Reviews of Pioneer Camp
Wildlife sightings and reviews
145 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Pioneer Camp and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Mrs & Mr O
California
"Good Layover at Pioneer Camp"
1 night Arrived 8 Oct 2013
"Pioneer Camp was fine for a night's transition after the long flight. We enjoyed the abundant bird life, and the opportunity to speak with self-drive campers."
See all these reviews: 16n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
B family
Switzerland
"Different rooms"
1 night Arrived 6 Oct 2013
"We first had a family chalet for the six of us. This isn't luxurious but ok, and has a big advantage: It is spacious. As the first week in Zambia we flew to Mfuwe and the second week we camped on our own we had to repack and leave the camping stuff in Lusaka. Pioneer Camp was very helpful and we could leave all the stuff for the second week in a closed container. The luxury chalets where we stayed the second time are very nice indeed with a veranda to sit outside. The last night we stayed at the quite basic standard chalets. These are OK but not more. It would make the standard chalet already better if the light was a bit brighter.
The food is quite good but for repeated stays the menu is definitively too small and lacks choice. The breakfast is good and we appreciated the kettles in the chalets and the always available tea and coffee.
Pioneer lodge is a warm welcome to Zambia: not far from Lusaka and the airport but remote enough to be quiet and give an African feel. Can be recommended!" See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
The food is quite good but for repeated stays the menu is definitively too small and lacks choice. The breakfast is good and we appreciated the kettles in the chalets and the always available tea and coffee.
Pioneer lodge is a warm welcome to Zambia: not far from Lusaka and the airport but remote enough to be quiet and give an African feel. Can be recommended!" See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Dr & Mrs C
Henley
"good place to stop overnight"
1 night Arrived 4 Oct 2013
"Paul is an experienced guide taking 2 or 3 guests in the closed Land Cruiser. He was very helpful about Kafue camps. Steady changes to the Camp and the food was much better. The pickups to/from Airport work well and it is only 30 mins away, and the local road may be surfaced next year??"
See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Mr & Mrs B
Dersingham
"Our last night in Zambia"
1 night Arrived 29 Sep 2013
"We stayed at Pioneer Camp on our last night in Zambia, prior to an early flight back to the UK. The transfers, both in and out, were efficient.
Paul, our host, was most welcoming, and volunteered to do our on-line check-in for our homeward flight, even asking us for our seating preferences." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Paul, our host, was most welcoming, and volunteered to do our on-line check-in for our homeward flight, even asking us for our seating preferences." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Miss M
Maidstone
"Pioneer Camp review"
1 night Arrived 27 Sep 2013
"Pioneer was the best possible way to spend the essential last night In Lusaka prior to the flight early the following morning.
Paul was an enormous help on arrival regarding flight check in and telling us the info we needed re supper/breks/bar. Also Alfred was great too.
We were really pleased we hadn't gone to an 'international' hotel or somewhere less in keeping with our previous 8 nights! A good choice." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Paul was an enormous help on arrival regarding flight check in and telling us the info we needed re supper/breks/bar. Also Alfred was great too.
We were really pleased we hadn't gone to an 'international' hotel or somewhere less in keeping with our previous 8 nights! A good choice." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr P & Ms F
Stirling
"Last night in Zambia before flight home"
1 night Arrived 20 Sep 2013
"We used this camp as a stopover before flying home, so can't give a conclusive review. It was fine for our purposes, their driver picked us up from the airport and took us straight to the camp. As we checked in we ordered for dinner (spaghetti bolognaise!) and after dinner one of the reception team checked us in for our flights (including our onward flight from Heathrow) and booked our seats.
So all in all. A nice camp with excellent helpful staff ideal for the purpose we used it for." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
So all in all. A nice camp with excellent helpful staff ideal for the purpose we used it for." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Average
Facilities:
Good
Dr K
Baldock
"being a Pioneer!"
1 night Arrived 13 Sep 2013
"The camp was quite some way from the airport and you certainly felt like a pioneer just getting there!. It was mostly rough and dusty road, not how I imagined it, but was a fun drive. Arriving at night we happened to see 2 Duikers on the road . The camp is safe as theres a fence round it so you could walk back to the main bit at nght OK. The room was huge and there was a kettle to make tea etc."
See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Kim
London
"Pioneer Camp review"
1 night Arrived 13 Sep 2013
"Bit of a come down after the wonderful Robin Pope Lodges, Everything comfortable but a lot more basic, including the food.
Very accommodating and offered to check in the BA flight which was very helpful." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Very accommodating and offered to check in the BA flight which was very helpful." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Average
Service:
Good
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Poor
Ms M
North London
"OK for an early flight"
1 night Arrived 11 Sep 2013
"We arrived after dark before an early flight home.
Its a slightly odd place - no atmosphere and quiet with a number of chalets and a camp site. The chalet was large and quite bare and functional, although efforts had been made to make it more homely, with vases and candles etc. The beds were comfortable. The bathroom was a bit tired with rusty pipes and water. The food is basic and simple. Apart from the manager, the service was not very friendly. The catering staff didn't speak to or acknowledge us either at dinner or breakfast.
Apart from this, although they took details of when we needed to leave, this wasn't communicated properly. So after waiting, we lugged our bags up to reception where luckily there was someone around who could help. We were told that our bags should have been collected while we were having breakfast. We left 15 minutes late, but our driver still managed to get us there on time. As the majority of their custom must be from people catching early flights, this is something they should always get right." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Its a slightly odd place - no atmosphere and quiet with a number of chalets and a camp site. The chalet was large and quite bare and functional, although efforts had been made to make it more homely, with vases and candles etc. The beds were comfortable. The bathroom was a bit tired with rusty pipes and water. The food is basic and simple. Apart from the manager, the service was not very friendly. The catering staff didn't speak to or acknowledge us either at dinner or breakfast.
Apart from this, although they took details of when we needed to leave, this wasn't communicated properly. So after waiting, we lugged our bags up to reception where luckily there was someone around who could help. We were told that our bags should have been collected while we were having breakfast. We left 15 minutes late, but our driver still managed to get us there on time. As the majority of their custom must be from people catching early flights, this is something they should always get right." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Good
Service:
Poor
Rooms:
Average
Food:
Average
Mr & Mrs T
Victoria
"Very uninteresting place to spend a night"
1 night Arrived 5 Sep 2013
"Pionee.rr is out in the middle of nowhere and you don't get to see Lusaka is you stay here for a night. The tap water wasn't drinkable and they charged for bottled water.
On the positive side we felt safe there." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Tanzania
On the positive side we felt safe there." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Zanzibar; 1n in Tanzania
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Average
Location:
Terrible
Service:
Average
Activities:
Terrible
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Poor
Facilities:
Average
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