Zambezi Canoe Safari

Customer Reviews

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  Angela Grove

  · January 29th, 2012
  This was a fantastic trip with just the right mix of activity(canoeing) and wildlife watching, the guide was excellent and couldn't have looked after us better, it was an experience I'll remember all my life.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Sitting in a canoe on the mighty Zambezi, silently, while a few metres away an elephant watched us from the bank, flapping its ears. Watching (at a safe distance) a pod of hippos floating in the river and snorting at us. Sitting in the quiet of the evening wth a glass of wine (yes!) discussing the animals and birds we had seen that day with our guide.What did you think of your group leader?Our leader couldn't have been better.  He was knowledgable about everything - animals, local customs, countryside - and a good cook too!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This was a relaxing trip well within the capabilities of anyone who is moderately fit and wants a close-up safari.Is there anything else you would like to add?The trip had some exciting moments such as a hippo coming up from the depths beside us but the guide brought us safely through them!
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Jennifer Cook

  · January 20th, 2012
  A great way to see Zambia and interact with the river life. Great exercise without being overly challenging.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Watching wild elephants on shore from the canoe - amazing!  You can get much closer to the elephants in the canoe than you ever could safely on foot, and I got dozens of amazing photos.What did you think of your group leader?Very professional, good humoured and patient.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Come prepared to leave some of your luggage behind.  You don't need a lot of things in canoe (you are carrying everything with you) and you can pick it up at the end of the trip.  If I had of known this in advance, I would have arrived prepared with my luggage separated as there way no time to do this on arrival.  Also it gets a lot colder than you may think at night and the sleeping bags were quite thin, bring your own if you feel the cold. Is there anything else you would like to add?Bring footballs or simple play items for the kids in the orphanage, not pencils and school supplies, they have bucketloads.The land safaris weren't worth the effort, it may just have been the time of year, but land-based wildlife was in short supply. 
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  Trip date: January 2012
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  Larissa Flynn

  · November 16th, 2011
  A stress-free way to spend 7 days! The pace is gentle (although if windy, expect to work harder), but the rewards of watching wildlife in their natural settings are well worth any tired muscles at the end of the day. There's plenty of time to relax too (who knew midday naps could be so much fun!).What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Watching the herd of Elephants crossing from one island to another directly in front of us, and being stalked by an angry Hippo (don't worry, we escaped unharmed after putting in some double-quick paddling!)What did you think of your group leader?Very attentive, friendly and knowledgeable. .Do you have any advice for potential travellers?You don't need a prescription from your doctor to get Malaria tablets.  Just go to Morrissons (or similar) and they will do this for you, saving you £15 private prescription charge.
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  Trip date: November 2011
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  Ruth Way

  · November 13th, 2011
  A great holiday if you want to get back to nature. I really loved being on the river, although at times it wasn't for the faint hearted! Dodging the hippos in particular at times could be nerve wracking although the leader (CB) gave us confidence that he knew the best routes to take.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Probably seeing a family of elephants swimming from one bank of the river to an island and helping the smallest elephant both get across the river and get on dry land.What did you think of your group leader?CB was very experienced and gave us confidence that he had our safety forefront of mind at all times.  He was also very knowledgeable about the wildlife and had a good sense of humour.  A difficult job that he carried out really well.  Carlos was the trainee leader and was very knowledgeable, but not always at the rear of the group which is where he should have been!Do you have any advice for potential travellers?This is really back to basics, so expect to be fairly dusty most of the time - take lots of baby wipes!  Also hippo dodging takes a little getting used to - I found it a bit of a 'Jaws' experience at times, but got more used to it as we went through the week.  I probably would have enjoyed the trip even more if I had been a little fitter as the paddling was fairly strenous at times, particularly when the wind got up.Is there anything else you would like to add?Overall a really memorable adventure - you will see lots and the tranquillity and scenery are fantastic.  Thoroughly recommended for those who want to see Africa from a different angle.
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  Trip date: November 2011
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  Alina Kulinska

  · November 11th, 2011
  The trip was totally amazing - I enjoyed every moment. Although, I have never done either camping or canoeing, I really loved both. What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Every moment was inspirational. :)What did you think of your group leader?TK was a fantastic and extremely knowledgeable guide. Both him and Oscar took very good care of us. We felt safe, relaxed and our tummies were constantly full.      Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Try to avoid Nairobi airport so if you can, fly BA. If not, you can kill time at the Java café, this is the only place which will help you survive the waiting time. If you fly through Nairobi, be also very careful not to miss your flight to Lusaka. When we were there, no announcements were made that the boarding started.  The things I found most useful were gloves, head torch and mosquito bands.You really do not need to take or buy any snacks, there is no chance to get hungry. 
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  Trip date: November 2011
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  Barbara Snell

  · November 5th, 2011
  What an amazing adventure! It's tough and scary at times but so very worth it! What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?I don't know which bit to pick, it could have been sitting in a canoe with two lions up on the bank above us, or being so close to the elephants as they stood feeding on the bank, maybe it was watching the beautiful Carmine Bee Eaters nesting in the river banks or on a more human note the faces of the children we met at the village. I do know that it wasn't the hippos - mean big scary beasties they are! Also sitting on the sand bank, cold beer in hand, watching the last rays of the sun with new friends comes pretty close.What did you think of your group leader?CB and Carlos - well there aren't enough words to describe how exceptionally good these two guys are. CB is a very experienced guide, good with people, so knowledgeable and with a wicked sense of humour. Carlos is training and has his finals next year. A brilliant cook - he kept us all well fed throughout the trip on very limited cooking equipment. He also has a great sense of humour and a very infectious giggle. The two of them kept us safe for the entire trip despite some close encounters with the hippos. They were a great credit to Exodus and the training they have received.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Don't pack too much - we did as always!! Take some unwanted clothes to give to both the village and the orphanage. Book the BA or South African flights you will get there on time and with your bags! The group flight is with Kenyan Airways - it was late and one of our group had no bag, it arrived 5 days later.Is there anything else you would like to add?Lastly if you want an exciting, energetic trip with lots of wildlife thrown in then this is a great trip for you! This was our second trip with Exodus and I am sure there will be more! 
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  Trip date: November 2011
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  Melinda Wieneke

  · October 12th, 2011
  The unhindered exposure to the Zambezi River and its wildlife made this an excellent trip. The guides made an otherwise impossible trip possible.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Watching families of elephants bathing and drinking yards from the canoes. What did you think of your group leader?CB was erudite, charming and knowledgable.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?I would recommend that anyone on this trip have some experience with canoeing and camping - and enjoy both of them.  The village and orphanage visits are a pleasure because they are done sensitively.  Small clothes are needed in both places - if you have room in your bag.Is there anything else you would like to add?Get some lighter paddles!  The ones provided are much too heavy.
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  Trip date: October 2011
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  Juliette Halliday

  · July 22nd, 2011
  If you want to be in 'real' Africa without the queues of game viewing vehicles and not a fence in sight then this is perfect. A brilliant way to see Africa from the water and certainly no shortage of Hippo or Elephant viewing.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Being able to just float within a few metres of Elephants at the waters edge while they got on with doing their own thing.Setting off just as the sun has risen -the tranquility on the water as wildlife starts to show itself.Sleeping at night with the sounds of the bush all around you.What did you think of your group leader?TK and Carlos were brilliant . Looking after our tummies (excellent meals ,including full english breakfasts , prepared on 2 gas rings!).our safety and generally being there to help and inform whenever it is needed.Such lovely guys.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Read the Trip notes ! They are there for your benefit :-)Be prepared that if you come in July you will most likely have some big headwinds winds and rough water -2 days were a tad hard work .I definitley want to canoe on the Zambezi again but i would opt to miss out on July next time!If you have hands liable to blister easily i would suggest a pair of fingerless sailing type gloves.Travel very light - you have to carry that bag in and out of the canoe a lot !Is there anything else you would like to add?Based on past reviews and my own experience of the unreliabilty of Kenya Airlines and Nairobi airport i opted to fly direct to Lusaka (only £114 more to arrange myself).That way you arrive in Lusaka by 6.30am -as it was the others were delayed on Kenya airlines and we didnt leave Lusaka till after 3.30pm which became a mad rush and arrival at camp in the dark.I would suggest Exodus need to seriously consider the direct route -all who had done the Kenya divert agreed they would have paid the extra for an easier journey. For the return journey i got home on the Saturday night and the Kenya route arrived Sunday morning-an important consideration when having to get back to work on a Monday.If everyone arrived in Zambia earlier in the day it could be a leisurley transfer to camp and the ability to canoe to the intended first night's camp as had been planned .
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  Trip date: July 2011
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  Claire Mayers

  · November 28th, 2010
  Just what the doctor ordered. A different slant on the African safari that leaves you completely relaxed despite canoeing each day. I would do this trip again without question.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Slowly floating downstream while elephants stood on the river banks almost within arms reach. I couldn't believe how close we could get to them in the canoes.Lying in bed while elephants wandered through camp.Bathing in the Zambezi to cool off.The absolute quiet.What did you think of your group leader?Both our guides were absolute gentlemen. They were professional, helpful and knew every bend in the river. Despite the close proximity of the wildlife I felt safe, relaxed and well looked after at all times. They worked tirelessly to make our holiday the fantastic experience it was.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Travel light and take old clothes that you can leave behind at the orphanage.Is there anything else you would like to add?My next holiday is going to have to go some to beat the fantastic experince had in Zambia.
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  Trip date: November 2010
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  Eleanor Rachel Cuthill

  · October 7th, 2010
  Fantastic!! My first trip to Africa and it certainly spoiled me. We saw so much wildlife, everything I could have asked for and more.What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?Where do I start?! Every day had a champagne moment.  From the day the hippo did a belly-flop into the river just in front of us, the sound of the animals as we lay in the tents at night, the herd of elephants that crossed the river just behind us, the elephants that came to the edge of our campsite to feed from the trees as we ate our dinner in the dark at night, the numerous pods of hippos, rafting together to watch the elephants bathing 5m away, seeing two male lions fight on the opposite bank to where we were having lunch, to seeing a lion and lioness together. Amazing!! So many experiences.  This is the trip to do if you want the alternative safari.  You feel that the group is alone with the wild, so peaceful (apart from the sounds of nature) and completely forget about the outside world.What did you think of your group leader?Excellent.  Cuthbert was very organised, he knew what we were doing, kept his eye on us within reason as we can't forget that the wildlife is potentially dangerous, he understood the animals to warn the hippos off when needed, and is very knowledgable.  Not forgetting his cooking skills!  Then there was Carlos, assistant guide.  I had the pleasure of sharing a canoe with him on two days.  He was very knowledgable, pointing out animals birds and trees as we paddled along.  He'll make a very good group leader when he passes his final exam next year.Do you have any advice for potential travellers?Watch out for the flights.  I took the group flight with Kenya Airways, transitting in Nairobi.  Main problem was that the airline cancelled our connecting flight to Lusaka after a few hours delay.  Our re-arranged flight was for the evening.  Apparently this is not uncommon.  Althought the airline did put us up in a hotel in Nairobi for the day, we didn't really know whether the flight would definately depart that night or whether someone would definately be there to meet us at midnight in Lusaka.  That did all happen luckily but we lost our first day and night camp on the Zambezi. We had 2 hours sleep before travelling down to the river to meet the rest of the group for the start of the paddling.  Any later and the group would have had to leave without us.  So my personal opinion is that if you can book a direct flight to Lusaka (it is possible and if you book early enough then apparently doesn't cost that much more) then do it.  Although it didn't impact on the main part of the holiday, it was a stressful start we could have done without.Is there anything else you would like to add?The visits to the village and school are on seperate days.  So if you are bringing items to donate then I would suggest that you bring some things for both so that no one misses out. 
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  Trip date: October 2010