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Nsefu Camp – reviews, photos

3.5 of 5
Nsefu sector of the park | Overlooking the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
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12 reviews from our community

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Sydney
Reviewer
4 reviews 4 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
10 helpful votes 10 helpful votes
“Gret spot, wonderful service”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 October 2007
2
people found this review helpful

We have become great Robin Pope Safaris fans. We stayed in Nkwali and Nsefu. We also stayed at the camp of another operator in the South Luangwa, and much preferred the warmth, personal touches and attention to detail of the Robin Pope camps. This may because ithey are still owned by Robin and Jo Pope.

All the staff were engagng and friendly
We had fantastic game viewing with our guides Brendan and Joseph at Nkwali and Sebastian at Nsefu. The hosts, called "caterers", Fiona at Nkwali and Beck at Nsefu were very welcoming and looked after us very well and interesting people themselves.. Dowdy, the manger of Nsefu, was a delight.

At both camps the food was very good and the accommodation very comfortable, though more spacious and comfortable at Nkwali. Nsefu is more a bush camp. The bathrooms at both are open air which is part of the experience , but stll very good. The rooms at Nkwali are further apart from each other.. Nkwali is connected to mains power, and has a swimming pool. Nsefu relies on a generator which is switched off late at night and for much of the daylight hours. Nkwali is the base camp, Nsefu is seasonal

We would recommend going on walks, we had a particularly good walk from Nsefu to Tena Tena.
Nkwali is across the River from the Park in its own reserve, which has itself excellent game viewing, but you can be boated across the river to go for a walk or you can drive into the Park. As there a few of lodges and camps in and around the Park entrance ,you can in that part of the Park come across a number of other vehicles
Nsefu is in a section of the Park on the other side the River from the main part of the Park, which you have more or less to yourselves together with with guests Tena Tena, another smaller Pope bush camp about 7 km away.

At each place the game viewing was excellent, we saw at least one leopard a day, and one night at Nsefu we saw three. The guides seemed to be able to summon animals on demand.

There are large numbers of hippos in the River who make a fair bit of noise at night.

One special touch was that on our last night at Nsefu we were given a surprise,our "sundowner" was a very special set-up with table and chairs overlooking a lagoon,with champagne in an ice bucket. Beck had driven out to set it up and meet us.

Our only minor quibble was that at Nsefu, because one couple had booked a guide for themselves and another guide was away, we had less choice as to activitiesand for a day or so were in a vehicle with another two couples

  • Stayed September 2007, travelled as a couple
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Check-in / front desk
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Contributor
12 reviews 12 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
45 helpful votes 45 helpful votes
“Luxury on a sweeping vista of the Lunagwa river”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 20 January 2007
1
person found this review helpful

We stayed here one night on our honeymoon. Circumstances were such that we couldn't spend more time, but after our first night we started a two night walking safari with Robin Pope Safari (RPS). We also stayed 4 nights at Tena Tena. Nsefu was hands down much more beautiful than Tena Tena, but both places were spectacular.

The bar at Nsefu overlooks the river and the wildlife was amazingly abundant. The food was good, a nice combination of local flair and european cuisine. I would have enjoyed a heavier committment to the local food, but this is hard to accomplish with consistant success though. Tea in the afternoon included elephants, giraffes, hippos and monkeys all within 100-150 yds, unblocked view!

Everyone is friendly, and the activities are well run. Staying with RPS includes the morning, afternoon and night drives or walks. They typically keep you with the same guide so you get to know them, and the guides are very well trained, many of them locals. You should absolutely do at least one walk. You'll see less large game wildlife, but it's a real thrill to be tracking, and not be limited to the vehicle.

We also did a two night bush camping (fly camping) with Debs Tittle. This is an absolute MUST. I would come back to Zambia just for this. Spending two nights with her is truly like being with a legend. She's got great stories, her knowledge of the history and wildlife is far superior to anything I've ever experience in any other wildlife guide. In fact, she's one of the primary people involved with training local guides. Bush camping with RPS and Tittle feels a bit like how it may have been in the old days. We have a tea porter, the tents are candle lit, throne toilet and bucket shower. Yet with the elegance of luxury. Really a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This was our honeymoon, they treated us right and we wish to go back.

Stayed January 2007
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NY
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
“Nice but very basic food an accom”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 June 2006
6
people found this review helpful

We spent 3 days at Nsefu and loved the view as well as the attentive guides
The food and accom was very average for the price and we had stayed at another lodge in South Luangwa before going there and found the animals were far more in abundance than at Nsefu camp.
It was a nice stay but if I can afford to go again I would stay in the main park not the Nsefu sector as the accomodation and gameviewing was far superior.
Infact I would highly reccomend both Luangwa River Lodge and Puku ridge as these camps were just as small yet luxurious, with better game and especialy food.
All in all Zambia is a must!

  • Stayed June 2006
    • 2 of 5 stars Value
    • 3 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 4 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 4 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Safarinut about Nsefu Camp
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Worcestershire
Contributor
11 reviews 11 reviews
Reviews in 10 cities Reviews in 10 cities
35 helpful votes 35 helpful votes
“Fantastic”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 June 2005
7
people found this review helpful

We stayed 3 nights at this camp and it was not long enough. The service was superb. I don't think I can fault anyone or thing about this experience. It was a holiday of a lifetime exactly what I imagined my honeymoon to be like

  • Stayed September 2004
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Ask Puzzles about Nsefu Camp
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Bielefeld, Germany
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
Reviews in 3 cities Reviews in 3 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
“Grandiose Tierwelt in toller Lage”
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 5 September 2010
Google Translation

  • Stayed August 2010, travelled with family
    • 5 of 5 stars Value
    • 5 of 5 stars Location
    • 5 of 5 stars Sleep Quality
    • 5 of 5 stars Rooms
    • 5 of 5 stars Cleanliness
    • 5 of 5 stars Service
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Additional Information about Nsefu Camp

Nsefu sector of the park | Overlooking the Luangwa River, South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Price range (per night):* INR14,539

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