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Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
Natural Wonders Photography
Tylwyth Teg
Llanigon
Hay on Wye
Hereford
HR3 5QA
United Kingdom
We will stay in Mfuwe Lodge, where thatched buildings are arranged around 2 lagoons and wildlife congregates daily. We also spend time in 3 of the 6 bushcamps, to make the most of the National Park and all it has to offer. The bush camps are located in the remote south area of the park. Here you will rarely see other game vehicles and wildlife viewing is simply, stunning.
You will see hippos, crocodiles, elephants, lion, baboons, impala, Thornicroft giraffe (indigenous to the park) Cooksons wildebeest, buffalo and zebra. South Luangwa is also one of the best places in Africa to see the endangered wild dog. It is also an area famed for its leopard population. With over 400 species of bird it is not uncommon to see over 200 different species ion a tour.
If you appreciate that wildlife viewing takes time and patience you will love this photographic safari. All vehicles are equipped with bean bag supports and the trip is open to everyone. We also have exclusive use of a specially adapted safari vehicle so that you have the opportunity to get as low as possible for those special images taken from a low angle. You do not need to be a photographer to enjoy this fabulous location. All levels of ability and interest are catered for. Game drives take place when the light is at its best and the guides are specially trained to position vehicles in the best places to obtain that shot of the day. With evening drives including a sundowner each day you can relax and enjoy the marvellous views as the sun goes down each evening.
Each lodge and bushcamp are different but each provide airy accommodation with excellent game viewing without even leaving the camps! Elephants often wander through the camps and at Mfuwe Lodge each year, elephants famously stroll through the reception area to gain access to the Mango trees at the back of the lodge.
There is ample time to relax at the bush camps and lodge between each game drive. Your tutor will also be on hand throughout to assist with all questions and queries. The staff in all locations also have great stories to tell!
Walking safaris can be arranged but you are likely to see much more in the vehicles. All drives are led by experienced guides from the lodge . We set out at first light and again in the late afternoon when the wildlife is at its most active and the light is at its best for photography.
All Bushcamps have breathtaking views where you can sit and watch wildlife come and go throughout the day. They are spacious and tented with each tent having its own private veranda for game viewing. There are also ensuite facilities with hot and cold running water. It is posh camping! There is also a sunken plunge pool to try out in one of the bushcamos.
Kapamba Bushcamp is renowned for its isolation, superb game viewing and sophisticated luxury. It is surrounded by some of the Parks richest wildlife. Lounge in your own private plunge pool and watch an elephant bathing in the river! There are villas here that are cool, original and spacious all with en-suite facilities. The rooms are open fronted with wide verandas and river views. They have twin showers and sunken stone plunge pools. Unwanted visitors are kept out of your room each night by wrought iron shutters. It is simply an amazing experience to sleep with the sights and sounds of the African night all around you knowing that you are safe.
All of the guides are highly trained and will provide instruction so you know how to behave when approaching larger animals. Safety is paramount.
Janette will be on hand at all times to guide you and help out with any queries that you may have.
Please note: Sometimes the itinerary may change but this will not interfere with game viewing and photography opportunities!
What currency do I need?
Generally US$ are accepted at the main lodge at Mfuwe.
Are credit cards accepted?
Yes at the main lodge at Mfuwe.
How do I pay for my drinks and extras?
Everything you buy from souvenirs from the shop at Mfuwe to various drinks in the Bushcamps will be recorded throughout your stay. You will be presented with a final bill before you leave when you return to Mfuwe Lodge. There is not much for you to spend your money on as everything is pretty much included in your stay.
How much are the flights costs?
The return flights with South African Airways are about £850.00. Your flight from Lusaka to Mfuwe is included. Flight costs do of course vary from airline to airline and depend on when you book the flight. Generally the earlier you book the cheaper the flight costs.
How long is the flight?
There are three flights in total. The first will be from the UK to either Johannesburg or Dubai. This will take up to 8-10 hours. The next flight to Lusaka is only about 2 hours from Johannesburg or 7 hours from Dubai. The final flight is about 1 hour long. We leave the day before the trip begins to ensure that we arrive in good time for our safaris.
How many people are there in the jeep?
Each jeep will hold 9 people. However the trip is restricted to a maximum of 6 people so that there are only 2 people per seat and there is plenty of room for your camera kit.
Do we have time to just sit and watch the animals?
Yes! It is your holiday and so the pace that we go at it determined entirely by you. We will spend plenty of time watching and observing the behaviour of many animals.
Do I need an adapter?
Yes. In some of the rooms there are the normal 3 pin plugs but in others there are not. In the bush camps there are normal 3 pin plug extension leads for you to use. There are also USB ports for use.
What is the food like?
Excellent. If you have any special dietary requirements please just let Janette know.
Will I need a Visa?
Yes. This can be obtained directly from the Zambian Embassy in London. Using an agent will cost about £95.00. If you apply directly to the Embassy you will save on agency fees. The procedure is quick and simple.
What are the bushcamps like?
Simply, they are amazing! All of the different bush camps are located in the South Luangwa Valley and are used exclusively by guests from the Bushcamp Company. This means that all safaris are exclusive and quiet for just us. You will not get overcrowded sightings here. Animals are not disturbed by our game viewing. It is a very special experience.
Why is it so expensive?
At this time of year game viewing is at its best. Water levels are low and the main source of water for all animals is the mighty Luangwa river. This means an extremely high concentration of wildlife and plenty of opportunities to obtain images of predators and their behaviours. You will see leopards and lions hunting, carmine bee eaters, over 400 species of birdlife and many elephants and hippos in an unspoiled and beautiful national park. Also hyenas and giraffes are in abundance. It really is a very special time to visit.
Below is a collection of photos our customers have captured whilst on this photography experience
Click a thumbnail to view larger
Janette is a brilliant tour leader, always mindful of her clients’ needs. From start to finish our holiday was full of wonderful surprises which came thick and fast just when you thought it couldn’t get any better! The organisation was faultless, each Bush Camp had its own special character with outstanding accommodation, excellent personal service and fantastic food. Lasting memories will be the sound of the Bell Frogs at night and waking up to honking Hippos and the alarm calls from the baboons as the Leopard passed by.
The photography opportunities were endless. Our superb guide took us to a wide variety of locations where we could photograph wildlife in their natural habitat. The light on the morning drives and just before sundown was truly amazing. The evening game drives were so exciting, especially watching a leopard in a tree with its kill, following a pride of thirteen lions through the bush and sitting in the jeep in darkness with a leopard at close quarters hunting Impala. We have come home with so many special photographic memories.
Thank you Janette. You are a star. We can’t wait for our next adventure with you.
We came back with 7,500 images which we are currently sorting and editing them and they will be a permanent reminder of probably our best holiday ever. We are already booking two more trips with Natural Wonders Photography.
We were really impressed with the organisation and the selection of accommodation and Janette was really keen to treat us as clients as well as friends, keeping a number a delightful surprises to herself to ensure that we got the most enjoyment from them. The wildlife was fantastic and every effort was made by both Janette and our guide Suzyo to ensure that photographically the best positions and angles were explored. We would not hesitate to travel with NWP in the future and just hope that next time Janette does not break any more bones and we do not end up as dressers and luggage mules!
We were lucky enough to see aardvark (just about), wild dogs – a pack of 17, lioness with 4-5 week old cubs, lions, leopards, hyenas (mating), hippos, crocodiles, zebra, elephants (who seemed to love trumpeting at us), warthogs, buffalo, various antelope, unbelievable amount of bird life and many of the smaller, less seen, animals such as elephant shrew, civet, genet, white tailed mongoose etc. As for a highlight – there were too many to mention.
The accommodation was amazing – I had my own tree house at one bush camp and I could sit in the bath gazing out at the river. We had brunch sitting in the river, made our own pizzas in a shady glade in the bush and had a night time stir fry on the way back from an afternoon/evening game drive – brilliant. I would thoroughly recommend Natural Wonders and especially the Zambia trip. I will certainly be doing another! Thank you Janette.
If you are unsure about any part of this form, or prefer to make a booking over the phone, please feel free to give us a call by using the telephone number below
We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!
+44 (0)7913-415-701
We're here to help and are happy to answer any questions you may have, any time!