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Nkwali Camp

Nkwali Camp

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

The Luangwa Valley marks the end of the Great Rift Valley and covers an area of over 9000 sq. km. through which the meandering Luangwa River runs. The ox bow lagoons, woodland and plains of the valley host huge concentrations of game - including elephant, buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, hippo - and over 400 species of birds. Nkwali is one of the few camps in the area that is open all year round. The seasons are as follows: Jan - May:  Potential rain storms around. Warm/hot. The bush is very green, grass long. Birds excellent - migrants still around. Gameviewing is good but only the all weather Mfuwe area open. Remote roads are still closed. Main activities are boating and walking. Boating for sundowners, walks from the boat, the vehicle meeting the boat in the park. Fun and flexible!  June - July:  June marks the start of the dry or walking season. Mid winter. Can be very cold on night/early morning drives. Cool/Warm during day. Migratory birds leave. Bush drying out. Most days with clear air and fabulous colours. All areas of the park open. Gameviewing good/excellent.  August:  Varies from cool to hot. Can still have cold spells. Bush dry. Lagoons now obviously shrinking. Gameviewing increasing. Sept:  Hot, dry and hazy. Trees flower and lose leaves. Gameviewing excellent. Carmine bee eaters nesting through to Nov.  Oct:  Very dry with excellent gameviewing. Should have occasional rain when it can cool down and clear the air. Can be very hot (up to 40 degrees in the shade). New growth starts - and there are newborns everywhere. Woodlands all very green near end of Oct.  Nov & Dec:  Hot, slightly humid. Early rains, vary from the odd shower to short periods of daily afternoon storms. These can be very dramatic with wind, dark clouds, shafts of light, sheet lightening. Extremely beautiful and exciting. Bush green and fresh. Time of birth (especially the impala). The migrant birds arrive and so excellent birdwatching. 

Highlights

Nkwali Camp is located on private land, overlooking the South Luangwa National Park. The land is superb gameviewing country, with a beautiful area of ebony woodland and open grass plains. 



RHINOMETER
Community

For the last 10 years Robin Pope Safaris has supported a school in the Nsefu Village area. Kawaza School now has the reputation in Zambia of being a great example of how help from tourism can improve a community, and the village tourism project (now run by the community) has won major international awards. The camp and funds from the tourism projects are used to rebuild the two schools and pay for 12 teacher's salaries. The response of the guests who have visited the school has been overwhelming and many of them wanted more interaction. Guests are now offered the opportunity to stay at Kawaza Village, next to the school for a night. Accommodation and food is totally African. There is the chance to meet the Chief, a local traditional healer, to spend a morning with the ladies collecting water and cooking, to help with constructions, dance with the ladies. This is not a set up village, but a chance to spend time with an African family and community. There is also a donation for the school in the fee. Village visits are available between April and December, suggested number of nights stay is 1 or 2. Accommodation is in mud huts with a reed bed, mosquito net, and long drop loo. Guests are encouraged to bring along any equipment that can be used at the school such as pens, pencils, paper or books for young children.
Rates Included
Rates Excluded
  • full board 
  • all gameviewing 
  • laundry 
  • bar 
  • National Park fees 
  • transfers to/from Mfuwe Airport 
  • visas 
  • airport taxes 
  • flights 
  • flights to North Luangwa Walking Trails 
  • christmas surcharge 
Itinerary Details

Accommodation

6 open style rooms The rooms are made mostly from bamboo with open air en suite bathroom and flush toilet. Four of the rooms are twin/single and two are double. All rooms have fans and electricity.

Facilities

Facilities include a bar built around huge Ebony on the river bank, library and dining room overlooking the lagoon.

Digital Photographic Workshop – starts 10 March 2007

Following the success of 2006 workshop, David Rogers, the well known wildlife photographer, is coming again to do a workshop at Nkwali in March 2007. David is the author of several books, including the new Zambia Safari in Style. A group of max 6 guests will benefit from David’s expertise and improve their digital photography. David will accompany the guests on all drives, give advice, analyse results and also look at how to best use Photoshop. As well as wildlife, he will look at on landscapes, macro work, birds, insects and also people. Package includes * 6 nights accommodation at Nkwali and one night at Chaminuka in Lusaka * or 7 nights at Nkwali * Internal Flights starting and finishing in Lusaka * All meals, bar, activities, national park fees, laundry and transfers from Mfuwe Airport to Nkwali * David Roger's expert advice! This is a unique opportunity to benefit from the knowledge of a leading wildlife photographer and see the South Luangwa at its most colourful. Bring your own digital camera!

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