South Luangwa

I totally agree with the post from above. I stayed at Marula lodge when I was traveling through East Africa last November/ December. My friends and I actually did a bar crawl through all the various lodges and I was reinforced in my pick. They have a variety of accommodation (both back packers and rooms for really cheap). The woman who owns the place is super super friendly and really goes out of her way to make sure the guests have a nice time. Also there is the food, I have never had such delicious meals in my life. But if you are tight on cash you can prepare your own which is also great.

While I was there people were actually leaving other places they were disappointed with to come stay here instead and I think that says loads for it.

As for getting there, I met other travellers who took the bus but it was certainly a challenge for them. If you can find other people going splitting a taxi is not too pricey.

Hope it helps!

A word of warning about the mini-bus from Chipata to the park. It can be very unreliable. The journey took me 9 hours one time as the mini-bus broke down so many times and the luggage kept falling off the roof! If you do decide to go for it then I think it cost around 60,000 ZMK when I last took it

Another option for the transfer from Chipata is to use this guy: http://www.budgetsafaritours.com does transfers for around $25 in a nice modern mini-bus. If I remember correctly it takes about 3 hours.

I also agree with the other posters about Marula Lodge. I have stayed at a few different places at the Park and it is definitely my favourite! Here is their website: http://marulalodgezambia.com/

Thanks Luca, I didnt know anyone read the thing! Just trying to update it now with a month of Indian nonsense! I would kill to be back in Africa!

One remark about this guy Mophy from http://www.budgetsafaritours.com:

I had made the arrangement with him about three weeks in advance that he would transport us (two people) from Mfuwe to the Malawi border at Chipata. We had agreed on the price of US$ 30 per person, i.e. $60 for both. Two days before the transport I contacted him to make sure he wouldn't forget and he said everything was ok.

He then called me the next day, on the night before the agreed date (!) that the price had just gone up to $100!!! The reason he told me was that he was supposed to take 4 people total and that the other two had just cancelled. He had not told me anything about this before, i.e. that the price he'd given me was based on 4 people and that he would charge more in case of cancellation. On top of this, he said he would use a slow vehicle instead of the above mentioned mini-bus to save gas.

So from my experience, I would use his service with great care (or actually better not at all).

We were very lucky because two other guests at our lodge who had a vehicle happened to go to Chipata on the same day. They had some extra space and were nice enough to take us.

Hi! I just went ahead and made arrangements for this guy Mophy to get us in Chipata for a safari tour in May. I hope, given your experience, it is not a mistake. He gave us a deal of $375 USD for 4D/3Nts, with pick-up, so it seems awesome. I asked him to promise me the price would not go up. Dis you happen to hear anything else about his services along the way? Did you discover any alternatives or would you suggest any budget SLNP safari places? thanks!
Jen

Hello! you mention Mophy's Budget Safari Tours. how did you find the business? I booked a great cost deal for my husband and I to tour SLNP in May. I find very little info on his business and I'm wondering if you know much? Thank you! Jen