'wild', not like the very 'touristey' operations in Kenya where if something unusual is spotted within 5 minutes suddenly 40 vehicles arrive. The camps are rustic, homely, comfortable and offer good food, ambience and second to none safari guides.
Thoroughly recommended!

Amanda Gardner   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2007 Reviewed: Oct 11, 2011

Email Amanda Gardner  |  20-35 years of age

Friendly people, chill vibe, excellent wildlife viewing.
Overall rating
5/5

Absolutely awesome wildlife, from the ubiquitous impala to the stealthy leopard. Hippos, crocs, birds of all sorts, as well as elephants, rhinos, lions, bush pigs, hyenas, springboks, giraffes, birds... You name it, you can probably see it in Zambia.

Wandie Kabule Visited: August 2008 Reviewed: Oct 1, 2011

My home country and a favorite holiday destination!
Overall rating
5/5

Zambia is gorgeous! The people are incredible, the sites are breathtaking, and there is always something new and wonderful to experience. I was born in Zambia, so I am a bit biased. Living in Los Angeles now, it's nice to visit home and to experience things like the Victoria Falls and the South Luangwa. To have a sunset safari over the water, seeing gorgeous animals and enjoying the peacefulness. There's nothing like it!

aserlemitsos   –  
United States US
Visited: March 2011 Reviewed: Sep 20, 2011

under20 years of age

Zambia, the real Africa.
Overall rating
5/5

Zambia is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. With multiple unique national parks, this country offers wildlife that is just as good if not better than countries like Tanzania or Kenya. Most importantly, Zambia offers something, that these other two don't, privacy. In my 15 years living in Zambia, I have never come across another safari truck, while on a game drive. People are very friendly, and crime is very low making Zambia the most ideal country to visit for safari.

jpmckenna   –  
Canada CA
Visited: September 2010 Reviewed: Sep 2, 2011

Email jpmckenna  |  35-50 years of age

Overall rating
5/5

Good wildlife, and an off the beaten track feel.

zambiandawnsafaris Visited: August 2011 Reviewed: Sep 2, 2011

Overall rating
5/5

Zambia is still wild and untouched and is a great hidden gem. Freindly people and great destinations.

elipheliph   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: July 2010 Reviewed: Aug 31, 2011

20-35 years of age

Overall rating
5/5

Zambia is not a ''hot'' safari destination which makes it still so wild, natural and beautiful.

Average User Rating

  • 4.6/5
  • Wildlife
  • Scenery
  • Bush Vibe
  • Birding

Rating Breakdown

  • 5 star 64
  • 4 star 25
  • 3 star 4
  • 2 star 0
  • 1 star 0
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