Reviews of safaris to South Luangwa National Park
948 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include South Luangwa.
"A wonderful 50th birthday celebration!"
We were surprised that there was no game meat and if we have one comment to all the camps it would be that they should serve less "safe European" and more local food (especially game meat). Also whilst the service was always very efficient perhaps at times it could be a bit more relaxed, especially when there are only a small number of guests?
My wife was particularly grateful for all the hot water bottles!
Thank you Claire and all involved!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
none" Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 14 on a Zambia safari
"South Luangwa and Victoria Falls"
The South Luangwa national park is certainly somewhere I will want to revisit several times as it has such an interesting eco-system and headline game interaction.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
The big trick with Zambia, I'd think, is to stay up-to-date and to ensure E.A. can offer sound advice over both the best of safari locations/timings as well as accommodations. With camps opening / closing and the camp operators changing it must be uncertain whether a safari will retain its quality year-to-year. I had high expectations of Shentons and they were met, a bonus was them having new (quieter) vehicles and not rushing sighting-to-sighting over radios." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
"The best vacation ever"
Hence we had quite a few camps and lodges that we stayed in, all in all 9. The logistics between the camps, including the flight connections were as one would say in modern consultancy terminology seamless. The only mishappening was our luggage to Kawaza village, but Proflight worked it out.
The mix of camps was very good as well as the choice of areas, it gave a very good insight in what is available on the eastern side of Zambia. This must have been one our best trips/vacations ever.
As we do quite extensive research ourselves in beforehand we knew what we had to expect, at least to some extent. we understood that this was not the case for all and every one.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As you know we missed our first day due to Lufthansa delay in Johannesburg. The delay was due to the aircraft, the new Airbus 380 with more than 500 passengers. It took more than 30 minutes to get off the plan. Apart from 15 min late arrival. 1h50 was not enough to make the transfer. We had booked the flight, this is more for you to be aware of the potential risk of delays with these immense aircrafts." Read full review: 18 nights in Africa; 17 on a Zambia safari
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"A real holiday of a lifetime"
When anyone asks me about our holiday I say that I had such a lovely time and that the experiences exceeded my expectations - and I mean it! I think that it was really the people that made the difference. Everywhere we went we meet people who really wanted us to enjoy our holiday and who went out to there way to make sure we did. We only wish we could have stayed longer!" Read full review: 28 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
"South Luangwa with Robin Pope"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As mentioned on the BA page I was bumped off my booked flight. Luckily I was able to contact Lucy Copson [Ed: at Expert Africa] who pulled out all the stops to come up with a better alternative than was being offered to me by BA. Were it not for her I would have arrived 24 hours late and missed two game drives.
I mentioned to the BA people that I had tried to check-on line about 21 hours before departure but was informed that on-line check-in was not available. They commented that that was because most people have their seats allocated at the time of booking, the inference being that had I done this I would not have been bumped off the flight. I know that BA do provide this facility at an extra charge but it did not occur to me that it was so important. Had I done so I would have been happy to pay the charge.
There will possibly be some merit in you checking if my understanding is correct and, if it is, advising your clients of this option" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
"Trip as a whole"
As noted earlier, Expert Africa information packs should state that women's underwear will not be laundered by the lodges.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Without wishing to go on about this, tell people women's underwear will not be washed at camps in Zambia." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 15 on a Zambia safari
"Special Trip"
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
As this was our first trip to Africa, Claire was very helpful in planning our trip." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 10 on a Zambia safari
"Wonderful African Adventure"
The highlight was the walking and the smooth organisation made our trip very comfortable and effort free. Little details were very thoughtful, and there was no chance of going hungry!
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Perhaps a warning of cold weather in Malawi!" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 8 on a Zambia safari
"Our Fantastic Trip"
I like the fact that we can talk to a member of staff with first hand experience of the lodges we planned to visit.
Both trips we have undertaken have exceeded expectation. This last one was absolutely fantastic. Every detail was taken care of and we didn't have to worry about anything. All we had to do was pack our bags, turn up at the airport and have the time of our lives.
All three camps were exceptional - I do believe that we chose the best. Staff were efficient, friendly and did everything they could to make our stay very enjoyable. Meals were comparable to good city restaurants which is remarkable considering the logistics of getting supplies.
Expert Africa is the only company I have ever come across that gives travellers a card with Staff emergency telephone numbers. This reflects the care that the company takes to ensure that clients have the best possible service. I wouldn't travel to Africa with any other company.
Thanks everyone - we had a wonderful time. We hope to return." Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 11 on a Zambia safari

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