Travel in Zambia - ideas and suggestions welcome

Hello all --

My husband, his aunt, and I are visiting Zambia the first couple of weeks of October.

I'm hoping for a bit of feedback. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I've visited the forum, but many of the answers to my questions are a bit outdated.

1) Has anyone done the Zambian Safari Company trip from Lusaka to Victoria Falls? Good? Bad?

2) Where's a good place to stay for a couple of nights in Lusaka? We're not backpackers, but the airport hotels are too pricey for us.

3) Is there a bus from Lusaka to Mukambi Safari Lodge? Is the lodge worth a visit? Is there another lodge a better choice?

4) We'll be spending some time away from cities. We're getting malaria pills and yellow fever shots at a travel doctor. Anything else recommended in the way of medications?

Thank you all for your suggestions!

Bethany

1) Theres really no reason to due a tour for this. Its very easy to get a bus to Livingston and see the falls yourself.

I agree with #1 - there's no need to book through a tour company if all you need is a bus trip from Lusaka to Livingstone/Vic Falls.

2 - I haven't stayed there yet, but Jul's Guesthouse has been recommended to me as a decent and affordable place to stay in Lusaka.

3 - Mukambi is nice though I only stayed 1 night before heading out to their camp at Busanga Plains. You can get a bus to Hook Bridge and someone from Mukambi should be able to pick you up from there. The food was nice, we saw a lot of elephants and a leopard during the night drive we did, the chalet was small but very comfortable and the staff very accommodating.

If you don't want to take a bus from Lusaka to Livingstone for the Falls, you can fly for about 100USD or 150USD on Pro Flight. All Livingstone Hotels will pick you up at the airport for free. There is also a train but I strongly advise you not to take it because it takes an age and is overnight without sleeper accommodation.

Hello,
you can easily do Livingston without any operator. But DO YOU A FAVOR AND DON'T go with the Zambian Safari Company. I just came back from a trip with them. You cannot count on them, you will alwys be preoccupied if they will show up at time, if they paid for the services you paid for beforehand, if they send you the car they promised. Look thru this forum, there are other comments on them.
Regards,
UKM

Hi flying one way from Lusaka to the falls is about $US230 one way not $100. Also be very wary of the Zambian Safari Company! We had issues with dodgy vehicles and worry about whether our accom would be booked or not. Niickson was great at organising our itinerary anfd fitted our budget but, his vehicles were very dodgy. He landed up having to fly 8 of us from Chipata to Lusaka and then on to Livingtone!! He assures me he is getting new vehicles so maybe he has , but he is very good at telling you what you want to hear and not what is actually happening!! And has an excuse for everything that goes wrong.. If you decide to go with him for anything make sure you have all of your details in writing and have his mobile no. Better mobile service than Australia!!!

Have fun

Proflight standard fares 230 USD, saver fares 143 USD.

They sometimes do standby specials at 50 USD.