8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe) and Zimbabwe (Zambezi) Wildlife Safari Tour

Customer Reviews

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  Cindy

  · November 12th, 2024
  I suggest customers thoroughly research safaris and confirm where you are staying and the costs that are not included in the trip. There may be a lot of surprises. I have to say the employees are wonderful. Fines, Cynthia, Lucky. I had a lot of questions and all were answered. My only issue is how Lochinvar handled the lady, demanding $420 CASH for the trip that she and we booked way in advance. This was only the beginning of my 3 separate bad experiences.(the other 2 were Kenya, julimas safaris (demanding cash for park entry fees). I googled and called the park and confirmed they accept credit cards)and Sabilom Kenya tours. (They canceled the balloon option after collecting $900, then offered, only after asking, $675. I didn’t have to pay extra for Hwange Park because I chose not to agree with the “change. ” there was supposed to be a waiver. I never saw a waiver. Unfortunately, a lady on our budget trip was charged extra to go to hWange Park(according to her). I was told, She was advised to cancel that Hwange park game Drive and go to Zambizi Park instead. I was told they cited dangerous roads as the reason for the “change”She said she wasn’t granted any partial refund for the lesser Park, but says she felt intimidated in to canceling the hwange park. We went anyway( my partner and I refused to cancel Hwange) and she had to pay $420 extra cash or they would not take her, but we were going anyway . How can that cost $420 extra when it was included initially? . I feel bad for her and for all the other travelers that may have done the same thing and canceled that hWange Park. It was lovely. So many animals and the roads were the usual bumpy dirt roads but nothing serious. In the future, I would spend a little more money and get better hotels and be much more aware of the itinerary and reconfirm in writing. Dealing with her problems($420) for the entire 8 days was avoidable. Mark( the owner I think) even asked my partner to write up a release for her and us to sign!!! I was there on vacation! By the way Victoria Falls was dried up on the Zambia side. I also want to say the The best company I’ve ever used for booking tours is: “Get Your Guide” they care, and have assisted in getting my refunds. The lady says tour radar has not helped yet to recover her $420 , that she feels was an over payment. I’ve been reading a lot of reviews about Zambia. This is not the only tour company that has disappointed guests. I know there’s a drough and all, but i think tour providers should try to do things as promised and exceed expectations. I will continue to use “Get Your Guide” as my go to for tour providers.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear Cindy and John, On behalf of Lochinvar Safaris, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude for choosing to spend eight days with us on the “8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe), and Zimbabwe (Zambezi) Wildlife Safari Tour” in October 2024. It was... Show more
  Trip date: October 2024
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  Carol

  · November 11th, 2024
  I give this tour an “okay” just because of the people on the ground such as Cynthia and what I ended up seeing. The company itself is run by liars and cheaters and I came away shaking my head wondering why they had to be so mean. The tour called “8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe) and Zimbabwe (Hwange) Wildlife Safari Tour” was confirmed on March 15. On May 10, I got a message through Tour Radar that there had been “minor changes to the itinerary”. MINOR for them was substituting a lesser park Zambezi National Park for Hwange National Park. This company thinks it is MINOR to take out a park that consistently ranks in the top 10 of African safari parks for a park that does not even make the top 50. The reason they gave was the “bad condition of 400 Kms of road heading to and from Hwange National Park Zimbabwe from Livingstone Zambia.” They claimed the road had “…deteriorated to dangerous and unsafe levels..deep across the road potholes making it extremely risky to travel.” This was to take 2 days so they substituted a much lesser park experience for one day and an “open and free day”. How nice for them; a day where instead of providing the activities I paid for they don’t have to provide them, they keep the money and I have to pay for something else to doe I was not happy at all and I did not want to agree but they kept at me until I did and then checked again to verify that I was really okay with it. That should have really made me suspicious. I should have realized I had been baited and switched. But I envisioned vehicles on 400 km of unpaved rocky roads with sheer cliffs and no guard rails. I had driven around 8 African countries including Ethiopia where some roads were quite rocky and steep, so I stupidly believed them. It must be even worse than than I had previously experienced. I became even more suspicious when I found other companies were still going to Hwange. And, when I met another participant of the tour in the meeting hotel in Lusaka. She felt the same as me, but stood her ground. After speaking with her, and knowing they were going on the tour I had paid for, I asked to be added back into the Hwange portion of the tour. They said it would cost MORE money, although I had already PAID for it. They charged me over $400 USD. I was shocked, but figured I had no choice. The other tourists brought up that Lochinvar may have paid some cost for admission to Zambezi National Park (the substitute) so I asked how much they had paid for the alternate park and was willing to lose that amount, since it was my stupidity for falling for the scheme. Four people from the company sat down with me at the hotel and just stared at me not answering my questions. They would not tell me how much had been paid out in advance. There was already a car going and I had already paid the full cost of the trip. They totally ignored me and said they “wanted me to be happy” which to them meant a greatly lesser park experience and a day of nothing (the hotel had no working WI-FI and there was rarely electricity). So I had no choice but to pay them the $420 AGAIN. Most of the road to Hwange was paved and straight (no steep shoulders to topple over). There were a few kilometers of construction where we had to drive on a bumpy sandy shoulder. There was very little traffic and definitely no dangers. Going back and looking at the email I was sent to fool me into accepting the lesser activities, I was told that a great general from Zimbabwe had recently been killed on the road. I just looked up the news story and the driver pulled out to pass when he should not have, thus it had nothing to do with the condition of the road, rather driver error. They totally schemed to take my money and then alter the tour to take out the best part and keep the money. I went back to check the exact words of the tourradar messages to convince me to agree and my reluctant agreement, but they had been deleted. It was important to them that I agree, which makes it odd they deleted that. What was seen especially in Chobe and Hwange was really good and the Hwange guide, Ethan was exceptional as was the woman running the lodge near Hwange called National Park Guest House. However, the staff of Lochinvar are not be trusted. Be very careful to get what they advertise, i.e. what you paid for.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear Carol, I hope you’re well. Reflecting on your recent tour, I wanted to extend my gratitude for the unique and memorable journey we shared, marked by our many engaging conversations and your discerning attention to detail. Despite the challenges... Show more
  Trip date: September 2024
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  David

  · October 8th, 2024
  Fabulous. The game drives exceeded my expectations. The whole team pulled together to make this an unforgetable experienc. Marc was patient in resolving problems with the booking (my stupidity). Lucky, our driver was very competent and I felt safe with him behind the wheel at all times. Fines and Hesta, our guides were young, fun,enthusiastic
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear David, I am extremely excited to hear from you! I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt appreciation for your fantastic review of your safari tour with Lochinvar Safaris. Your kind words truly mean the world to us! It’s wonderful to... Show more
  Trip date: September 2024
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  Ilene

  · September 29th, 2024
  Trip of a lifetime! 5 🌟 Going on an African Safari is something I have been dreaming about since I was a kid. The days were well laid out and we never felt rushed. Seeing the Elephants, Giraffes, Lion with her kill, Baboons and SO MUCH MORE so close up is something I will never forget. The visit to the village was very eye-opening and humbling. Shout out to our tour guides Fines and Heste and our driver Lucky! You made this experience so much fun and memorable, your passion and pride really resonated. You and the Lochinvar team went above and beyond our expectations. The lack of electricity/internet was something we did not expect but actually added to the adventure. I would not have changed a thing. Thank you for making this a memorable and amazing experience. Ilene Toth
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear Ilene, Thank you so much for your beautiful review and for choosing Lochinvar Safaris for your dream African safari! We're absolutely thrilled to hear that your experience was everything you had hoped for—and more. It warms our hearts to know that... Show more
  Trip date: September 2024
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  Elyse

  · September 29th, 2024
  My trip with Lochinvar was my first entry onto the African continent. I was on the continent of my, sadly, enslaved ancestors. I was so happy to see the continent for myself. Before the advent of social media, Africa wasn't (and isn't) painted in the best light; I wanted to see the truth. Mark and Brown greeted me at the Lusaka Airport and the adventure began! I always travel with an open heart and mind and I was not disappointed. Due to no fault of their own, the drought has affected the hydroelectric power from the Zambezi River resulting in outages. Our main hotel had solar power, which eventually powers down in the evenings. I liked the trip because there were cultural aspects (museums, monuments, villages) to the trip in addition to several game drives (including a game "sail"). Our primary hosts were Brown, Alek, and Maggie. They were a delight and so kind. Phillimon was an excellent safari guide in Botswana, Patrick Musole is half veterinarian half safari guide. Let's not forget the animals - lions, zebras, warthogs, water buffalo, giraffes, elephants, rhinos, kudu, waterbucks, crocodiles, a hyena ...INCREDIBLE!!! We saw Victoria Falls from Zambia and Zimbabwe. The trip included a sunset cruise with the Radisson Hotel. The last day of the trip was our free day. We (an Australian grandmother and granddaughter bought this tour package too) asked if we could hang at the Radisson for our free day. Yes! After so many beautiful adventures in nature, it was nice to treat ourselves with spa services etc. We suggested this be an option for the free day. Of course we paid for everything at the hotel. This was an amazing and unforgettable holiday. I saw and learned so much. This might not be the trip for those who want to travel in 100% luxury with 5 star hotels for their social media outlets. I thought this was a great value, especially for a safari first timer. I struck it rich with Lochinvar because of their well-thought out and comprehensive itinerary. I also liked how Brown, Maggie, and Alek would join us for meals, we got to learn about and laugh with each other. In another country I had to beg my driver to sit with me; it was like a caste system and I didn't feel comfortable with that. We're all human, let's share the table! Zikomo for a priceless memory on my maiden safari.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear Elyse, We hope this message finds you well and thriving in your current endeavors. On behalf of everyone at Lochinvar Safaris, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for choosing to embark on the "8 days: Best of Zambia, Botswana (Chobe), and... Show more
  Trip date: September 2024
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  Kathleen

  · September 22nd, 2024
  We have learnt so much during our trip. About the culture, history and lifestyle especially in Zambia. So lucky to have had many of our meals in regular Zambian cafes rather than touristy spots. The impact of drought on all 3 countries is immense. Specifically the power shedding they have to endure. As travellers it was challenging at times, but it gives you a glimpse of the impact on daily lives of Zambians. Our guide and drivers were first class throughout our trip and we were made to feel incredibly special. Lochinvar are an incredibly caring tour company.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Hello Kathie. What more could we ask from you, Kathie and your amazing team! It was an absolute honor to host such an incredibly warm and wonderful group. This tour gave you a true insight into the realities on the ground here in Southern Africa,... Show more
  
  Trip date: September 2024
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  peter

  · August 16th, 2024
  Interesting program, some details not. Organisation Lochinvar was very focused to let me enjoy the trip, and for extras!There are some details which they can do better, but I enjoyed very much. Lunches during the days can be better. Zambia-English of guides and drivers need extra focus.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Hello Peter. On behalf of the entire team at Lochinvar Safaris, I would like to express our heartfelt gratitude for choosing us to be your guide on your safari tour holiday in Southern Africa of three countries of Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. We... Show more
  Trip date: August 2024
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  Dennis

  · July 28th, 2024
  We loved our tour with Lochinvar Safaris! We felt so well cared for and they were so patient with us! A super thanks goes to Rachel and Phillip who drove us across the country of Zambia and explained all of the historical sites along the way. Mark, Maggie, and Brown were also extremely helpful. We felt rather pampered as this team worked so hard to meet each of our needs and requests, and to answer our questions. I don’t believe I have ever been served in my life, as I was on this trip. I believe any tour through Lochinvar Safaris would be excellent. We chose the 8-day tour of Zambia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. This included 3 different safaris, a river cruise, and tours of the Victoria Falls. We also visited several museums and historical sites. At times our guides would turn us over to a specialized guide in another country, or in a museum, or other event. During that time, our guide would wait patiently for us to return and would greet us at the end of our adventure with a smile, showing interest in what we had seen and experienced. Our guides arranged for us to have our selection of food at the various restaurants that we visited. They worked hard to get us into a nice hotel that had internet, air conditioning, and power, during a time when Zambia was facing severe drought and power shortages. On our free day we chose to do 2 excursions. The first was a lion walk. This was a most amazing experience that I would recommend to everyone. Wow! Then after lunch our guides arranged for us to do white-water rafting on the Zambezi. We are from the Rocky Mountains in western United States and had rafted many times. But nothing had prepared us for this trip. The guides were fabulous, but oh my, what a crazy ride down those rapids! We fell in love with the 3 countries we visited and left knowing that we were going to truly miss the people, the culture, the animals, and the glowing pink sunsets.
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Dear Dennis, I hope this message finds you well. Thank You for Your Wonderful Review! On behalf of our entire Lochinvar Safaris Zambia team, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks for your glowing review of the recent safari tour dubbed "8 days:... Show more
  
  Trip date: July 2024
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  Clarence Leroy

  · July 19th, 2024
  Thoroughly enjoyable tour. Zambia definitely has it's challenges and this past year's drought has not done Zambian tourism any favors with the electricity shortages in particular impacting just about every facet of the tourism business in one way or another. We communicated several suggestions and recommendations to Lochinvar directly regarding some improvements we felt would improve the experience for travellers not as "laid back" and understanding of the "african experience" as my daughter and I - who together have significant "non tourist" african experience - -
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  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Hello Clarence. I would like to express our deepest gratitude for your incredible support, encouragement, and total maturity throughout your safari tour holiday in Zambia traveling together with your daughter. Your positive energy and thoughtful... Show more
  
  Trip date: June 2024
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  Marianne

  · July 11th, 2024
  Had some issues with our tour guide, but once Maggie and Brown stepped in, all was resolved. Wonderful trip! I do recommend checking on the electric issues before traveling, but as long as the hotel as a generator, all is good.
  

  Lochinvar Safaris commented on this review

  Thank you Marianne for the good accolade which we accept with humility.
  Trip date: June 2024