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Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika
Tafika

Reviews of Tafika

Wildlife sightings and reviews

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

Wildlife sightings by our travellers
Starting in May-2018, 97 of our travellers have recorded their wildlife sightings at Tafika.
Lion

84% success

Leopard

92% success

Wild dog

42% success

Hippo

100% success

Zebra

99% success

Giraffe

99% success

Elephant

98% success

Buffalo

92% success

Spotted Hyena

92% success

Wildebeest

46% success

Eland

9% success

Roan antelope

3% success

Sable antelope

1% success

Aardvark

0% success

Pangolin

0% success

Showing 161-170 of 340
Duration
Arrival date
Drs Ken & Niru
Devon

"Tafika review"

4 nights Arrived 31 Oct 2014
"Traditionally built accommodation of wooden pillars and reed roof and walls. Some cross ventilation but no an or AC. Well separated and spacious with excellent showers. Very hot in the afternoons, relieved by many showers. Too hot to sit out on loungers under a tree to view the river.

Camp visited by its of birds and animals. Drive areas overlap significantly with Nsefu. We were unaware of just how close they are, so it was rather like having eight days in the same area. Despite this, all the drives were different. Tafika is outside the National Park, and so you must be out by 8pm. Not usually a problem but on one occasion we had to leave stalking lions to ensure that we were out in time.

We did one walk which was limited by elephants but still enjoyable. Guides or a couple of trips were not as good as we had come to expect, but for the rest of the time there were very good - especially Amon and Alex. Virtually all our drives were shared with other guests, not always sharing our interests. As in Nsefu, the vehicles are uncovered, so hat and suncream vital.

Family run camp with shared host/hostess duties. We sometimes felt a little excluded, maybe because all the other guests were returnees. Heather, Jenny and Brian all very good. Food excellent, especially the fresh bread and muffins. Only camp to offer vegetarian option as standard." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Good
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
M & L
Vancouver, BC

"Well-run family safari camp"

4 nights Arrived 11 Oct 2014
"Well-run family safari camp. The owners, John and Carol, and their daughter Jennie, are very involved with the day-to-day running of the camp, together with Brian, Heather & Rona.

The accommodations are very nice, with large beds and large outdoor bathrooms. Some are on the river bank, others are set back a little. The camp area is well-guarded for guest safety, as elephants, monkeys, baboons and various antelopes regularly visit the grounds.

A big plus is that each vehicle used for game drives only takes 4 people which is nice. Each guest is supplied with a s/s water bottle which is refilled before each game drive. The morning game drive was sometimes a bit long (5 hours) from 0600 - 1100 which took it into the hotter part of the day. The game area is not as extensive as on the other side of the river, but we still managed to see a lot of wildlife, including some huge herds of buffalo, and lots of family groups of elephants.

The food is good and plentiful." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr C & Mr K
Oxon

"Best lodge/camp in Africa!"

3 nights Arrived 4 Oct 2014
"Everyone exceptionally friendly so after the first day you felt you were staying with old friends. Comfortable rooms.

Excellent food which couldn't be faulted.
Best vehicles (including bikes!) in Africa.
Very helpful at tailoring activities to our needs.
Perfect in every way and we can't wait to go back.
Cycling with John was fantastic.
We liked the concept of rebuilding the camp each year with local people.

You felt throughout that the motivation was "how can I improve guests' experiences" not "how much profit can we make"." See all these reviews: 15n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs S
E Sussex

"Tafika review"

5 nights Arrived 3 Oct 2014
"The is an excellent safari camp, the Coppinger family run this safari lodge with great expertise, I cannot think of one thing they need to change for the better.

We had good home made food, met some very nice people, had some great experiences and by the end of our stay (5 nights) we felt like part of the family. I could highly recommend Tafika.

The guiding was pretty good also (hello Lloyd)." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs C
Notts

"High standards of service and guiding."

4 nights Arrived 28 Sep 2014
"Owners Carol and John have a real hands on approach and expect a high standard from their staff. They get it. Service was excellent and with a friendly, relaxed and personal approach. Food was very good and rooms were well equipped. No electricity means no fans and in temperatures of 35 degrees sleeping was occasionally a problem. The wet sarongs were an essential piece of equipment!

Our guide, Lloyd was excellent - quiet and unassuming but very knowledgeable and enthusiastic. His knowledge of animal behaviour resulted in lots of wonderful sightings.

The position of the lodge outside the park meant that each trip began with a 15 minute drive to the gate at the beginning and end of each game drive and this becomes a bit repetitive after a while." See all these reviews: 15n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Good
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs B
Avon

"Tafika"

1 night Arrived 27 Sep 2014
"see previous comments [Ed: see belew]" See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Avon

"A wonderful safari experience at Tafika"

3 nights Arrived 22 Sep 2014
"A perfect stay at a camp that seemed to capture the spirit of a safari.

Huts were superb, we loved the rustic feel of them. Guiding was first class and we saw everything we had hoped for and a lot more - 19 wild dogs.

We would recommend Tafika without hesitation and hope to return sometime." See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Mr S.
Clontarf

"Great family run camp with top class guiding"

4 nights Arrived 14 Sep 2014
"The 'centre' of Remote Africa this is an excellent camp run by very friendly and massively experienced staff. A mix of walking and driving safaris provided a huge range of experiences.

Maruska recommended this camp to us as she knew we really enjoyed family run camps from past safaris. Remote Africa really delivered at Tafika, Chikoko and Crocodile camps. The owners are all over the operations and the whole staff feel part of the one family. We met many guests who returned over many years.

Carol, Bryan, Rona and Heather run the camp like clockwork whilst always being around and very friendly. We had great drives with Bryan and Jenny. And walking with Alex and old hand Isaac was fabulous. We won't forget walking through the long grass searching for the growling lions around their buffalo kill.

Bryan excelled by finding wild dogs for us one night just before the ever necessary gin and tonic for sundown!

A return is essential!" See all these reviews: 12n in Zambia; 3n in Rwanda; 2n in Kenya
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Kent

"Good safari"

3 nights Arrived 8 Sep 2014
"A good camp with very friendly staff" See all these reviews: 11n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Excellent
Activities:
Excellent
Rooms:
Excellent
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Good
Mr & Mrs H
Leics

"Excellent but different"

3 nights Arrived 30 Aug 2014
"Owners sharing meals with you made you feel you were a guest in their home but we felt there was a difference in attitude of camp staff, who seemed quite reserved. However our guides were excellent and Mcupe, again was very patient with our never ending requests to stop to photograph another roller .|Visit ti the village was enlightening.

Such a shame the micro light was not in operation ( could you have warned us about this,, as we had converted currency). Walks were not offered as a guide was ill either.

Food was excellent and varied especially the salads which came from there own garden, which was great to visit too. We also valued the hide." See all these reviews: 13n in Zambia
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good

Location:
Excellent
Service:
Good
Activities:
Good
Rooms:
Good
Food:
Excellent
Facilities:
Excellent
Showing 161-170 of 340
98%
340 reviews of Tafika by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
313
24
2
1
0
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Other lodges in South Luangwa National Park

Alternative places to stay in this same area.


Nkwali

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On the banks of the Luangwa River, with its own access to the national park, the intimate Nkwali is open year round.


97% (252 reviews)
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Chikoko Tree Camp

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Flatdogs Camp

Flatdogs Camp

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Mchenja Bushcamp

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98% (71 reviews)
Kakuli Bushcamp

Kakuli Bushcamp

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Nsolo Bushcamp

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Robin Pope mobile

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Puku Ridge

Puku Ridge

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Mfuwe Lodge

Mfuwe Lodge

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Kuyenda Bushcamp

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Luangwa Safari House

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Three Rivers Camp

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Island Bush Camp

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Mwamba Camp-out

Mwamba Camp-out

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Zungulila

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Shawa Luangwa Camp

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Luwi Riverbed Sleepout

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Chikunto Safari Lodge

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