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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 71-80 of 254
Duration
Arrival date
Mr T
Johannesburg

"Great 3 night stay"

3 nights Arrived 16 Nov 2018
"We had an incredible weekend at Nkwali. All the staff were great and did everything they could to make our stay an absolute pleasure.

The biggest and more or less only real complaint was the lack of a canopy on the game vehicle. It's not uncommon to experience temperatures in the upper 30's, in that area. It was unbearably hot and to go on a game drive, twice a day with no shade was unspeakable. We stopped to watch an Impala give birth, which was just incredible, but it meant we were sitting in the searing heat (by 8am it was really hot) for half an hour with no escape from the harsh sun. It definitely put a dampener on the game drives, because by the end, we just wanted to get out of the sun and not stop and take everything in. Equally so in the afternoon. We just wanted to stop under a shady tree.

The rooms were great, very spacious and had everything you needed. All I can say is privacy is a bit of an issue. Fisherman in front of your hut and staff walking behind while you take a shower is a bit disconcerting. And when it rained (much celebrated to cool us down) the water pools under the toilet and is unavoidable when you have to use the loo. It just needs a little drain or something, so the water can flow out.

Everyone was great in setting up our private dining. The phenomenon that a lot of lodges insist on, making you co-dine with other guests and the rangers is really something that needs to be re looked. There is plenty of opportunity to mingle with other guests and staff if you want to, but I certainly don't want to be made to sit with a bunch of strangers and make small talk at meal times. I am there to share qualify time with friends and family and I just hate when the mingling is forced.

We had great game sightings, hyena on a kill with a leopard in the tree above. Impala giving birth, lions, buffalo and loads of ellies. Humphrey the resident hippo was a highlight and entertained us no end. The daily visits of ellies splashing in the water hole by the pool was so special. I would love to return to Nkwali after the rains to experience Luangwa when the river and pans are full and everything is green.

I would definitely recommend this lodge, but at the same time would warn about the no shade game drives!

The food was good. Our breakfast in the bush was a particular highlight. The secret is to keep it simple, but do simple well and the chef managed exactly this.

The pool was such a welcome relief. Pool towels were a bit lacking. Suggestion a lilo or pool pillow would have been great!

I really loved our weekend away! Thank you!" See all these reviews: 4n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Good
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs W
Middlesex

"Fantastic wildlife around Nkwali"

2 nights Arrived 19 Oct 2018
"Nkwali is a very friendly lodge with excellent food and accommodation and a spectacular view from the bar and rooms.

The dining area overlooks a pool where Humphrey the hippo spends his days. Our guide was lovely and took us to see the most fantastic wildlife.

Lots of leopards to see in the surrounding area and the transfer to Nsefu lodge which was partly on the Nkwali side of the river and partly on the other side was absolutely stunning." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

6 sightings

Lion

2 sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

4 sightings

Mr E
Kenilworth

"Great place to start from."

3 nights Arrived 3 Oct 2018
"It was nice to see and be recognised by some old faces, the camp still has all its charm with some very localised wildlife in the adjacent lagoon, the game drives are excellent with wonderful guides enable one to see Lions and cubs, leopards, Giraffe, Impala, Puku,Elephants of course crossing the river even venturing into camp, with one in the Lagoon every day,Carmine Bee -eaters as well as all the other birds we saw Cranes doing their mating dance.
Food once again excellent." See all these reviews: 10n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr & Mrs H
Wokingham

"Great guides"

3 nights Arrived 14 Sep 2018
"On the first day we shared a jeep with someone who turned out to be a Birder. This meant we spent the morning focussed on birds and in the afternoon we switched to animals. clearly there had been previous conversations because at the end of the afternoon he was not happy and complained and I made the point that we wanted to see everything. they split us up the next day but in my view given his very clear bird orientation they should never have put us together in the first place. they had available staff." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

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

Buffalo

4 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

9 sightings

Leopard

3 sightings

Lion

2 sightings

Roan antelope

Multiple sightings

Wildebeest

Multiple sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mrs G
Oxon

"Nkwali review"

1 night Arrived 28 Aug 2018
"A lovely end to the holiday - felt very luxurious afterwards we bush camp" See all these reviews: 9n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Buffalo

Multiple sightings

Elephant

Multiple sightings

Giraffe

Multiple sightings

Hippo

Multiple sightings

Leopard

Multiple sightings

Lion

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Zebra

Multiple sightings

Mr J
Dorchester

"Great start to safari"

1 night Arrived 25 Aug 2018
"Good welcome into the camp, met by the manager who explained the setup and the timescale for the transfer to the mobile camp." See all these reviews: 7n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Hippo

1 sighting

Lion

6 sightings

Mr D
Austin

"Nkwali camp review"

3 nights Arrived 22 Aug 2018
"Just outstanding in nearly every way.

The attention to detail, expertise, and customer service was first class.

Great people - great location." See all these reviews: 5n 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

10 sightings

Giraffe

10 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

2 sightings

Lion

1 sighting

Spotted Hyena

2 sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

W Family
Wiltshire

"Fabulous safari at Nkwali"

3 nights Arrived 7 Aug 2018
"It could not have been a better experience. attention to detail was wonderful.

The staff were excellent throughout and Kiki's guiding was superb. We saw so much wildlife and learnt a huge amount .

On the game drives , it was lovely to be able to observe the animals' natural behaviour for long periods , while gaining the benefit of the guide's extensive knowledge.

The accommodation was luxurious and the food was lovely . It couldn't have been better." See all these reviews: 9n 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

5 sightings

Lion

10 sightings

Spotted Hyena

1 sighting

Zebra

10 sightings

Mrs H
Surrey

"Nkwali review"

2 nights Arrived 7 Aug 2018
"Big rooms with great view, great guide, delicious food. Pool area overlooking watering hole was very relaxing.
Enjoyed the river crossings. Park a bit busier here than Tena, but the guide did well keeping us away from other vehicles." See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Buffalo

3 sightings

Elephant

10 sightings

Giraffe

6 sightings

Hippo

10 sightings

Leopard

4 sightings

Lion

2 sightings

Sable antelope

Multiple sightings

Spotted Hyena

Multiple sightings

Zebra

10 sightings

Mrs M
Appledore

"sadly only overnight"

1 night Arrived 6 Aug 2018
"It was lovely to revisit Nkwali all too briefly before heading off for the Mobile Walking Safari first thing in the morning.

It's like a homecoming" See all these reviews: 8n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

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

Hippo

1 sighting

Leopard

1 sighting

Lion

1 sighting

Showing 71-80 of 254
96%
254 reviews of Nkwali by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
213
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6
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0
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