Reviews of Kutali Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
8 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kutali Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Kutali Camp review"
As with Chula, the scout is shared between the two camps so walking is not always possible (but there are plans to have a scout for each camp next year). A boat ride is still required to get to the vehicles.
Unlike at Chula, this is done at night after a night drive, which I was not entirely comfortable with. There was no moon when I was there, and on one trip we did bump something (submerged tree or a hippo, I'm not sure). I couldn't see any sign of lifejackets in the boat, either. Although our night drives were quite successful with several leopard sightings, they were not quite as productive as elsewhere, perhaps because we didn't take a spotter.
I think, all thing considered, I would rather have skipped them and taken the boat back to camp with sundowners as at Chula." See all these reviews: 15n in Zambia
We have subsequently had extensive chats with the camp’s owners. They have assured us that the safety issues experienced were an anomaly; that life jackets are always provided on boats, and that boating is not usually done at night. They assure us that they have put measures in place to ensure that what this traveller experienced will not happen again.
We’re aware that there was a shortage of scouts (and guides) in Zambia following the covid epidemic, and that this was one factor behind the problems that this traveller experienced at Kutali, and its sister camp Chula Island, with a limited choice of activities.
The owners hope that this will be rectified for 2023. However, going forward, it’s likely that all guests in camp will be doing the same activity, whether it be a game drive, boat trip or walking safari – and that the choices will be limited by the availability of scouts and guides. However, we’re assured that travellers will always be able to experience the full range of activities during their stay.
"Senior Africa Specialist | East & Southern Africa"
Buffalo
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
4 sightings
"Classic bush camp feel"
The canoe trip was quite an adventure as we had to negotiate our way past Elephants, Crocodiles and Hippos. We saw Elephants crossing the channels linked to the main river. The Wild Dog sightings were a real highlight. We had not stayed in this camp before, but would heartily recommend it.
It is getting increasingly difficult to find proper bush camps, but Classic Zambia has recognised that many wildlife enthusiasts like us still like bucket showers and don't need fancy facilities." See all these reviews: 21n in Zambia
Buffalo
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
5 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Wild dog
3 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"Kutali Camp review"
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
3 sightings
Lion
3 sightings
Zebra
2 sightings
"Kutali Camp review"
On improvement, we experienced a guide that was very inexperienced. Although we think he is a nice person, he was clearly well below what we have experienced with other guides in this trip - communication, animal identification, driving, etc. After we did a transfer drive on arrival and afternoon game drive with him, we informed the co-owners that we want to change the guide. We were asked to give him another chance in the morning drive, as it turned out, our vehicle broke down and we moved to join another guests in another vehicle/guide which saved us from a wasteful morning. Since then, the camp has assigned us another guide which was much better.
It appears to us that Kutali (and Chula) still need more staff and permanent manager to improve overall organization. We experienced the confusion on whether we could do activities that we asked to do (this was also shared by some other guests that we talked to). Service was generally good but a bit off from other camps we stayed in. Food was great." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
"Manager"
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wild dog
1 sighting
Zebra
1 sighting
"A lovely riverside camp"
Good choice of activities.
Superb guiding from Kyle" See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
"Kutali Camp review"
The tents were very comfortable and spacious with a delightful open shower attached. I do love showering under the stars and having to order your hot water for the bucket shower felt like adventure. So did using lanterns, firelight and torches as there was no electricity. The tents were spaced a distance apart right on the banks of the Lower Zambesi among beautiful woodland. This meant frequent hippo and elephant visits, requiring night time and early morning walks from the tent to the dining/bar shelter to be escorted by a staff member.
The staff were very helpful and great fun. The chefs produced phenomenal food using a hole in the ground as an oven. The guiding was amazing, as was the amount and variety of wildlife in the area. The woodlands were magical and interspersed with water channels ensuring large numbers of waterbuck, hippo and water birds. The driving was challenging at times but never too much for our guides. Would very definitely recommend Kutali for the intrepid with a sense of adventure. I met some fun folk there.
There was a charging table where devices could be charged, but no wifi. Bliss." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
5 sightings
Hippo
4 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
2 sightings
Zebra
3 sightings
"Very special low-key wilderness camp"
Location:
Kutali has a beautiful location in a winter-thorn forest, with the scent of the trees coming into flower, beside the peaceful Zambezi River. It is small and personal and we loved it. It is ideally situated for water activities - we had some lovely boat trips, with plenty of hippos and birds, and atmospheric sundowners on the river.
Accommodation:
The tents have mesh walls giving maximum sense of the outdoors, and open-air bathrooms with excellent hot bucket showers and flush toilets. The camps are carefully designed to be as environmentally sustainable and unobtrusive as possible, and the atmosphere is relaxed, personal and friendly. This is supported by Luke's speaking Nyanja (the local language) from boyhood.
Activities:
An afternoon game drive with James at Kutali yielded many elephants, impala, zebra, waterbuck and a leopard, followed by spot-lit white-tailed mongoose, genet and another leopard on the way back to dinner.On a brief morning drive before walking the next day we also saw kudu, warthog and baboons, as well of course as many birds.
We loved the walking safaris at both camps with Jakob, particularly enjoying his explanation of small details of tracking and the environment, and appreciating his care around approaching and avoiding buffalo and elephants. We saw many lion footprints, and the other campers at Kutali saw the group of resident lions, one up a tree, beside the river." See all these reviews: 19n in Zambia
Buffalo
2 sightings
Elephant
6 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Zebra
3 sightings
"Wonderful camp on the banks of the Zambezi"
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