Zambia - Bongwe safari?

oconnoao

Hey,

My boyfriends travelling to Zambia in July for work and I'm looking at going over for a holiday after. Has anyone any experiences of Zambia?

The safaris all seem crazy expensive, but i found one company offering them on a budget - Bongwe safaris - has anyone heard of them?

Any advice would be much appreciated, we're getting very excited about it cos it looks amazing, but i hope we can do it on our budget.

Thanks!

sarkozy

Not knowing Zambia, but knowing little bits of other African countries, I'm sure you'll find operators even when you arrive if you can't sort things out before you go. I wouldn't stress.

What's your boyfriend going over to do, may I ask?

Civilian_Target

Second that. Just sign up to the safari when you get out there. It'll be a lot cheaper, and you'll be able to see if it's dodge. In Africa, the price you pay often has little relevance to the quality of the service delivered.

oconnoao

Thanks for replying, I was thinking that might be the case alright - that the price isn't relevant to the quality. The quality of the accommodation seems to be the main difference between companies. We'll probably wing it and find things over then, thanks!

He's going over to work with a company over there and helping to get them off the ground and operating more efficiently...i think that's it anyway:)

muki

hey

i went for a month and had the most amazing trip!! i agree your far better to book when you get there i actually traveled from livingstone in zambia across into botswana for a one day safari trip includeing travel expenses the safari trip in a game park and a boat safari with luch and it cost 130 us dollars per person

money well speant we had a great day hope that helps

mosimorgan

Morning Oconnoao,

Did you ever go to Zambia? Am travelling out that way soon and wanted to know if you had any luck. Was trawling the internet for info on Bongwe Safari's when I cam e across your post!

Would love to know any info, suggestions, etc!

oconnoao

We're heading in about a months time, we haven't booked anything but the flights so far. I'm looking at spending 3-4 days in either Kafue or Lower Zambezi and then going to Livingstone for another 4-5 days, that's all the time we have unfortunately. I'd like to go up to South Luangwe National Park but my boyfriends worried that it's too much travelling in such a short time....

Sorry I can't be of more assistance, I'll let you know more when we've booked something! When are you going?

mosimorgan

Good luck, I hear Zambia is great. Have done quite a bit of research and Kafue National Park is supposed to be excellent. Have got in touch with Bongwe and spoke to a guy called Alec Cole, seemed to know his stuff and they have just opened a guest house in Lusaka. Has a Skype address as well so was able to talk to him on line.

We were going in October but have found out it is the wet season so most of the parks are closed. Looking to bring it forward to August....... Money permitting!

Have fun and let me know how it goes!!

bongwesafaris

barney81 wrote: »

Hi, I'vin luangwa. Enjoy Zambia, its.

Im not sure where you get this information from Barney811. Why you would have had experience with Alec is a question you need to answer. Unless he was your guide, you would not have had any contact with him. He does not deal with bookings or queries. Secondly, he, or indeed us as a company are not "middle men". We operate our own safaris, our own equipment and vehicles and our own guides, chefs and workers. The camps we do utilise consist of a camp in Kafue in which we have a 5 year exclusive operators license and is only used by us, and a camp in Lower Zambezi where we take our clients along with all supplies, vehicles, guide and staff. We pick you up in Lusaka ourselves, in our own vehicles and drive you camp with our own guide and driver, prepare your meals with our own chef, take you on safari with our own guide and then bring you back to Lusaka in our own vehicle. If there is a middle man there, I'm at a loss as to where they are hiding.

We have yet to have any complaints about our operation this season, and had only one complaint last season from a keen fisherman who didnt catch many fish! I suspect you to be a rogue poster as you have copied and pasted the above comment on several other occasions, including other message boards. With your undying support for Chachacha Backpackers, now Lusaka Backpackers, I would suggest you have a specific agenda more in line with competition than actual experience. Incidently, we have no axe to grind with Lusaka Backpackers and can recommend it for those backpacking through Lusaka.

So please, Barney811, share with us your experience with Bongwe Safaris, Alec Cole and please report on what you have heard also.

For the record, Bongwe Safaris offer a genuine safari experience in two of Zambia's finest parks. Our operation runs smoothly and is growing from strength to strength. Our prices are good, and although you wont be staying in a 4 or 5 star lodge, you still get to see the same animals as everyone else, and with a fun company with fun guides and staff. There is no Jekyll & Hyde about anything. We also have an affordable guesthouse in Lusaka with a quiet bar and great pool area. Rooms start from $50 per night.

barney81

bongwesafaris wrote: »

Im not sure where you get this information from Barney811. Why you would have had experience with Alec is a question you need to answer. Unless he was your guide, you would not have had any contact with him. He does not deal with bookings or queries. Secondly, he, or indeed us as a company are not "middle men". We operate our own safaris, our own equipment and vehicles and our own guides, chefs and workers. The camps we do utilise consist of a camp in Kafue in which we have a 5 year exclusive operators license and is only used by us, and a camp in Lower Zambezi where we take our clients along with all supplies, vehicles, guide and staff. We pick you up in Lusaka ourselves, in our own vehicles and drive you camp with our own guide and driver, prepare your meals with our own chef, take you on safari with our own guide and then bring you back to Lusaka in our own vehicle. If there is a middle man there, I'm at a loss as to where they are hiding.

We have yet to have any complaints about our operation this season, and had only one complaint last season from a keen fisherman who didnt catch many fish! I suspect you to be a rogue poster as you have copied and pasted the above comment on several other occasions, including other message boards. With your undying support for Chachacha Backpackers, now Lusaka Backpackers, I would suggest you have a specific agenda more in line with competition than actual experience. Incidently, we have no axe to grind with Lusaka Backpackers and can recommend it for those backpacking through Lusaka.

So please, Barney811, share with us your experience with Bongwe Safaris, Alec Cole and please report on what you have heard also.

For the record, Bongwe Safaris offer a genuine safari experience in two of Zambia's finest parks. Our operation runs smoothly and is growing from strength to strength. Our prices are good, and although you wont be staying in a 4 or 5 star lodge, you still get to see the same animals as everyone else, and with a fun company with fun guides and staff. There is no Jekyll & Hyde about anything. We also have an affordable guesthouse in Lusaka with a quiet bar and great pool area. Rooms start from $50 per night.

Hi

We went on safari with Bongwe last year, we booked and paid to go to Kafue and Lower Zambezi. Ask Alec, 2 people last year, he may not remember as he just disappeared and left us when your vehicle broke down? Remember us Alec? We support Chachacha as they were the ones who helped us. We were recommended to you by Cape Town Backpackers so when you totally screwed our holiday ( you know you did ) we called them for help, they them asked Chachacha/Lusaka backpackers to help us. Which as you know they did when you didn't. So yes we do support them, they saved our trip. I was very polite in what I said about you, you know we could say more, but we won't we will leave it there. Thanks for nothing..

AlecBongwe

Ok its Alec here.
Your posts have just been brought to my attention.
I am justifiably concerned that any of our clients would have such an unhappy safari with us. I have looked back through our records and cannot find any details of a direct booking from cape town backpackers other than one couple that joined us in April last year. The couple in question where so happy with our operation, that they returned again this year and did a 14 day safari with us that inclded Mana Pools, Matusadona and Kafue national parks.
Obviously given the animosity in your post I am very interested to find out more about your story. I would like to know all the details please.

Why dont you contact me on my direct email bongwesafaris@yahoo.co.uk
Looking forward to hearing from you
Alec

Lenny

Barney alec you have each others contact details if you need to sort it out