We LOVED, LOVED our trip to Zambia. Everything was perfect. We didn’t have to take care of anything – the most fantastic, carefree vacation ever (for both of us). Thank you!
Hi Jamie,
Sorry you had to wait for our impressions from the trip: After “planned” emergencies, we got real ones after October 1st.
We LOVED, LOVED our trip. Everything was perfect. We didn’t have to take care of anything – the most fantastic, carefree vacation ever (for both of us). Thank you!
Accommodations! Simply excellent. It is hard to say which one we liked the most – they are all different. Staff was amazing everywhere. So was food. So were views with animals coming close to our lodging. “Fighting” with monkeys was fun! Honestly, we felt like living in a movie.
We loved the Three Rivers camp as it was the most isolated and private one of three lodges. Only 9 guests including both of us. An amazing chef (worth 3 Michelin stars)! Due to the camp’s remoteness, the area seemed to have less animals (not true) and much more “action.” For example… We were chased by elephants (a mock chase; scary and funny at the same time). We watched hyenas and vultures feasting on a big buffalo killed by two lions - just 20 feet or less away from our car. Almost 2 hours, watching, taking pictures, and filming. Enough material for a short documentary!
We truly enjoyed the Kafunta River Lodge (our first one). What a spectacular introduction to a true safari! The welcomed committee included 4 elephants joining impalas, warthogs, monkeys, birds, etc. just across from the main deck. And then… Hippos! Wow! Until this trip we didn’t realize how “talkative” they can be. I still can “hear” them.
The Royal Zambezi Lodge felt more like a resort than a bush camp. It was a perfect lodge for the end of the trip. In addition to regular game drives, we also had a leisure boat trip and were able to visit a local village. A regular village. Not a tourist “trap.” And… We were so lucky… The Jeki Pack! We saw puppies (12) on our last game drive. They barely left their hiding den… Amazing!
Animals: Wow! Big cats have always been my priority and… Yes, we expected lions and did, but seeing so many leopards so close to us was more exhilarating than words can express. It was almost unreal realizing that I could touch big cats by extending my hand (if I didn’t care too much about losing them). A side effect of our encounters with big cats? I no longer feel guilty of not playing enough with my cat, MiDum! We knew all cats sleep a lot and why (I actually did research on cats as species for one of her scientific projects focusing on laughter [not a misspelling]) but seeing it in nature was a different thing.
Elephants… This was our first safari, so we really didn’t know what to expect. I tried to prepare compiling lists, etc., but… At the end… Most of the stuff was not very useful. Your instructions were.
Back to elephants… Not knowing what a safari is all about or what it was to become for us, I photographed/filmed every elephant (or giraffe, etc.) just standing or walking during the first 3 game rides. We were so excited! We may never see one again! Of course, I sent pictures to my friends. One of them asked, “So… When are you going to stop taking pictures of elephants? Haven’t you seen enough of them?” And then… We have realized that’s not a ZOO! Mindless pictures because my focus was on just seeing, not understanding them. From that time on… All has clicked into place… We were not on a safari to see animals. We were there because we wanted to learn about them, “understand” and “feel” them when they are roaming free through their natural habitats. This was a game changer for me. The next “hundreds” of elephant sightings were not pictures. They were stories. We have learned so much about them and will never get bored watching them, over and over again. We didn’t know they “dive.” We have learned to recognize when they were angry and when they were playful. In my view, seeing/taking 1000 pictures of Buddha in Tibet was boring. Done. Over. 1000 pictures of elephants in Africa will never be enough.
Guides and trackers… Fantastic and caring! Very knowledgeable. We will never understand how they spotted a small chameleon on a tree in total darkness. Even with the light on it, we couldn’t really see it until we saw pictures. Beautiful!
There was only one safari trip on my bucket list (Rebecca is too young to have one). Now… I am busy rethinking/redoing my bucket list. I want to go back to Zambia. I want to go to the Kafue National Park. If I were younger, I would have become a “safari junkie.” Now… I don’t have enough time to do so… But… One more trip (organized by YOU) is not out of the question. I will try.
Finally… I also understand why you were against visiting the Chaminuka nature reserve. We didn’t like it at all. Seeing lions in very small “cages” made us both cry. That was not a “safari.” That was just a ride in a “safari car” through a big ZOO with handlers. It is really sad to know that this type of a tour is even considered to be a “game ride.” However… I don’t regret going there because of cheetahs. For me, it was not about taking a picture with a cheetah but about “playing” with one; touching it; making it purr. I got that. The “guide” thought I was crazy because I didn’t want to be separated from Shula – I was petting and even kissing him. I stopped feeling guilty about financially supporting such a place after learning that only a very small percentage of cheetah cubs survive in the wilderness. Orphans don’t have a chance. Shula and her brother were rescued in South Africa. I still want to see cheetahs in their natural environment… The Kafue National Park? In the next two years?
Thank you so much for organizing our trip. Unforgettable!
Best.
Ewa and Rebecca
Ps. The Wild Dogs Lodge was our Zambia “home.” We loved it! The staff was simply fabulous. So were accommodations.
Ps. 2. I am still "working" on my pictures and videos. If you are interested, I can send you some in the future.
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