Tafika

Style

Reeded ensuite Chalets – Authentic Zambian property designed from local materials.

Rooms

6

Open Season

Open 01 May – 15 Nov

Safari Experience

Tafika game drives utilise the northern half of the Nsefu Sector where we are very fortunate to have more variety of habitat than most sections of the Valley.

Not only has the Luangwa River been particularly dynamic here creating lots of oxbows, but we also have a large plain (Mutanda Plain), a salt pan and an ‘inland delta’ (where the water emanating from the salt pan fans out into a delta across the Mutanda Plain).

The plain is a great habitat for large herds of buffalo which in turn attract lion.

The ‘delta’ forms a separate ecosystem, one of the most spectacular attractions being many hundreds of Crowned Cranes.

The salt pan, (Tafika is the closest camp to the pan), attracts more and more game as the dry season progresses and is also home to Serval which are seen regularly (a real African special).

There is an outstanding in-camp safari experience from the hide overlooking the watering hole for those who do not want to siesta or go out on a drive or walk.

Similarly the Luangwa River is teeming with hippo and crocodile throughout the day whilst the resident herds of elephant, zebra, giraffe, buffalo and all other manner of plains game come to the river to drink throughout the day.

The wildlife experience is particularly strong in the drier months when outlying water sources dry up and game begins to gather at the Luangwa river.

The rooms are not fully enclosed so the noises of the bush are with you throughout the day and night. You may be woken by the ground hornbill or hearing passing lion, hyena or leopard at night.

Wildlife & Birdlife

Tafika offers outstanding diversity of wildlife and habitat.

Endemic species: Cookson’s Wildebeest, Thornicroft’s Giraffe.

Migrant carmine bee-eaters nest in the banks of the Luangwa, providing spectacular photographic opportunities.

Leopard sightings are also common.

Other common sightings include: elephant, buffalo, lion, leopard, puku, zebra, giraffe, hippo, crocodile, impala, warthog.

Night drives bring out species such as hyena, serval, genet, civet, chameleon, bushbabies, owls including the Scops owl, Giant Eagle owl, Pel’s Fishing owl.

Birding is outstanding, especially around the salt pans including: storks, crowned cranes, pelican, many species of bee-eater (including the migratory carmine bee-eater), and many species of eagle including the fish eagle and bateleur.   

Added Extras

Tafika is owner-run and managed by John and Carol Coppinger.

There are cycling safaris.

There is a hide within the camp overlooking a watering hole that is frequented by game throughout the day.

Other seasonal hides are also constructed each year.

They have their own vegetable garden for minute-fresh salads!