Reviews of Kapani Lodge
Wildlife sightings and reviews
78 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Kapani Lodge and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
Scrub hares
London
"Return to Kapani for our last night"
1 night Arrived 19 Mar 2010
"Nothing to add here; see previous comments [Ed: See the review below!]"
See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Scrub hares
London
"A lovely start to our trip at Kapani Lodge"
3 nights Arrived 13 Mar 2010
"This was our second visit to Kapani, and we loved it as much as the first time. It's location seems even finer after the rains, when the lagoon is full, than later in the year.
Our guides - Brian and Innocent - made the most of all the opportunities for game and bird viewing, and we were very pleasantly surprised that we saw so much game at this time of the year. Of course, the birds, mostly in their breeding plummage, were fantastic
The food was excellent - we were again astonished by the range and quality - and the service generally very good (although there were a couple of slips, one when requests we made weren't followed up and one when heavy rain denuded the restaurant area of management!)." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Our guides - Brian and Innocent - made the most of all the opportunities for game and bird viewing, and we were very pleasantly surprised that we saw so much game at this time of the year. Of course, the birds, mostly in their breeding plummage, were fantastic
The food was excellent - we were again astonished by the range and quality - and the service generally very good (although there were a couple of slips, one when requests we made weren't followed up and one when heavy rain denuded the restaurant area of management!)." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr B
Bristol
"Kapani lodge 4 nights, 1 night at Kakuli."
5 nights Arrived 23 Jan 2010
"It took me 19 years to get back to my favourite place in the world- the South Luangwa Valley, once again at a rejuvenated Kapani lodge and having the same guide, the infamous Abraham Banda. Nothing let me down! This was just how I wanted to experience, the best of Africa's game reserves/parks and at my favourite time of the year- the emerald season. Amazing sightings, harder work for the tracker/guide, Abraham, but this is part of the challenge.
The season brings better light and photographic opportunity in general and no dust to test my lenses and camera. This is the place to see leopard and the newly crowned king with a pride of 17 lions in tow. The kill during the famous spotlight safari, with 18 lions in a scrum trying to get their share of the kill was amazing to see and hear. Great birding opportunity, genet, serval and the regular cast.
Had the opportunity for a 'free' upgrade to KAKULI bush camp, and 2 wonderful walking safari's- part of what is the Norman Carr concept. Thank you to all concerned and it will not be another 19 years before I get back to South Luangwa!" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 6n in Zambia
The season brings better light and photographic opportunity in general and no dust to test my lenses and camera. This is the place to see leopard and the newly crowned king with a pride of 17 lions in tow. The kill during the famous spotlight safari, with 18 lions in a scrum trying to get their share of the kill was amazing to see and hear. Great birding opportunity, genet, serval and the regular cast.
Had the opportunity for a 'free' upgrade to KAKULI bush camp, and 2 wonderful walking safari's- part of what is the Norman Carr concept. Thank you to all concerned and it will not be another 19 years before I get back to South Luangwa!" See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 6n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Glos
"Good introduction to the area and wildlife."
2 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2009
"Kapani is a good place to start. The drives give the opportunity to get close to the animals for the views you tend not to get when walking.
Our guide, Innocent, was first class and asked us what our interests were before setting out. He was very enthusiastic about all our sightings.
Kapani set the scene for the quality of food we were to enjoy at all Norman Carr camps." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Our guide, Innocent, was first class and asked us what our interests were before setting out. He was very enthusiastic about all our sightings.
Kapani set the scene for the quality of food we were to enjoy at all Norman Carr camps." See all these reviews: 14n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms W & Mr L
Northants
"Fantastic safari at Kapani Lodge"
2 nights Arrived 10 Sep 2009
"All the people we met at Kapani were professional, polite and very friendly and helpful, right from our pick up at the airport to our transfer to the next camp. Everyone was focussed on making our every experience wonderful and memorable. I particularly liked that everyone introduced themselves by name and remembered our names and used them regularly; it was a nice personal touch. My memory, however, is not as good as theirs, so it might have helped me if some of the staff wore name badges.
We stayed in one of the suites, which we weren't expecting and it was fabulous. The decor and cleanliness were outstanding and the view of the lagoon was delightful, especially as each rooms veranda and lookout were private. You felt wonderfully secluded. The excellent laundry service was much appreciated and the food was out of this world. We couldn't believe how great the catering was in such a rural setting.
We'd never been on safari before, but the guides were fantastic and catered for all levels of knowledge without making you feel like you were asking a silly question. They were also great at helping us get the best views of the animals for photographs and tried to make sure we found the animals we really wanted to see. We appreciated that all the staff wroked very hard to make our holiday wonderful, but were always cheerful and seemed to be enjoying their work. We were mainly guided by John and Ashid and they were both lovely people and brilliant at their jobs." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
We stayed in one of the suites, which we weren't expecting and it was fabulous. The decor and cleanliness were outstanding and the view of the lagoon was delightful, especially as each rooms veranda and lookout were private. You felt wonderfully secluded. The excellent laundry service was much appreciated and the food was out of this world. We couldn't believe how great the catering was in such a rural setting.
We'd never been on safari before, but the guides were fantastic and catered for all levels of knowledge without making you feel like you were asking a silly question. They were also great at helping us get the best views of the animals for photographs and tried to make sure we found the animals we really wanted to see. We appreciated that all the staff wroked very hard to make our holiday wonderful, but were always cheerful and seemed to be enjoying their work. We were mainly guided by John and Ashid and they were both lovely people and brilliant at their jobs." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Dr G & Dr E
UK
"Kapani Lodge review"
3 nights Arrived 1 Sep 2009
"friendly knowledgable staff, beautiful location, care and attention, fabulous room
would have been nice to have airconditioning in the vehicle which collected us from the airport" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
would have been nice to have airconditioning in the vehicle which collected us from the airport" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Ms AW
SW London
"Kapani Lodge review"
3 nights Arrived 16 Aug 2009
"Although I enjoyed Kapani lodge, I did prefer the more intimate relationship I had with nature at the bush lodge.
I also felt we should have been offered the option to walk.
Our guide, Abs was extremely knowledgeable, personable and professional." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
I also felt we should have been offered the option to walk.
Our guide, Abs was extremely knowledgeable, personable and professional." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr P
Sheffield
"Wonderful game viewing from Kapani"
4 nights Arrived 9 Aug 2009
"The location of the Kapani camp was very picturesque, although I woul dimagine that when the oxbow lagoon dries up late in the season this may not be the case.
Food and drink surpassed our expections and previous safari experiences.
Our lagoon suite was very spacious and comfortable although one had to be brave to visit the outside toilet at night. The standard rooms were also very well equipped although a little more 'rustic'
A visit from a family of elephants through the camp on our first afternoon was very exciting, particularly for my two daughters.
Our guide, Lawrence was absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable - he had an answer for every one of our (numerous) questions and by the end of the safari felt almost like part of our family.
The game was numerous and very 'natural' - much less commercial than South Africa. Lots of leopard, lions, hippo and the other usual big mammals but also some spectacular birds. My wife adored the giraffe and we all fell in love with the numerous babies.
The swimming pool was also a welcome addition for the afternoon laze - clean and warm for a dip in between catching up on one's sleep." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 6n in Malawi
Food and drink surpassed our expections and previous safari experiences.
Our lagoon suite was very spacious and comfortable although one had to be brave to visit the outside toilet at night. The standard rooms were also very well equipped although a little more 'rustic'
A visit from a family of elephants through the camp on our first afternoon was very exciting, particularly for my two daughters.
Our guide, Lawrence was absolutely lovely and very knowledgeable - he had an answer for every one of our (numerous) questions and by the end of the safari felt almost like part of our family.
The game was numerous and very 'natural' - much less commercial than South Africa. Lots of leopard, lions, hippo and the other usual big mammals but also some spectacular birds. My wife adored the giraffe and we all fell in love with the numerous babies.
The swimming pool was also a welcome addition for the afternoon laze - clean and warm for a dip in between catching up on one's sleep." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia; 6n in Malawi
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W
Rugeley
"Fantastic start to adventure at Kapani"
1 night Arrived 4 Jul 2009
"Excellent location, lots of animals seen even on the first night. Accommodation was excellent. With the knowledge we now have from the other camps, Kapani seemed too busy, too many other jeeps.
Camp itself was not very relaxing. Somehow felt more regimented and had to stick to quite rigid times. As it is a bigger camp, perhaps running to tighter schedules was necessary." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Camp itself was not very relaxing. Somehow felt more regimented and had to stick to quite rigid times. As it is a bigger camp, perhaps running to tighter schedules was necessary." See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
riguss
Belgium
"Kapani Lodge review"
2 nights Arrived 16 May 2009
"excellent starting point into Lwanga. Probably at its best when the pontoon on the river is accessible (not our case).
Rosie is real professsional with charme.
Park guide Lawrence outstanding in knowledge touch and personal contact, the best in our trip" See all these reviews: 8n in Mozambique; 5n in Zambia; 1n in Tanzania; 1n in South Africa
Rosie is real professsional with charme.
Park guide Lawrence outstanding in knowledge touch and personal contact, the best in our trip" See all these reviews: 8n in Mozambique; 5n in Zambia; 1n in Tanzania; 1n in South Africa
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
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