Tafika Camp

independent, owner-operated and uniquely characterful

Tafika Camp is located in the South Luangwa North area of eastern Zambia.

The camp is in a very pretty position on the eastern bank of the Luangwa River, with broad views out across the surrounding floodplain, often with a range of wildlife in view. It is one of the most northerly camps, which means that the areas in which it operates its safari are usually very quiet and peaceful. The camp is actually sited just outside the national park, but has full access and guests should not be in the slightest bit disadvantaged by the fact. Recently, the area between Tafika and the park was brought into their exclusive game viewing area which has allowed for a sizable area, with a very active lagoon that can be explored by guests.

The camp itself is surprisingly simple for somewhere of this elevated price and reputation, but deliberately so. The owners are very much focused on delivering an authentic safari experience and positively don’t want guests to be distracted by the fripperies of modern life. This approach tends to bring in a particular type of more experienced and outdoorsy safari travellers, so it really does work well.

From the vehicle turnaround we cross the open lawns of the camp towards a stand of giant leadwood trees, under which stands the simple open-sided main building, or ‘chitenge’, under thatch and with a cool brickwork floor, containing modest lounge and dining areas, with a well-stocked free bar. Out front are areas for outside dining and a nice campfire.

Animals in camp

As with most camps in the valley, it is often possible to view a lot of animals in and around Tafika Camp, especially elephants and bushbucks.

Rooms

Guest accommodation at Tafika Camp is in a total of just six rooms …

Standard Rooms : 4 : These rooms are built very much in traditional Zambian style, with reedwork walls under thatch and with more of those cooling brickwork floors. At the front there is a pleasant rounded verandah, opening into the main bedroom, where the beds are fitted with large framed mosquito nets. Beyond is an outside bathroom with conventionally plumbed hot and cold water. There are also USB chargers and fans.

Honeymoon Suite : 1 : This room is very similar to the above, but is positioned further away from the main areas, has a large king sized bed and a double shower.

Family Suite : 1 : This much larger room is below a large leadwood tree. It has a much larger verandah and two bedrooms, each with a bathroom (making it suitable for two couples as well) and a large lounge area.

Activities

Tafika Camp provides the following guided activities …

• vehicle safari
• walking safari
• night vehicle safari

South Luangwa is a very high quality safari area that often serves as the primary location in a trip.

The stay duration tends to be 5-8 nights split between two camps, or more occasionally 3-5 nights at one camp. Three camp combinations are also possible.

Seasonality

The best time to visit South Luangwa is during the May-Oct dry season, when the wildlife is focused on the riverine areas and easy to find.

Within that period, May-Jul is pleasantly cool at night, but the animals may not yet be fully migrated back into the river.

Towards the end of that period, Oct-Nov the wildlife should be at its strongest, but the weather is likely to be uncomfortably hot, especially at night. Bear in mind that most camps do not have air-conditioning.

Getting around

South Luangwa lies to the east of the country and is usually accessed by light aircraft services from Lusaka or Livingstone.

From Mfuwe Airport it is two hours by road into camp.

It is also possible to charter into the nearby Lukuzi Airstrip, especially if you are coming from a more unusual location.

Tafika has its own light aircraft which offers a particularly good connection with Lower Zambezi, direct from airstrip to airstrip, therefore avoiding the major airports and traffic at Mfuwe and Lusaka. They also offer private charters to other destinations, including some lesser known areas of northern Zambia such as Bangweulu (primarily for birding) and Shiwa Ngandu (an historic colonial estate), as well as Lusaka itself. Although these charters are often considerably more expensive than scheduled options, they can optimise your time on safari and can be especially worth considering for groups of 3 or more.

usually combined with Livingstone and other safari areas