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Nkwali
Nkwali
Nkwali
Nkwali
Nkwali
Nkwali
Nkwali

Reviews of Nkwali

Wildlife sightings and reviews

254 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Nkwali and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in Apr-2018, 77 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Nkwali.
Lion

84% success

Leopard

91% success

Wild dog

62% success

Hippo

100% success

Elephant

99% success

Giraffe

99% success

Zebra

99% success

Buffalo

88% success

Spotted Hyena

84% success

Wildebeest

23% success

Eland

12% success

Aardvark

7% success

Roan antelope

7% success

Sable antelope

5% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 31-40 of 254
Duration
Arrival date
Miss P
London

"Nkwali review"

7 nights Arrived 19 Mar 2023
"Another excellent stay at Nkwali. The rains had been late, and the river was high, with areas under water that had been accessible on my previous trips around this time. This allowed us to enjoy an afternoon boat trip one day to explore one of the flooded lagoons (Wamilombe), which was very interesting, and we had an unusual sighting of a female impala swimming in the middle of the river!

The wild dog sightings were excellent, as ever. I had booked a private guide and vehicle for this trip, and really enjoyed my time with Perry, who is young and enthusiastic and has great potential. He got into the spirit of my "bird list", and we managed to spot 176 species, smashing my previous PB of 162, and with several new ones for me.

I had a few more lion sightings than on previous green season trips, including one male who came to drink from the lagoon by the dining area in camp, just as we were about to sit down for lunch! I am used to seeing elephants there, but a lion was a first for me.

I have always liked Nkwali as a camp, particularly the open fronted rooms, but it's the people that really make the place. The atmosphere is relaxed and you get a sense that everyone loves what they do. I look forward to my next visit." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

4 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

3 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Wild dog

7 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mrs C
N Ireland

"First visit to South Luangwa"

5 nights Arrived 10 Mar 2023
"Spacious open fronted chalets, facing onto a fairly fast flowing river. I would like to return at a different time of year, when water levels are lower and more wildlife would be seen from the chalet.

The accommodation was good. I had been a little concerned that not being fully enclosed by canvas or a solid wall, might have resulted in too many unwanted creatures in the room, but this was not the case.

Perry was our guide. He read the bush well, was an excellent communicator, and drove safely and confidently. Access to some areas was limited because of the wet conditions, so some of the drives were a little repetitive. We were very fortunate however, to have some wonderful sightings. In our first three drives we saw lions, a leopard with a fresh kill and wild dogs. Later in our stay we had a very close encounter on the road, with a breeding herd of elephants. Perry’s handling of this situation inspired confidence.

During our stay there was a short burst of extremely windy and wet weather. The staff, all of whom were excellent, dealt with this admirably. During our stay, a slight delay to one game drive was the only disruption we experienced.

Monkeys and baboons visited the camp, particularly in the after lunch period when no staff were around. We were warned not to leave out anything they might consider food." See all these reviews: 5n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

4 sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

2 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Wild dog

3 sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

5 sightings

Mr & Mrs S
Oxon

"Nkwali review"

6 nights Arrived 18 Nov 2022
"It was a pleasure to return to Nkwali and to be well looked after by Sorel and the other staff. Obe was our guide and was excellent - his calmness, experience and knowledge were much appreciated. Wilson spotted for us and we saw all the usual creatures ….. and a really good sighting of an aardvark!!!

The wild mango trees were fruiting and it was a great opportunity to see the elephants, monkeys and baboons feeding on the fallen fruit.

Staying at Nkwali in the wet season was a bit of a challenge as we never knew what we might encounter in the room at night. The rain brought out a host of insects, arachnids and assorted creepy crawlies. If you don’t like close encounters with such creatures this might not be the best time of year to visit but if you don’t mind then you’re in for an interesting time!" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Aardvark

1 sighting

Buffalo

10 sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Ms S.
Haywards Heath

"Nkwali review"

4 nights Arrived 22 Oct 2022
"This was an excellent lodge and a good choice for families.

We appreciated the swimming pool for cooling off and the chance to watch wildlife come to the lagoon whilst you are on the loungers.

There was plenty of game to view and we saw everything we were hoping for.

The food was also excellent." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

10 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

4 sightings

Zebra

4 sightings

Harvey and Jo
Lewes

"Nkwali review"

4 nights Arrived 13 Oct 2022
"Returning to Luangwa, to Nkwali for the first visit, it was a very good recommendation for the south end of South Luangwa. Just outside the park, yet plenty of game in the camp either walking through or enjoying the small lagoon set 70 yards back from the river bank behind the camp buildings. Access to the park was very quick (by boat in late October when the pontoon was closed due to low water) but via steep steps on one side and sand bag path on the other, not so easy at night on the return journey. At 76, OK for us, but demanding if you have mobility issues.

The camp and chalets are lovely, high quality, small pool welcome in the heat, staff all very good indeed. Guiding was excellent, lots of game of all sorts on drives, a morning walk very informative on ecology etc. Will happily return if we can.

We were taken aback at the number of vehicles homing in on animals in this southern end of the park (we have been to centre and north only in the past), and actually backed off at night on one occasion when several cars from other camps were pressing in on lions." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Wild dog

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr IB
Northumberland

"Lovely camp"

3 nights Arrived 26 Sep 2022
"What a wonderful introduction to our time in South Luangwa, everything lived up to our expectations and more.

The staff were lovely and couldn't have been more helpful, special mention must be made of our expert guide Perry who went out of his way to make sure we saw so many wonderful things including our first sighting of wild dogs which have always eluded us in the past.

The accommodation was first class, waking up in the morning to the view of the river was very special especially on the morning when a leopard appeared on the opposite bank.

The food was excellent throughout, one lunch was made even more memorable when a family of elephant came down to the lagoon whilst we were eating.

Hopefully we'll make it back some day." See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

1 sighting

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

5 sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Wild dog

1 sighting

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr B
Kent

"Nkwali review"

3 nights Arrived 26 Sep 2022
"An excellent camp.

The service was good, food tasty and plentiful, and guiding and game viewing very satisfactory. I have no complaints whatsoever.

One of many highlights was watching a herd of elephants drink from a pool of water while we were having lunch." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

1 sighting

Elephant

5 sightings

Giraffe

3 sightings

Hippo

5 sightings

Leopard

4 sightings

Lion

4 sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Wild dog

1 sighting

Zebra

2 sightings

The Sand Martins
Oxon

"Wonderful Nkwali review"

5 nights Arrived 9 Sep 2022
"I had a marvellous welcome from Kiki on arrival at Nkwali for five nights. This was my seventh visit, and it was as good as ever - after four long years of waiting to return.

The new bar area and the camp fire area are splendid. I enjoy taking an aperitif in front of the fire, and had wide-ranging discussions with other guests with a digestif after dinner. Our lunches and dinners were taken mostly in the special covered dining area, but sometimes al fresco or in front of the bar. The food and wine was consistently excellent.

My guide was Perry, who was absolutely superb with an encyclopaedic knowledge of animals, birds and trees. On one occasion, he persevered in tracking down a big pack of wild dogs who had ventured a long distance from the camp.

Another highlight was the sighting of a female leopard who had just killed an impala, and taken it up a tree for one of her cubs to feed on. Almost immediately, she then killed a puku for herself and her second cub to feed on. Two kills a few minutes apart was astonishing to witness.

There were many other memorable wildlife experiences in may five days there. As well as the wildlife experiences, I will remember the splendid bush brunch on one morning, and sundowners on Chichele Hill on my penultimate evening." See all these reviews: 15n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Sightings Report

Buffalo

6 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

8 sightings

Lion

5 sightings

Spotted Hyena

8 sightings

Wild dog

2 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mr & Mrs E
Glos.

"Nkwali by the River"

3 nights Arrived 5 Sep 2022
"This is a riverside and relaxing camp. It has its own lagoon to which wildlife visit to drink.

Our Guide was excellent and thoughtful to my arthritic wife who had difficulty with steps." See all these reviews: 18n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Good
Sightings Report

Elephant

4 sightings

Giraffe

3 sightings

Hippo

6 sightings

Leopard

3 sightings

Lion

2 sightings

Spotted Hyena

3 sightings

Zebra

4 sightings

Mr & Mrs H
Kent

"Nkwali review"

2 nights Arrived 15 Aug 2022
"Its a shame this was the end of our holiday and we only had 2 days here.

Again we went walking, this time with kiki who made the walk fascinating

We also had Kiki as our guide for the rest of the time- which was really good" See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Showing 31-40 of 254
96%
254 reviews of Nkwali by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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