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Jurgen Herpich
TH
Visited:
October 2025
Reviewed: Nov 6, 2025
Email Jurgen Herpich | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Interesting countryy
My first visit was last year in south Luanga which i enjoyed very much
The second visit this ear in okt. was in the northern part where i found the landscape less interesting,
A Valley lost in Time
In places where the rift formed land on both sides began to slump. Just such a depression formed the Luangwa Valley and isolated it from the outside world by means of steep hills and daunting cliffs. For centuries its very inaccessibility guarded a vast wilderness where wild animals thrived and few people visited.
The Luangwa Valley is one of the few really wild places left in Africa. It has high concentrations, and a wide variety of wild animals.
If you have ever wanted
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to visit a wild and wondrous place that you thought no longer existed, go to the South Luangwa National Park. You will find it is an experience that you can connect with, in a deeper sense, and as with me, it will keep calling you back; back to a vast wilderness where today animals roam the land much like they did when our ancestors walked the earth.I've traveled the world a lot, but still my experience did not prepare me for a place like this – a place where hippopotamus came up from the river at four in the morning to eat the sweet grass outside my bedroom window, a place where wild lions watched me watching them from only a few feet away, a place where there are no bars or restrictions, except common sense, between you and these totally wild animals. I was not only a guest of Norman Carr Safaris, but of this truly remarkable place and its wildlife. I felt honored and privileged to be there. It was exhilarating to ride and walk among them as they continue to roam, with little or no fear of humans.
My first task was finding a safari outfit to which I was willing to entrust my life. This adventure would not be a concession ride, nor would it be a zoo. This, I was hoping, would be the real thing! As it turned out, I need not have worried. Most Safari operations in the area are small. Wholesale tourism has yet to invade this little corner of the world.
For me one operator, Norman Carr Safaris, stood out from all the rest. On its Web Site http://www.normancarrsafaris.com/ I read the history of how they got started and was impressed with Norman Carr’s philosophy and vision. Living in the valley most of his life he was appointed one of the areas first Game Rangers. He believed that there was a special appeal to walking the bush. Safari the Old Way was what it was called, and its success in the Luangwa Valley was due in no small part to the man who has been called "the father of the non-consumptive walking safari". Bush drives are great but you are only and "observer" of Nature. When you walk the bush (not some carefully selected path) you are a "participant" with Nature!
Eco-tourism is supposed to be a new concept, but Norman Carr was doing it more that 50 years ago. He strongly believed in sharing the profits of his enterprise directly with the indigenous peoples of the region, to help them become self-sustaining and provide an alternative to illegal poaching.
Norman Carr Safaris offer the variety of a luxury safari lodge and a selection of five authentic and wonderfully appointed bushcamps. All the guides are indiginous and a number of them, still there, were personally trained by Norman Carr himself.
The Luangwa Valley is a place where time, for time’s sake, is meaningless except to know when it was time to leave, and wishing you could stay just a little bit longer. It is said that if you ever find a place like this, you will always go back. I could not understand that statement or pull such a place exerts on something deep inside you, until I went there. I still don’t fully understand it but I can tell you it is there today, whispering in my ear, calling me back!
The first time I visited the Luangwa Valley was in March of 2007 during the birding season when the birds were displaying their colorful mating plumage. I went back in June of 2008, right before winter set in. Everything was still green and the animals were plentiful. I plan to return in 2012.
SafariGirl
US
Visited:
September 2011
Reviewed: Apr 4, 2013
Email SafariGirl | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Undescribable
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and now each cabin has its own little overlook of the river where lunch is served so you can enjoy the privacy and views. Kaingo has some of the best "hides" of any camp we have ever visited. we love spending afternoons at the hippo hide and getting up close to these magnificent creatures and the beeeater hide is not be missed especially in September. Chindeni and Chamilandu are also great in their own right, but wildlife is a little sparser in these areas, still the environments make these excellent camps in their own right. They offer walking safaris or vehicle safaris at all their camps. Both have excellent cuisine and all camps adapted their menus for my husbands "unusual food phobias". Transportation is seemless as all the camps work together to get you to your destinations, "no stress". We are visiting some of Robin pope's camps this trip as well I am hoping they too will be just as wonderful.
T Sharp
Visited:
October 2012
Reviewed: Jul 29, 2013
Zambia is an amazing safari destination, of which you couldn't ask a whole lot more of.
Zambia has some amazing areas, and benefits from not being the most sought out safari destination like Tanzania's Serengeti Plains. Things are a bit more spread out, but that offers some great exploration opportunities. The locals are very kind and warm, and I have visited many of their home villages to hear their stories. The Kafue is also a great area to find the rare and elusive Sitatunga, of which I saw quite a few at dusk. There are some great lodges and tent locations in the area, some of which are permanent, with natural wood floors, stone walls, and traditional thatched roofs. I have thoroughly enjoyed all of my stays in the area, and hope to return soon. Plenty of opportunities to view game, birds, or even the famous bat migrations.
Meg
AU
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: Aug 23, 2014
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
This was our second trip to Zambia (both to South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi)We love the Zambian people, the excellent wild life viewing, the walking safaris, the lack of vehicles (except around the Mfuwe area/gateway to park), and the excellent camps (Kaingo, Mwamba, Sausage Tree and Potato Bush Camps)
Jim Scarff
US
Visited:
August 2014
Reviewed: May 6, 2015
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The countryside is fairly flat so it lacks the great vistas of East Africa, but offers much less crowded conditions and excellent wildlife viewing.
Jeff S
ZM
Visited:
October 2014
Reviewed: May 8, 2015
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Zambia is a bird watchers paradise and a great place for safari in any direction you travel. There is tones of untouched space to get away from the bustling city of Lusaka. All of the people are very friendly and Zambia has a great supply of knowledgeable and friendly safari guides.
Allan_Grey
GB
Visited:
October 2014
Reviewed: May 24, 2015
Email Allan_Grey | 65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
High quality wildlife viewing, high quality accommodation, definitely not crowded, in fact it felt like we almost had the place to ourselves. Not overly scenic, but then we were there in the dry season, it would have looked very different in the wet season
Allen
GB
Visited:
July 2015
Reviewed: Aug 26, 2015
Email Allen | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
No herds of Elephants, just individuals and small family groups, scenery is very much the same through out the whole park, no mountains but lots of water.
Somewhere a bit different to the usual areas. Just that bit wilder and less developed.