south luangwa walking safari

Hello everybody,

I'm planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really
want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that,
not a 2 hour morningwalk...) and it looks to me that south luangwa
park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I'm on ends in Lusaka.
Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that's good
value or can tell me if it's better to book in advance through
internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning
of august.

Thanks!

Jan

In message
(cowboyjakke) wrote:

Hello everybody,

I'm planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really
want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that,
not a 2 hour morningwalk...) and it looks to me that south luangwa
park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I'm on ends in Lusaka.
Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that's good
value or can tell me if it's better to book in advance through
internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning
of august.

Zambia seems to specialise in this sort of thing, though they're pretty
expensive.
In a brochure I've got here, there are four different walking safaris in Zambia.
The nearest to what you describe is ".....then into the heart of the Luangwa
to a choice of three bush camps: Kakuli, Luwi or Nsolo. Each takes only six
guests and specialises in walking safaris....these bush camps are linked by
bush trails, so can be combined to create a delightful walking safari."
(this is part of a bigger safari, but its just an example, the company
specialises in tailor-mades.

I haven't done this (so can't help with your other questions) but I've used
the company which send me the brochure six times, and don't think they'd
link up with a less than perfectly reliable company.

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

("cowboyjakke" wrote in message
om...
Hello everybody,

I'm planning to spend a month in southern africa this summer. I really
want to do a walking safari (from camp to camp or something like that,
not a 2 hour morningwalk...) and it looks to me that south luangwa
park zambia is the place to do it, as the tour I'm on ends in Lusaka.
Is there somebody that can recommend me a good company that's good
value or can tell me if it's better to book in advance through
internet, or book on the spot? I have approx a week in the beginning
of august.

Thanks!

Jan

It will be very hot in August.
I can recommend Sunvil who organised our trip to Zambia last year.
Robin Pope seems to be the main 'camp to camp' walking safari outfit (can be
booked via Sunvil).
We stayed at Remote Africa Safaris places - Tafika is their 'home base'
(they do half-day walks from there, and night drives); then you can walk to
one of their bush camps and stay a night or two and walk on to another one
for another night or two. The bush camps are in an area where there are no
roads, so you have to walk! However, they are, in a direct line, only about
20 mins from the main camp - but you take several hours over it!
I can thoroughly recommend Remote Africa, but they arent cheap and may not
be what you are looking for.
re the heat - we were there in early July and it was getting too hot to want
to be out walking at mid-day - they told us that as the season progresses,
you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk - but I think that is sept/oct.
If you are already going to be in Lusaka then Remote Africa can arrange your
travel to and from the camps. I dont know what the chances of being able to
get anything 'on the spot' - the lodges tend to be small, and the flights on
smallish aircraft so it might be dodgy.
see www.remoteafrica.com and http://www.sunvil.co.uk/sites/sunvil/

--
Rita Daggett

In message
"Rita Daggett" wrote:


re the heat - we were there in early July and it was getting too hot to want
to be out walking at mid-day - they told us that as the season progresses,
you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk

Tx for this info.
When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris
there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat
means I won't give it another thought!

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

"Liz" re the heat - we were there in early July and it
was getting too hot to want
to be out walking at mid-day - they told us that as the season
progresses,
you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk

Tx for this info.
When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris
there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat
means I won't give it another thought!

It was cold at night and morning tho - we started some of the walks with
fleeces on ! I think temperature-wise it would be OK in July/august (esp if
you didnt do day-long walks); I think the trouble in Sept/Oct is that it
stays hot ALL the time, even at night.
The camps werent full when we went so maybe they wouldnt charge a
single-room supplement - better to have one person than none?
--
Rita Daggett

In message
"Rita Daggett" wrote:

"Liz" re the heat - we were there in early July and it
was getting too hot to want
to be out walking at mid-day - they told us that as the season
progresses,
you finish up getting up at 4.00 am to walk

Tx for this info.
When I looked up the info for the OP, I thought one of the Zambia safaris
there might be a possibility for me, but was baulking at the srs. The heat
means I won't give it another thought!

It was cold at night and morning tho - we started some of the walks with
fleeces on ! I think temperature-wise it would be OK in July/august (esp if
you didnt do day-long walks); I think the trouble in Sept/Oct is that it
stays hot ALL the time, even at night.
The one I was thinking of only had a little bit of walking.
I'm not very keen (for myself) on the idea of walking safaris. You don't
seem to get as near to most things, and I can't imagine the rest of the
company being delighted at having to wait for me to set up tripod etc.!
I like doing a few bird walks on a trip, I'm not so keen on the tracks and
signs stuff. It's always very interesting, but afterwards I can't remember
any of it, so can't label my slides.
CRAFT Club hitting hard, I'm afraid. :-(

The camps werent full when we went so maybe they wouldn't charge a
single-room supplement - better to have one person than none?
Maybe.
I was hoping for that last year, but was surprised a couple of times when
four weeks from the departure date, a few trips had 'only one place left'
but were still going to charge the single supplement (in each case that
meant seven in the vehicle rather than six, which is a bit of a bummer
anyway)
The only time I've been in a full lodge or camp in July has been Treetops,
The Ark or Mountain Lodge, and they haven't been full on every visit.
Sometimes in the smaller camps we've been on our own, or just one other
couple.

I'm really p***** off with trying to organise a trip for one.
It's sooooooooooo much easier for two.

Slainte

Liz

--
Virtual Liz at http://www.v-liz.co.uk
Kenya; Tanzania; India; Seychelles; Namibia
"I speak of Africa and golden joys"

Hi Jan,
July/ August is not that hot in Zambia--I've been walking there in
2002 and 2003. You will probably start early-- perhaps 6 am, and walk
until lunchtime.

Robin Pope Safaris offers excellent walking safaris, where you walk
from camp to camp. A friend of mine did this last August and LOVED
it. And they did get quite close to lots of animals...including a
lion. Quite thrilling (but don't count on it. I have never been this
lucky.) South Luangwa is perhaps the BEST place to do this in Africa,
so don't miss the opportunity if you are there. The guides and
rangers are really experienced with walks. (One other tourist who had
done a little walking in East Africa said that the arrangement in
Zambia-- with a guide, armed ranger and tea carrier was a far safer
way to do this than the more limited/lax arrangements available in
other countries.)

RPS is expensive, but very much worth it, if it is in your price
range. They are superb. If you can't do a full walking tour with
them, they also offer lots of walk options if you are staying at their
camps even for a couple days. The walks will probably be about 4-5
hours in the morning, afternoons perhaps only 2-2.5 hours since you
can't walk after sundown. Then you can join a drive for the rest of
the evening before dinner. Also can do a long walk to transfer
between Tena Tena and Nsefu, two of the best camps in Zambia. If you
are in the US, consider booking this through Wilderness Travel in
Berkeley, CA...RPS does all their walking tours in South Luangwa.
Wilderness Travel does small groups with set departures, but that
makes the prices a bit better. And RPS probably has the best guides
and organization in the valley.

If this is out of your price range, take a look at Wildlife Camp.
They offer morning walks on Zambia Conservation Society land, right
across from the Park. Accomodations are quite cheap (you can even camp
for about $10 a night, or rent a chalet for $35), and the walks are
good. A group that went the day AFTER my walk surprised two lions on a
kill! And they offer an overnight at their bushcamp-- you leave early
in the morning, walk to the bushcamp, arriving about lunchtime. Take
an afternoon break, a shorter afternoon walk, then stay at the
bushcamp overnight. Walk back to the main camp the next morning by a
different route. This whole 1.5 day excursion, is $100, all
inclusive. It was a wonderful experience, at a very reasonable price.
Not in the same class as an RPS walking, but a good value. I must
say, I found their drives not so great however-- the vehicles are
always really crowded, and they have a long drive to get to the
entrance to the Park.

One more option-- email Flatdogs, and see if they can arrange a
significant walk in the Park for you. (Flatdogs has excellent chalets
for about $35, or you can camp (again, for about $10)...Good game
drives, too, for $20/$25 per drive; they are right next to the park
entrance, and the vehicles were more comfortable and not quite so
crowded. You would probably have to hire a private guide and ranger to
get a significant walk this way, but it may still be cheaper than the
RPS price.

If you have enough time, and want to hedge your bets, you might
consider perhaps 3 days at each! I love this area, and highly
recommend it!

Jan,
I forgot to give you the websites:
www.wildlifecamp-zambia.com
www.flatdogscamp.com
and I think www.RobinPopeSafaris.com will get you to RPS