Guests of Kafunta Safaris

Christiane and Michael, Greifswald, Germany

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Our first visit in the Luangwa Valley was in 2004. For 13 days we enjoyed the hospitality of Anke and Ron. For that reason we came back in 2005. Both times we experienced the South Luangwa National Park in the dry season.

That’s why we were curious to see the green season. It was really fascinating to see how the nature has nearly completely changed.

Antelopes, buffalos, zebras and a lot of colourful birds were shining in the rich green of the grass and the trees. The air was clear and so the sunsets were as spectacular as in the wintertime.

But we had sceptical thoughts whether we could see so much animals as well. These fears were groundless. Never before we had seen so many elephants inside and outside of the park frontiers!

We want to thank Meyam and Martin for the impressive rides.

Tracy, Bryan and all employers made our stay to an unforgettable time.

We will come back for sure.

Julie Croucher

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Having always had a fascination for dogs in general and spent years working in the zoology field I always followed the progress of conservation projects for wild dogs in Africa. During 6 years of working all over Africa these endangered carnivores just went out of their way to prove that they did not exist (or constantly hid behind the nearest bush when I came near!). Having worked in areas where there are good populations of dogs including South Luangwa, Southern Tanzania and Botswana, I had by last year all but given up hope of ever seeing them. Finally, last June in the Selous Game Reserve, I got my first ever glimpse of a pack of 15 – strangely from the balcony of our room at a lodge on the edge of the reserve, we were resting after a 3 day journey to get there which had involved a broken down train! There they were in the middle of the afternoon walking on a dried up stream out of the forest below us…… I managed to get one photo from the distance and watched them as they quickly trotted out of sight. I still had yet to get up close to a wild dog.

At Kafunta in early June this year I was telling this story to Josephat, Kafunta’s very knowledgeable and long standing guide. He was driving me through the park on a game drive in the morning and we were almost back at the main Mfuwe road towards the bridge when we passed the entrance to the Lupunga spur. There was a large pile of dark shadows in the road in the distance which at first glance I thought were some buffalo. Josphat just grinned at me and said “There are your wild dogs!” I didn’t dare to believe him until we got right up on top of them and indeed, there they were – a beautiful lazy group of dogs who then moved across the road and sat dotted around in the shade of the trees and across the track while I happily took about a 100 photos! Eventually we had to move on, though I would have rather spent all day with them. Later that afternoon I set of again to find them and watched them waking from their long siesta and greeting each other before setting off on a hunt. A wonderful experience and I do now believe that they exist in Luangwa and hope to be back to see them again!

Mary Duncan, Cape Town, South Africa

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My trip to Kafunta was absolutely fabulous. The team at the lodge were welcoming, relaxed and professional, and I thought the camp had been beautifully designed. I must make special mention of Meyam, who made special effort to point out birds and tell us interesting things about the wildlife.

We had incredible sightings including a pack of 18 wild dogs, mating lions, all the babies and 100 bird species, including Pel's Fishing Owl. And after some very strong rains, the 'ferry' the guides rigged up across a swollen river near camp added to the adventure!

Many thanks, I can't recommend Kafunta enough, to any visitor to Luangwa.

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Charles Kinsey, Bristol, UK

Many thanks to all at Kafunta for giving us such a wonderful time; the whole of our group was delighted with the visit. The game viewing was magnificent and, as a veteran of many safari holidays in South and East Africa, I can say that this was the best. Seeing the lion cubs playing around in the river on our last morning game drive was the icing on the cake.

Paul Schoenmakers and Ilona Piris

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We really had a great time in Kafunta River Lodge and Island Bush Camp, Josephat knows a lot and specially knows how to handle with different people, Sometimes on a walking safari, guests really don't know about danger with animals, specially when they want to touch the animal like a Hippo...let Josephat handle it for you and everything will be alright.

And last but not least : the cooking in the lodge and in the Bushcamp are the best you can get ...

Met vriendelijke groet.

Dearest regards.

Hanne and Soren Elkjaer, Denmark

Dear Anke and the Kafunta Staff.

A short clients' comment from us up North.

We spent 4 extraordinary days at Kafunta in July 2005. Actually we did not know about the Island Bush Camp until Greg just took us there after a very short negotiation.

The Island Bush Camp was a pearl to us: Our first encounter with open cottages in the bush - the only separation between us and nature being the mosquito-net. The exclusive isolation and close contact with the animals together with the very special sunsets observed from the tip of the island made it an unforgettable experience for us.

Actually we decided to come back - and have made a reservation for 3 days in December 2005.

The Luangwa has something unique to offer all Africa lovers and Kafunta does as well.

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