Travel reviews by Mrs M from Appledore

"It was good to be back at Latitude 15 after the Covid years and they looked after me well. But it seemed a little tired in some respects.

The pillow cases were frayed, two of the towels had old stains and the sealant in the shower was cracking.

None of this seriously diminished my stay: just felt some freshening up might be in order"

"Reaching Nkwali is like coming home. Everything as remembered from previous visits.

Thrilled to be woken at 3.00 by a heavy breathing elephant outside my room which went on to vandalise a nearby tree. And the loud harrumphs of hippos. So good to be back."

"It never ceases to be amazing that the Mobile Camp can operate so smoothly at such a distance from base. With such a personal touch too.

The staff organised fishing trips during siesta for the keen fishermen in the group and surprised me completely by celebrating my birthday (which I thought I’d kept a well guarded secret) with a serenade and a chocolate cake with candles specially baked by Alfred.

We were so well looked after."

"Nsefu also feels like home and it was wonderful to be back after so long.

The views across the river are breathtaking and it was lovely to spend the siesta hour in the hide or in the armchair on the bank watching the families of elephants, large and tiny, making their way across.

The only thing missing was the tree frog I was accustomed to having in my shower."

"It was wonderful to be back at Nsefu which is one of my favourite camps.

Unfortunately because of the problems with my flights from London I missed my first two nights there and only arrived late on the third night. A small consolation was spotting a very fine leopard and a honey badger on the drive in. We left early next morning to transfer to Luangwa Safari House so it was a sadly fleeting visit. The transfer drive was good and I include the game sightings below."

"As I and one other couple were the only guests we had a choice of bedrooms and I opted for one upstairs with a view over the pool and the lagoon. The first few nights were hot and the breeze system over the bed was a welcome coolant.

There were bats roosting in the bathroom and I enjoyed their comings and goings and the knowledge that they were keeping the mosquitoes down in number. There was a good feeling of being relaxed and at home in the house and the staff were always on hand to deal with my needs before I knew I had them.

The rains began in earnest towards the end of the week so less time was spent outside round the pool but the house is so open and airy that there was never a sense of being shut in by the weather.

===

RPS - Carnivore Week with the Zambian Carnivore Project

Amongst the alpha predators

It was a privilege to be able to see the work of ZCP for the second time. The use of satellite tracking collars was new since my last visit and it was interesting what a difference it made to being able to pinpoint the animals.

The presentation on Day 1 was professional and informative and the ZCP team, especially Thandi, were very generous with their time. I worried, though, that there was too much of their valuable time spent coming with us to make sure we got to see the lions and dogs. I had expected that they would go about their usual work and would let us come along and observe. But so saying it was a very special experience being able to listen to them talk about their work and their intimate knowledge of the packs and prides in South Luangwa and Zambia's other parks.

Jonah our guide treated us to some very accomplished off-road driving to locate the lions and dogs and was managed the inevitable punctures and getting stuck in the mud competence and good humour. Altogether an exciting and educational week."

"It was lovely to revisit Nkwali all too briefly before heading off for the Mobile Walking Safari first thing in the morning.

It's like a homecoming"

"My second walking safari lived up to all expectations and exceeded them in terms of the guiding. It was privilege to walk with Kanga, Geoffrey and Charles, our wildlife scout, whose expertise and knowledge was encyclopaedic.

It's a magical way to experience the park, learning about its smallest inhabitants like termites and ant lions and praying mantis. (could have done without the tsetse flies though) and its largest. We tracked lions and skirted respectfully round elephants and buffalo and were briefly experts on dung and tracks.

The team back at camp hosted by ever-hospitable Michael looked after our every need. I look forward to next time."

"Coming back to Nsefu was also like coming home.

The banana boat ride to the landing, being in the same room as my last stay, watching the elephant and giraffe in stately procession through the river: familiar but exciting as ever.

Chilumba went out of his way to find us the mother leopard and her cub, and the local lions, as well as introducing me to birds I hadn't seen before.

Sad to leave as always."

"Emakoko was very welcoming after a long day's travelling. It was looking elegantly festive for Christmas with a log fire and pretty tree. my room was comfortable and had visiting rock hyrax who came in apparently bent on stealing the roses from the vase on the table. lovely view across the little valley, and a serval which came to sundowners. No time for a serious game drive as we left early next day, but great to see giraffe grazing with high rise Nairobi in the background.

A good start to the holiday."

"Peter jnr. collected us from Nanuke and was an entertaining and interesting guide on the way to the camp. Andy and Sonja could not have been more accommodating hosts and made sure that everything ran smoothly and our every need was met. They and the rest of the staff took great pains to make Christmas special, with festive lunch under an acacia, staff singing and presents of fudge made by the chef. Candle-lit dinner in the evening. Game drives were always interesting, though not quite the same numbers and different species I'm used to in Zambia. Different habitat of course. It was a privilege to see rhino. Peter snr. was an informed and informative guide."

"Pete and his wife and Clea were very attentive hosts and the camp was very well run. Game drives were spoilt a bit by too many other vehicles - it was Christmas, I know, and we can't expect to have the whole Maasai Mara to ourselves - but I would avoid the Maara itself at peak holiday time. Our guide Pius did his best to avoid the viewing jams. I felt that our guide didn't quite measure up to the standard of others - he seemed a bit offhand and bored at times - but we had some very good sightings particularly of cheetah and lion."

"Loved Kicheche's remoteness. Darren and Emma and their great staff made our days there very memorable. They organised a dawn balloon safari for me, and we had a very good early morning walking trip. Charles, our guide, was superb, knowledgeable and keen to help us enjoy our game viewing. As it's in one of the concessions, this was less crowded than the Mara itself.

it was interesting having photographers, professional and keen amateurs, in the camp, and to be allowed to look over their shoulders in the evening to watch them processing the days' shots. Tempts me to do a trip with Paul Goldstein and improve my holiday pics."