Nsefu Camp
South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
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NSEFU
CAMP -
SOUTH LUANGWA NATIONAL PARK, ZAMBIA
Founded by the legendary Norman Carr in the 1950's, Nsefu was the
first safari camp in Zambia, and has a very special ambience. Nsefu
Camp is situated on a sweeping bend of the Luangwa River, 12 miles
north of Tena Tena Camp, far in the north of the Park's undeveloped
Nsefu Sector.
At the end of the seventies the camp
was abandoned. Robin Pope reopened Nsefu Camp in 1982 and this is where
he really started earning his reputation. Robin managed Nsefu for 5
years, during which time he used the Tena
Tena site as a fly camp. In 1986 he left Nsefu and moved
to Tena Tena full time. Robin and Jo Pope reopened the camp in July
1999, in keeping with the original style, and so operate the only 2
camps in the Nsefu Sector of the park.
Nsefu Camp offers charm and total comfort
in remoteness and seclusion.
The perennial Luangwa River is the very life-blood of the Park
and, together with its many oxbow
lagoons, it ensures a permanent supply of water to support high concentrations
of wildlife.
Nsefu is a lovely camp with a nostalgic ambience and
a wonderful location. As at all Robin Pope camps, the atmosphere is intimate,
the camp staff friendly and professional, and the service highly personalized.
The camp is open from June through October. Accommodation  For
images of Nsefu Camp, click Nsefu
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Only 12 guests are accommodated in six beautifully restored rondavels
from the 1950's. All are whitewashed with thatched roofs, open-air
bathrooms, and decorated with understated elegance.
Each of the original rondavels has been extended, with a spacious
bathroom added.
Each rondavel has its own wooden veranda
with comfortable directors
chairs. Crisp cotton
sheets,
thick
cotton
towels
and linen
bathrobes,
along with the characteristic English toiletries, are a luxurious
touch. Every bed in camp has its own private view of the Luangwa River.
Lighting is supplied by generator and solar lamps.
Dining & Facilities
The view of the Luangwa River from Nsefu Camp is superb and includes a
terraced area where game grazes during the day. The thatched bar and communal
lounge area
is tucked in beside a huge extinct termite mound and overlooks a waterhole
that is very productive for game - for those fortunate enough, leopard
at night are a special reward.
In keeping with authentic feel
of early safari
days, the camp has original
1920's hand basins, a working gramophone player, and heavy
hotel-silver cutlery is used, with dinners served by candlelight.
Breakfast is served at dawn on the grass terrace in front of camp.
The camp also includes laundry
services.
Activities
Apart from being well removed from the busier
Mfuwe sector of the park, one of the great highlights of the Nsefu
sector is the abundance of 'Luangwa Wafwas' (literally 'dead Luangwas').
These are dried out oxbow lakes that have been replaced by lush grasslands,
and attract game in large numbers. This sector of the park is famous
for its concentrations of plains game (which in turn attract predators),
especially huge herds of buffalo that move around in the area.
Activities at Nsefu take advantage of
the great game-viewing in the area, and include game-drives in specially
adapted open safari vehicles (both day and night-drives), and guided
walks.
Visitors to the South Luangwa Valley have the possibility of seeing
over 400 species of birds, and 100 species of mammal, including elephant,
buffalo, leopard, lion, giraffe, and hippo. Two of the more interesting
species of game - Thornicroft's Giraffe and Cookson's Wildebeest -
are endemic the Luangwa Valley.
South Luangwa game
walks, considered by many to be the best in Southern Africa, are
led by a qualified guide and accompanied by an armed game scout,
offer an even more intimate bush experience.
Walking Safaris
Robin Pope Mobile Walking Safari
The Robin
Pope Mobile Walking Safaris have become famous for their adventure and "true
Africa" experience.
The mobile walking safaris venture to the remote area of the Mupamadzi
River in the north of the South Luangwa National Park. This safari runs
ten nights and includes a four or five day walking portion which explores
diverse habitats - hills, woodland and vast
grassy
plains as well as the river. Walking safaris encourage guests to
use all their senses while in the bush - from hearing to smell,
as
well
as sight.
The anticipation of what is around the corner keeps your focus keen.
The game is less concentrated and unused
to man's presence, so approaching the animals is that much more rewarding.
The fully staffed mobile camp has everything you'll need, including
walk-in tents, mattressed camp beds, a shared long-drop loo and a hot
bucket shower. The safari includes 2 nights at Nkwali, 5 nights walking
in the mobile tented camp, and 3 nights at Tena
Tena. These walking
safaris run from mid June through the end of September.
North Luangwa Walking Trail
Th ten-day North Luangwa Walking safari starts
at Nkwali Camp for three nights. Guests will then transfer to Tena Tena
for three
nights,
and
the safari
will end with four nights at Kutandala.
The transfer to Kutandala Camp in the
North Luangwa is by light aeroplane. The North Luangwa National Park
is very remote and wild - a place for real bush lovers to visit.
Made of reed, grass and poles, and taking only six guests, the camp is
intimate and natural. As well as the walking safaris there is the chance for an all day drive to
the confluence of Mwaleshi and Luangwa rivers.
Excursions can also be made to the Chipopoma
Falls where there are clear water pools for a dip. The safari accommodates
only 6
guests and runs on set dates
from June - October.
Other Walking
Trails
The Nsefu Walking Trail runs for 7 nights - 2 Nkwali, 3 Walking Camps,
and 2 Nsefu.
The Lundu Walking Mobile Safari runs for 9 nights - 2 Nkwali, 4 Mobile
Camp, and 3 Nsefu.
Wildlife
The South Luangwa is an area of superb gameviewing. On game drives and
walks, guests explore the bush at many levels. From the termites
crossing the road, to a bee-eater catching a butterfly, to the
family of
elephants drinking at a lagoon, everything is part of the experience.
Nsefu's safari vehicles are open and this provides for excellent
game viewing and photography.
Nsefu also offers night drives which allow you to see different
species and observe their behaviour.
The game is
always in the vicinity of the camp. With three distinct
habitats, the river, the adjoining lagoons, and the plains where
there is a wide diversity of game. Amongst the species, waterbuck,
zebra,
warthog and greater kudu are common place. The wandering herds
of elephant are amongst some of the largest left in Africa. Buffalo
continuously move in search of fresh pastures and water. In their
wake come the predators, the lion and hyena. Leopard hunt the smaller
game under cover of darkness.
Elephants
often cross the Luangwa River, seen from the bar, or come
to the waterhole
near the thatched dining room. The area around Nsefu Camp is also
famous for leopard and giraffe
sightings.
Special
features of the South Luangwa National Park:
•
Thornicroft's Giraffe
•
14 different antelope species
•
Plenty of leopards
•
47 migrating bird species from Europe and Russia
•
Birds of prey (i.e. Steppe Eagles and Buzzards)
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