Zambezi Rum

I would like to personally give a very very big thank you for the most perfect , warm and sincere company and hospitality, food (and never ending supply of Rum) and welcome. 

Already I dearly miss beautiful Africa and cry a tear when I reminisce. It has captures my heart and it will not be soon enough when I het to return and reclaim it. Thank you again for making it sucfh a magical holiday.

Dawn T 
UK

Matusadona, Zimbabwe

For some reason backpacking through Matusadona will always remain the most memorable safari I've ever been on including the pronutro and water for breakfast, brushing teeth in stagnant water and a member of the party who flossed teeth by moonlight before going to bed and thought he was being strangled by a python in the middle of the night - it beat any luxury camp/safari I've ever been to since! Curious how trips with the best memories and most fun, are always the ones that don't fit on a brochure version of a safari!!

A Full-Moon melts the Matusadona Mountains
The stream sings silver in my sleep
A proud assured unyielding elephant -
Ivory looms in the thick bush.
Endless hills, giant trees, vast skies.

Some months ago I predicted that this year would be an exceptional game-viewing time. This has proven to be an accurate prediction. I have been extremely busy over the past five weeks and although my bush experiences provided ample inspiration, there has been no time to pen these.
The first in the series of superb safaris was a 5 day back-packing safari conducted through the Matusadona Mountains with Ian W, Kevin W, Ian F & Mark F. We slept under the stars for most of the trip and were treated to the most magnificent full moon and fine weather. Not to forget the enormous unforgettable musth bull elephant and other wildlife we saw.

One of the participants described this safari as "a life-altering experience"!!! The Matusadona will do that to you!

When I find the time I will let you know about some of the other exceptional trips of the past weeks. I depart again on Wednesday - hopefully for more inspiration.
Steve B

Zimbabwe and Botswana

Just got back this morning so a quick message to say everything was superb and all the arrangements (with one v.v. small hiccup) worked impeccably. We all had a wonderful time and hope to back in Southern Africa in the not too distant future. 

More detailed comments will follow if that would be of use to you, but for the moment thanks for all your work; the trip was worth every penny.
Best wishes
Adrian W
UK

Lower Zambezi and South Luangwa

A rather belated note to say, on behalf of all six of us, how much we all enjoyed our safari holiday. Your choice of camps and itinerary could not have been bettered and we were really taken aback by the warmth of the hospitality we received. The guides were excellent, the game-watching just out of this world (we never in our wildest dreams expected to see so much) and the catering was unbelievable. Our thanks to you and everyone else who made it such a wonderful experience.

The reason I have been a bit tardy in thanking you is that our grandchild arrived while we were in the bush and so we were straight off to see him and our daughter when we returned from Africa. I think the whole of the Luangwa valley knew of his arrival as the news was transmitted to the camp we were in by radio!

Please could you remind me of Alison’s e-mail address as I wish to send her our thanks direct. Also, I want to find the latest news on Phil as he was clearly not at all well while we were there but gallantly ensured that this in no way interfered with our game-watching schedule and enjoyment.

Can’t wait to go back
Regards
Liz and John C

Luangwa is as beautiful as I remember made even more pleasurable by Chris, Debs and the staff. Thank you we will always have wonderful memories of Chris’s “birds” and Rogers luck.
Judith and Roger

An unforgettable experience. For someone who has constantly sought to “get away from it all”, this is very close to paradise on earth. Thanks to Liz and John for making it possible and the team here for making it so perfect.
An incredible experience made even better by Chris, Debbie and the unforgettable Benje and Victor. Our thanks to you all. We will always remember our first African experience!
Fiona and Tim

Thorntree River Lodge, Victoria Falls

Just wanted to say ‘thanks’ for our short trip to Thorntree. We were the 4 American guys who went rafting and horseback riding a couple weeks ago. We were (and still are) from Kentucky. We have highly recommended your place so don’t be surprised if business picks up from people in Kentucky. 

Thanks again for all your hospitality and kindness. 
Ray K 
Alexandria, Ky.

North Luangwa and Kafue

Hi Trish - apart from being ripped off by Zambian customs on exiting Lusaka for a passport irregularity which was obvious only to them, it was a brilliant trip. Kutandala was magnificent - we had the camp to ourselves and Rod and Guz were fantastic hosts. Walking was great and potential for return visit (very keen to follow the Maweleshi river up onto the escarpment) very high.

Game in Kafue was superb so too the quality of guiding (Greg Poole was as good as any guide I’ve come across). Lunga camp could not be faulted though bloke who owns it (Ed?) was not our cup of tea and might do better to keep a lower profile. Would not revisit if he is an ever present. Busanga was superb and guide there ( Craig Riddle) was again a top lad. 

Only other point I’d make is re the necessity to spend a night in Lusaka - if this could be avoided then Zambia trip would be perfection (nothing wrong with the Holiday Inn but wouldn’t stay there by choice).

What news on Zim by the way? Would love to get back there asap. Is the Foriegn Office still advising against travel with consequential problems with travel insurance? Any news on Steve Carey?

Thanks for organising everything - top job! Fingers crossed will be calling you next spring for a repeat!
Richard W 
UK

Zambian safari

hi nikki had a great time......cannot fault any aspect.......everything went perfectly!! A very big thank you...... will certainly mention yr company to friends colleagues etc and use u again for any future trips. 

Kind regards 
ian f 
uk

Zimbabwe visit

Hi Princess,  I was very impressed with your company’s services and will definitely use you again if I travel back to Zim.
Best regards
Oliver B

Zambia, Namibia, Botswana 

Hello Liz and Trish,
We are back from a fabulous trip! Liz, you did a fantastic job in arranging the whole thing. All the lodges, airplanes, pickups, drop offs went without a hitch! Many thanks for all your hard work.
Our introduction to Africa was at Kayila Lodge. Elspeth and Dave Winhall were fabulous hosts. We were the only two at the lodge and had great walks,drives and food!! Wish we had more time with them.

Next Myuambashi Lodge was fantastic. Ryan Clark was a fabulous host. The wine was fabulous. We met Garth Thompson there, who I believe, wrote book about guiding. It was gracious hospitality...saw lions jackals and wild dogs. Couldn’t find any aardvarks!! Will go back to look for them in the future!!

It was hard to leave the Lower Zambezi for Thorntree. The location of Thorntree is wonderful..the room was great, the food ok. We did go over to the Zim Side and enjoyed the Fabulous Falls after viewing the Zambia side. What an awesome experience!

Okavango Delta and Semetsi camp were wonderful. There were two Swiss women and us there...we walked and walked and walked...learned a lot of things...went on the moroko, got stuck between a charging elephant and a hippo while on the mokoro.The guide was sick for the first two days but he tried hard. We will miss the wonderful sunsets, the birds, the peace and quiet and the bright bright stars.

Windoek _ Villa Verde was a nice quaint place. Nice breakfast and a long walk into town. The drive and excursion to Soussosvlei was wonderful, the Nabib Nauklauft lodge was comfortable...the scenery stunning. The climb on the dunes ecstatic. We wished that there was a guide with us to explain all the different things to us. We learned later that, Leonard, the person who drove us there was supposed to be the guide!

One comment on the driver, Leonard, who drove us from Windhoek to Soussosvlei and back. We found out later he was supposed to have been our tour guide and accompanied us to the dunes. He did not...he slept at the lodge while we went to the dunes on the four wheeler. 

Thank you again for a fabulous trip. We will have to go back to see the Aardvark in the Lower Zambezi and the African seashore!! We heard great things about Mozambique and Seychelles beaches!!

Cheers
joya and bijoy C
FDX18

Lower and Upper Zambezi - Zambia

I have just got back from a weeks holiday to find an e-mail from my mother and sister! They are having an AMAZING time and especially loved Mwambashi. They're now in Livingstone and doing all the bungi jumping etc!

THANK YOU so much for all your work - it has definitely paid off!
Hope all's well with you,
Nicola J
gn.apc.org

Victoria Falls

Hi Nikki,
Just to let you know that I got a postcard from Helen and Steve this morning and they said that the microlight trip over the Falls was one of the most amazing things they’ve ever done (although Steve was so nervous he couldn’t eat breakfast beforehand!) - think that means it was a success!!

They’ve taken loads of photos so at least I’ll get to experience it second hand.
Thanks for arranging it all for me
Elizabeth K

Matusadona walking safari, Zimbabwe

Hi Rosa! 
It's a long time ago now, that I contacted you for the last time. 

Last week, I was with my travel agent to tell him about my "walking safari" in Matusadona National Park. 

I would thank you many times for the good organisation of that walking safari and of course also for the road transfers from and to Harare.

It was "great". The safari has not stolen his name, "Lion trail"! We saw lions every day! And one day, when we were tracking for a black rhino, we saw one and even had to climb into a tree. A very nice experience and exciting!

Also the area where the safari was organised, was very beautiful. I won't ever forget these beautiful days! Also Mr. Sibanda was enthusiastic, he learned many things extra, interesting for his further career. 

I really love Zimbabwe, the country and it's people. And I hope I can come back very soon. 

Kindest regards. 
Greta F 
Belgium

Victoria Falls, lower Zambezi and Luangwa Valley

We had a WONDERFUL two-week trip to Zambia, and the 7-night safari was everything we’d hoped for and more. The accommodations and cuisine were great. Each of the three camps we stayed at was unique in its own way. I think Chindeni was our favorite, for its location on that oxbow lagoon with decks overlooking the parade of wildlife. We were very impressed with hosts and guides.

Thanks for all your help in planning a memorable trip.
Anne T 
UK

Canoe Safari - lower Zambezi River

Dear Liz,
Katharine and I had the very best time ever. We cannot thank you enough. Your organisation, at such short notice, was amazing and really saved the day for us. And there was not even the slightest hitch with any of your arrangements.

The canoe safari was magical, and Katharine was so excited by the Airwaves flight from the Royal Airstrip that she almost cried. Gillian (the pilot) flew us low over the river for a good long way. Stunning.

I will recommend you to anyone who will listen. The company that let me down so badly would do well to let you handle some of these trips for them.

Thank you all so much.
Best regards,
Peter & Katharine I

Lower Zambezi canoeing, Mana Pools, Zimbabwe

Dear Trish,
I am sorry it has taken me so long to respond. I would like to give you my impressions of our Classic Safari experience. We had a great time and everything was well organized except for a few hitches which Patrick managed to smooth out. It seems the photographer fellow (can't remember his name) had told Patrick that we did not want to go canoeing. That was definitely not the case, as I had said we were interested in going canoeing. We were in fact able to do that and it was a great experience. 

As I said earlier, we had a lovely stay. The food was great and the park very interesting. We were sent with a local guide for all walking safaris and he did seem more interested in his personal safety and a bit afraid of being on foot in the bush. I appreciate caution, but think we sacrificed some of our experience because he was too over cautious. For what we were paying I would have liked to had someone else who knew more about imparting the information that this guide obviously had in his head to us. I know that I am being demanding, but for what a safari costs these days, I can't help but be so. 

On the other hand, with what is happening in Zimbabwe and the ordeals anyone has to live through to attempt to do business there, I know that it is not easy. Hope these reflections are not too negative and are a help to you.

Sincerely,
Betsy L 
Zambia

South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia

Dear Delene,
we had an awesome time in Southern Africa with a 23 day stay stretching from the Cape to Zim and Zambia ( preferred the Zambian side because of all the “hassle” from curio and fx touts on the Zim side). The zambesi canoe and the jet boat were fabulous. We were looked after from the hotel to the rides and back in a very professional manner and felt very safe on the journeys.

We did do white water rafting on the next morning and helicopter out - great combo. In hindsight the best combo would have been white water..jet boat..heli. However you may recall that SAf par would not take the 12+14 yr olds. 

Then at 16.32pm on the Friday afternoon threw myself off the Vic Falls Bride - fantastic !! 

Many many thanks for your help. The last few days in Vic Falls was one big adrenaline trip which the family thoroughly enjoyed. Vic Falls ( hotels in particular) are pricing themselves out of the market and should use reduced rates to fill their large vacancies.

kind regards
Gordon W

Safari Regulars - South Africa and Botswana

Hi Trish
We have had very good intentions, but life got hectic after we returned. Cindy is away for a few days helping with some family issues. I have been traveling a bit for work and of course we are into the spring gardening season and I have been trying to catch up with a large photography backlog, and we both had the flu as well.

We truly had a great time in Botswana and in Cape Town. I am sure that this is no surprise to you. Each day had at least one or two stories. The wild life was superb, though we missed leopards and wild dogs. I guess we will just have to return. I suspect Chris Worden has given you some details. One of the big surprises was his birthday party at the Baobub Restaurant at Muchengie. I suspect that you had something to do with that. Dinners were very educational just listening to Chris and the lodge managers talking about the “good old days”.

With the benefit of experience we would probably arrange a longer visit to the Delta and a little less time at Jack’s. The time we spent with the Sans Bushman, Cobra is unforgetable; we developed an incredible respect for him and his conciousness about his (and our) environment. The pans were starting to dry, but we did see lots of flamingos. The zebra herd was at about 1500 and quite impressive, though I understand that it was larger earlier. The elephants in Chobe were certainly another highlight - 300 at once in a stampede! Many more game stories.

Photgraphy was excellent. I only took 60 rolls total, including Cape Town. I will probably get some “keepers” that I will print and sell at local art shows. Also, did a few rolls of black and whites - some look pretty good, but I haven’t had enought time to print everything.

In Cape Town we ended up staying at a B&B called Liberty Lodge. It was very comfortable and favorably priced. Run by Jimmy Van Tonder, a retired music professor. He arranged some tours for us with a young couple who have had a touring business for a few years - Yasim (sp?) and Tanya. I could recommend the B&B and the tour guides to anyone.

When I get some of the slides made into prints, I will scan some and send them off.

We are already thinking about our next trip to Africa, which we hope can include Chris. We really got along well and like Chris a lot. We call refer to him as our friend from Zimbabwe when we discuss our travels. No firm plans yet, but probably not until next Jan/Feb. We are thinking mountain gorillas and have read email account from Chris from his recent visit. Again, nothing definite at this time.

Thanks for all your help in making the arrangements.
Best regards
Chris & Cindy

Zimbabwe Tour

Jenny & Co,
All went well on our (all too short) trip to Zimbabwe. Everything went smoothly and the people & countryside were wonderful.

I think that in the not too distant future we shall have to organize a trip with a decent amount of time to stay and take in the pace of life in such a beautiful place.

Thank ou for your assistance.
Kind regards
Barry & Jane F
USA

Zimbabwe and Botswana

Dear Liz,
I hope you are very well.

Just to let you know that I had a fantastic trip. It was pretty empty in Zimbabwe, which meant I was often the only person on my activities - it was nice as I spent more time talking to Zimbabweans rather than tourists (but sometimes the men were a little over friendly!).

The muddle up about the day when I had the morning game drive and the afternoon cruise was because I was told the morning game drive had had to be cancelled, and I asked if the afternoon thing could still go ahead and they said it could. Anyway, it all got sorted out in the end, and I had the morning game drive in the afternoon, then went directly on the afternoon cruise.

Mapopoma Lodge was really lovely, and Daisy and Titus made me feel very welcome and extremely comfortable.

White water rafting was fantastic, in spite of the massive bruise I go on the first of the three times I fell out!

The game in Botswana was so great - I had a constant smile on my face throughout the game drives!

Thanks ever so much for helping me have such a great holiday at such short notice.

Now all I have to do is wait to fly back to London (I’m still at Johannesburg - they’d overbooked my yesterday’s flight, but it’s not so bad as I’m flying back business class today, and I get a free return flight to Johannesburg!)

All the best, from Deborah H
UK

Victoria Falls

Just to let you know , just got back this morning from Zimbabwe. had a brilliant time (I even stayed an extra night at Safari lodge). Whitwater rafting excellent; sunset cruise wonderful and guided tour of the falls superb. The lodge, and all the people and staff were out of this world.

thanks for all your help in arranging at short notice and especially Nikki for coming to the hotel early on a Sunday morning with the vouchers.

Thanks everyone,
Andy W
Ps. I'll be going back next year. 

Victoria Falls and Matusadona, Zimbabwe

Hi Liz,
I have had a wonderful time in Zimbabwe, I do have many happy memories indeed. 

Thank you so much for arranging everything and especially for tracking me back after I missed the connecting flight to Kariba. I had tried to call you many times on Friday night and Saturday morning, but to no avail. Actually, I think we were calling each other just at the same moment on Sat.morning. I got your handphone engaged and just minutes later I got a message from Guest Services that I had to call you urgently. I was extremely surprised that you found me and am still wondering how. Anyway. it was a nice and unexpected addition to my stay in Zimbabwe. 

Now, I have seen the VicFalls as well and had a wonderful stay in The Kingdom on expense of British Airways.

Anyway. Senga Camp was great. I enjoyed my stay there very much. It’s a pity that tourism in your country is so low at this moment. It is really worthwhile a visit. The Canoe Safari was also great. And then the Hog Lodge, such nice people!

Thanks a lot for organizing.
Kind regards,
Saskia H

Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe

We had a truly memorable time at Vic Falls, and all the staff at the lodge and the Boma were wonderful. We had a peaceful and idyllic cruise along the river and saw much wild life. 

On a more serious note though, the holiday was somewhat marred by the fact there was no where to purchase provisions, even water on the way to the lodge and no welcome pack when we arrived. I went into town to the Spar and found very little to purchase, and what I could not very suitable for teenagers. No cool drinks as I did not have a bottle to return, no salad and only cream no milk. I can understand that this is a third world country and that there are many problems there, however if we had been warned I would have been prepared. 

It was impossible to get Zim money in SA and when we got to the airport the exchange rate was ridiculous, offering more for American dollars that sterling, and the rate fo SA rand was a joke. Again with warning I could have been prepared with American Dollars. I wanted to go into town and the market to buy presents but found it very threatening and would not risk taking the children, so added to not having any currency I ended up coming home with much of the spending money I had hoped to leave there. 

The carvings and the dyed fabrics were beautiful, perhaps on my next visit I will be ready to venture forth, however feel that a golden opportunity is being missed as many other visitors felt the same as we did and did not go into town after one trip when they too found it too threatening.

After all that I still will never forget my trip and would hope to return in the not too distant future.
Thank you again.
Ann M
USA

Botswana

Dear Trish,
First I want to thank you for the excellent planning and support you provided for us. First class service all the way and it really made a great impression on us throughout the trip. It enhanced our terrific experience in Africa which as it was the first time for all of us, set us on a path to want to return often. In all, an awesome trip!!

One point I just wanted to stress. I travel alot and I have never had someone so quick - even in "easy" countries - in turning around requests. I will without hesitation recommend you to anyone who asks for help in setting up a memorable trip to Africa.

Thanks again,
Jan K
UK

Victoria Falls, Zambia

Hello Darlene!
Well, our wonderful journey came to an end and we returned yesterday. Needless to say one of our highlights was the whitewater rafting trip on the Zambezi! Thanks again for all your help!

Thank you!
Suzanne P

Feedback 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6        next ->

Zambezi Site
Home | Safari Primer | Botswana | Zambia | Zimbabwe | Namibia | Tours | Contact

Last updated 01 December, 2011