Reviews of Sausage Tree Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
44 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Sausage Tree Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Jul-2018, 14 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Sausage Tree Camp.
Lion
93% success
Leopard
85% success
Cheetah
0% success
Wild dog
31% success
Buffalo
100% success
Elephant
100% success
Hippo
100% success
Zebra
54% success
Spotted Hyena
46% success
Sable antelope
8% success
Aardvark
0% success
Eland
0% success
Pangolin
0% success
Dr & Mrs S
Cheshire
"A very well run camp"
6 nights Arrived 2 Sep 2015
"Sausage Tree is a very professionally run camp. Knowledgable guides, and attentive staff. The owner, Jason, has made a few changes since out last visit two years ago, all for the good so far as I can tell.
The guaranteed private guiding (i.e. just you and your guide in each vehicle) is new, and works well (of course, you need to decide if that is what you want).
One suggestion to the camp. There are a number of places which have fairly steep concrete steps: from the main area of each tent to the bathroom, and around the main communal area. For guests who are a little unsteady on their feet, like me, simple hand rails would improve safety and security." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
The guaranteed private guiding (i.e. just you and your guide in each vehicle) is new, and works well (of course, you need to decide if that is what you want).
One suggestion to the camp. There are a number of places which have fairly steep concrete steps: from the main area of each tent to the bathroom, and around the main communal area. For guests who are a little unsteady on their feet, like me, simple hand rails would improve safety and security." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
R & C
Aylesbury
"A bit of luxury to end the hoiday"
5 nights Arrived 20 Aug 2015
"Much the most 'luxurious' camp that we stayed at in a great location. It lacked the intimacy of smaller camps but the facilities were very good – lovely, spacious rooms but with some steps in our bathroom that were a bit difficult to negotiate. Very good service from all the staff (the personal 'butler' idea is very nice but not quite our style, but we did appreciate our room decorations!) although at times the camp felt somewhat over-staffed. Food was very good; we had one lunch on a sandbank in the river and a dinner in the bush – both very enjoyable.
We had our own guide (Hastings) for all activities - he's a pleasant and very competent guide. Knows his birds.
The range of activities was very good. However, the walk we did was disappointing with a rather casual scout in an uninteresting area: not really worth doing. (There is too much vegetation here for safe walking anywhere interesting, and it was our impression that the many elephants were somewhat more aggressive (and bigger!) than those in South Luangua.)
Drives started around 7.30am which we thought was a bit late, but if anyone wanted to go earlier they were accommodated.
Trips on the river were interesting and very relaxing, and canoeing up a backwater with crocs and many hippos was good, if a bit scary. Night drives were memorable, mainly through close encounters with hunting lions and stroppy elephants. We didn’t try the fishing which seems to be seasonal.
(Note that Potato Bush and Sausage Tree are effectively the same camp, sharing staff, equipment and catering)." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
We had our own guide (Hastings) for all activities - he's a pleasant and very competent guide. Knows his birds.
The range of activities was very good. However, the walk we did was disappointing with a rather casual scout in an uninteresting area: not really worth doing. (There is too much vegetation here for safe walking anywhere interesting, and it was our impression that the many elephants were somewhat more aggressive (and bigger!) than those in South Luangua.)
Drives started around 7.30am which we thought was a bit late, but if anyone wanted to go earlier they were accommodated.
Trips on the river were interesting and very relaxing, and canoeing up a backwater with crocs and many hippos was good, if a bit scary. Night drives were memorable, mainly through close encounters with hunting lions and stroppy elephants. We didn’t try the fishing which seems to be seasonal.
(Note that Potato Bush and Sausage Tree are effectively the same camp, sharing staff, equipment and catering)." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr A F, Torquay
UK
"Sausage Tree Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 13 Oct 2014
"Probably the best overall experience . This may have been compromised if the camp had been busier.
Probably the most expensive ( ?).
The guarantee of a private guide avoided any conflict with other guests interests (eg avid Twitchers )." See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
Probably the most expensive ( ?).
The guarantee of a private guide avoided any conflict with other guests interests (eg avid Twitchers )." See all these reviews: 17n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Dr & Mrs W
UK
"Sausage Tree Camp"
11 nights Arrived 23 Sep 2014
"We were lucky enough to spend 11 nights at Sausage Tree Camp and, by now, so gripped by Zambia's spell that, when the time came, we did not want to leave! Nicci and Alan were superb hosts, so too Carol and all the guides - Kyle, Charles, Ryan... Great good humour prevailed amongst all in camp, guests and staff alike, with lots of smiles and laughs. Tabs, our muchinda, looked after us so well, taking great care over our tent, our laundry, early morning coffee and creating lovely decorations.
We were treated to a bush breakfast, a feet-cooling river buffet lunch and a delicious bush dinner. We chose not to do the canoeing but thoroughly enjoyed 3 fishing trips, when Alan still found time to position the boat for osprey photos!
There is a large swimming pool for cooling off during the heat of early afternoon and a room fan can also act as hairdryer, although the heat will quickly dry anything. Again there was a blanket for early morning chills and bean bags for stabilising the camera.
Sausage Tree provides all guests with private guiding and we considered ourselves so lucky to go with Alan, himself an ethical man and very keen photographer with a growing repertoire of great shots. His knowledge, experience, tracking, hard work and enthusiasm led to some very exciting and varied game viewing. His instincts for this or that animal's behaviour assisted anticipation to capture the best moments. We can't wait to go back!" See all these reviews: 20n in Zambia
We were treated to a bush breakfast, a feet-cooling river buffet lunch and a delicious bush dinner. We chose not to do the canoeing but thoroughly enjoyed 3 fishing trips, when Alan still found time to position the boat for osprey photos!
There is a large swimming pool for cooling off during the heat of early afternoon and a room fan can also act as hairdryer, although the heat will quickly dry anything. Again there was a blanket for early morning chills and bean bags for stabilising the camera.
Sausage Tree provides all guests with private guiding and we considered ourselves so lucky to go with Alan, himself an ethical man and very keen photographer with a growing repertoire of great shots. His knowledge, experience, tracking, hard work and enthusiasm led to some very exciting and varied game viewing. His instincts for this or that animal's behaviour assisted anticipation to capture the best moments. We can't wait to go back!" See all these reviews: 20n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Dr & Mrs S
Cheshire
"Sausage Tree Camp review"
5 nights Arrived 16 Sep 2013
"Good relaxing stay in a very well managed camp. Variety of activities welcome, and the closeness of the river a definite plus in hot September weather.
Having expressed an interest in birding, we were allocated a guide (Prisley) with excellent birding skills." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Having expressed an interest in birding, we were allocated a guide (Prisley) with excellent birding skills." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
W family
Aylesbury
"Sausage Tree Camp review"
3 nights Arrived 24 Aug 2012
"Sausage Tree has quite a different feel to Chongwe. The facilities are more upmarket and the camp management is very impressive. We particularly appreciated the efforts made to do some things differently such as lunch in the river (lilterally) and breakfast and dinner in the bush.
It's very hard to find any fault with Sausage Tree. The one area where I feel Chongwe had an edge was in the atmosphere they managed to foster between guests, management and guiding staff by assiduous mingling at the bar and over dinner." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
It's very hard to find any fault with Sausage Tree. The one area where I feel Chongwe had an edge was in the atmosphere they managed to foster between guests, management and guiding staff by assiduous mingling at the bar and over dinner." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms B
San Francisco
"River activities! Good ending to a safari."
3 nights Arrived 11 Jul 2012
"Sausage Tree Camp was a GREAT place to end my second safari. It sits right on the banks of the Zambezi River and they offer various water activities such as canoeing in a channel with hippos and crocodiles, fishing for Tiger Fish, or taking a boat cruise. There are some memorable moments such as a luncheon on and in the water (up to your ankles) and a bush dinner which is out in the dark with a camp fire, lit by hurricane lanterns.
My guide, Charles, was very knowledgeable and experienced. The camp managers (Allen, George, Nikki and Merle) were fantastic and welcoming. The bar and wait staff were friendly and accommodating. They assign you a personal butler. Mine was Phillip and he did a great job being helpful and organized. The owner, Jason, was in town and he is a great story-teller who has traveled extensively around the world.
The meals are served as a group if you want, or separately if you so choose. The chalets overlook the water and have decks. The rooms have no heat, which is typical of bush camps, and have outdoor bathrooms. I am not a fan of an outdoor bathroom, particularly not when a spider could drop off a tree onto me while I'm washing my face. (This did not happen but it could have!)
If you are going on your first safari and are anxious to see tons of game, this is NOT the place to go first. Go somewhere else first, get your Big Five viewing out of the way. Then, come here to enjoy the nuances of something different, such as the riverine forest and the Zambezi experience.
The food here was quite good. I would stay here again in a heartbeat and would recommend it." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
My guide, Charles, was very knowledgeable and experienced. The camp managers (Allen, George, Nikki and Merle) were fantastic and welcoming. The bar and wait staff were friendly and accommodating. They assign you a personal butler. Mine was Phillip and he did a great job being helpful and organized. The owner, Jason, was in town and he is a great story-teller who has traveled extensively around the world.
The meals are served as a group if you want, or separately if you so choose. The chalets overlook the water and have decks. The rooms have no heat, which is typical of bush camps, and have outdoor bathrooms. I am not a fan of an outdoor bathroom, particularly not when a spider could drop off a tree onto me while I'm washing my face. (This did not happen but it could have!)
If you are going on your first safari and are anxious to see tons of game, this is NOT the place to go first. Go somewhere else first, get your Big Five viewing out of the way. Then, come here to enjoy the nuances of something different, such as the riverine forest and the Zambezi experience.
The food here was quite good. I would stay here again in a heartbeat and would recommend it." See all these reviews: 6n in Zimbabwe; 3n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
O Family
Vancouver
"Sausage Tree Camp review"
1 night Arrived 4 Jul 2012
"This was our first experience on safari, and it completely exceeded our expectations. The food was superb, and our guide was also wonderful. The location in the park was excellent. We even had a butler, which the kids thought was pretty funny!"
See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 8n in Namibia; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Dr P
Aberdeenshire
"Sausage Tree Camp review"
4 nights Arrived 4 Oct 2011
"Sausage Tree camp has a wonderfully remote feel to it, albeit being located right on the Zambezi river banks in an absolutely stunning location. When flying in, after coming from South Luangwa, the landscape looks like a lush golf course, and Sausage Tree oddly has something of the atmosphere you find in city hotels. Clearly, a lot of tought went into the desigh and decoration of this camp when it was originally built even if it is beginning to show its age in places.
Coming here after being in the Tafika bush camps feels like coming onto Oxford street from a country walk. It is very busy when full, and mealtimes along the traditional long table are bustling.
The food is ambitious with two choices for all three courses at dinner.
Guides here are knowledgeable but it is clear that they don't benefit from the long established tradition of the South Luangwa park. No doubt that will come, and some of the guides are really excellent. However, I personally dislike the practice of radioing every car in the area once a "specimen" has been located with the animals being set upon by cars coming from all directions to see the sight. That said, Sausage Camp has an excellent variety of activities between the bush and the river, and does its best to show of both to their advantage." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Coming here after being in the Tafika bush camps feels like coming onto Oxford street from a country walk. It is very busy when full, and mealtimes along the traditional long table are bustling.
The food is ambitious with two choices for all three courses at dinner.
Guides here are knowledgeable but it is clear that they don't benefit from the long established tradition of the South Luangwa park. No doubt that will come, and some of the guides are really excellent. However, I personally dislike the practice of radioing every car in the area once a "specimen" has been located with the animals being set upon by cars coming from all directions to see the sight. That said, Sausage Camp has an excellent variety of activities between the bush and the river, and does its best to show of both to their advantage." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs G
Leics
"A good variety of activities"
3 nights Arrived 18 Sep 2011
"A very luxurious camp with lots to do, helpful staff and very good guides - George and Marshall. The mangement coped amazingly well as we were there during the Zambian elections and they managed to keep a full camp happy and occupied despite having half their staff away voting.
The river trips and game drives were good, with Marshall managing to track down a good leopard sighting during a night drive, and seeing a roan antelope from the river - although unfortunately it was standing in Zimbabwe. The highlights were probably our canoe trip to the airport on the last morning and the final night drive with George when we just sat quietly by a waterhole with our sundowners watching all the game sorting themselves out for night-time.
The rooms were lovely and very well equipped (useful to have an extra set of good binoculars provided), and a drink in the pool or our outdoor bath proved a nice way to cool off in the afternoons whilst watching the activities on the river. The food was good and very well presented." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 5n in South Africa
The river trips and game drives were good, with Marshall managing to track down a good leopard sighting during a night drive, and seeing a roan antelope from the river - although unfortunately it was standing in Zimbabwe. The highlights were probably our canoe trip to the airport on the last morning and the final night drive with George when we just sat quietly by a waterhole with our sundowners watching all the game sorting themselves out for night-time.
The rooms were lovely and very well equipped (useful to have an extra set of good binoculars provided), and a drink in the pool or our outdoor bath proved a nice way to cool off in the afternoons whilst watching the activities on the river. The food was good and very well presented." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 5n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
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Other lodges in Lower Zambezi National Park
Alternative places to stay in this same area.
Old Mondoro Bushcamp
For an intimate safari in the Lower Zambezi, with superb guiding, Old Mondoro is up there with the best.
Chongwe River Camp
A blend of the stylish and traditional in a most picturesque site in the Zambezi Valley, Chongwe River Camp offers an excellent safari experience and real value for money.
Chiawa Camp
One of Zambia's top safari camps, Chiawa is family owned and run, offering superb service and a flexible approach from a location well inside the Lower Zambezi National Park.
Potato Bush Camp
Potato Bush is located right in the heart of the Lower Zambezi National Park, with privately guided activities taking you on game drives, walks, boat trips and canoeing.
Anabezi Luxury Camp
Anabezi Luxury Tented Camp offers a high degree of understated luxury in a very lovely, quiet part of the Lower Zambezi with outstanding wildlife.
Amanzi
Opened in 2015, Amanzi is an intimate and rustic yet luxury camp in a very quiet area of the Lower Zambezi, with plenty of wildlife and good birding.
Kutali Camp
Kutali Camp offers the opportunity to experience the wilderness of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, in this simple tented camp located on Kulefu Island.
Chongwe River House
Chongwe River House is a stylish four-bedroom house designed for the exclusive use of families and small groups, affording the ultimate in flexibility on safari.
Kasaka River Lodge
Kasaka River Lodge is a relatively simple, family-friendly camp. It's outside the Lower Zambezi National Park and, with a recent change of ownership for the better, it offers a great-value safari destination.
Chula Island Camp
Chula Island Camp offers the opportunity to experience the wilderness of Zambia’s Lower Zambezi National Park, in this simple fly-camp located in a natal mahogany grove on a small island on the Zambezi River.
Lolebezi
A chic safari spot, luxurious Lolelbezi is the Lower Zambezi’s newest camp and offers a mix of walking, canoeing and game drives led by excellent guides.
Royal Zambezi Lodge
This family-friendly lodge is located just on the outskirts of the Lower Zambezi National Park, in a great location overlooking the river.
