Remote Africa

What Draws Us To Zambia’s Luangwa Valley Year After Year?

Carol Coppinger — Thu, 03 May 2012 14:03:34 +0000

What IS it about Zambia’s Luangwa Valley that draws us back year after year?

The attraction for each person is different. I love the space, the balance and the freedom, also the endless variety of people we meet. John admires the strength of Nature with its rich biodiversity and life in abundance. On a daily basis the freedom of the skies and the occasional new wildlife discovery provides endless entertainment and fascination.

Lions on a Kill in the Height of the Dry Season

As I ask our staff the question “What do you love about the valley” I get a rather varied and interesting response. Rona loves the peace, the wide open skies, the personal safety and freedom she feels here. The trees huge, tall and strong are a particular delight, growing without confinement in this land of no boundaries or fences. The happy, smiling faces of our staff create a rewarding work environment for the creation of delicious, high energy food!

Heather enjoys the freedom of riding in open vehicles and the connection this allows with all forms of life around us. The painted skies of the sun rising and setting, and the wake up call of the vibrant dawn chorus offer a wonderful contrast to the sirens, alarms, helicopters and “next door neighbours” of city life.

Chikoko Tree Camp at the Close of Day

I haven’t asked Bryan why he returns to the valley year in and year out, but I suspect his excellent wildlife and cultural photography give their own clues to his particular interests in the Luangwa Valley.

A more local response to the Luangwa’s call is that animals bring money and development. Each man enjoys an ancestral history within the area of many generations and is conscious of the benefits derived from international tourism. Farming without the expense of fertilizers is possible due to fertile soils and crop rotation. This balances the challenges of crop destruction by the large herbivores and the lack of any road network during the rainy season, from December to March each year.

Teatime at Tafika

So here we are – the complete Remote Africa Team – back at Tafika, rebuilding our South Luangwa camps; Tafika, Chikoko and Crocodile. We create comfort within the untamed elegance of Mother Nature to share our treasures with you, our guests, who live varied lives of logic and progress around the world.

Luangwa Valley welcomes you. Take the break.

Zambia’s safari zeal

admin — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 10:54:15 +0000

Beautiful, friendly and virtually tourist-free, Zambia is one of Africa’s rising safari destinations. It’s also one of the continent’s leading forces in communitybased tourism, as a number of trendsetting operators are showing.

Click here to read full article

All Creatures Great And Small

admin — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 08:57:14 +0000

We couldn’t let the season pass without sharing with you photos of some of the new “additions” to South Luangwa National Park and its surrounding areas. The excitement is often directed at their parents but it’s the newly born who steal our hearts. These are just a few of those special new comers into this “circle of life”.

The Exciting And The Unusual

admin — Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:03:42 +0000

This season, our guests new and old have once again shared some of the most amazing game viewing experiences.

It was difficult limiting the selection but we think you will enjoy hearing about these few.

Travel video – Remote Africa Safaris, Tafika Camp, Zambia

admin — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 08:57:41 +0000

Travel video – Remote Africa Safaris, Tafika Camp, Zambia from Tafika Camp on Vimeo.

White-Eared Kob Migration, Southern Sudan

admin — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 09:01:39 +0000

Southern Sudan became the newest nation in the world on July 9, 2011 when they declared independence from the northern part of the old Sudan. Opening itself up for tourism and adventure, Southern Sudan is an exciting new destination on both the cultural and game viewing fronts.

The Unique Challenges of the Safari Tourism Industry by John Coppinger

John Coppinger — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 12:09:41 +0000

We’re rather fussy when it comes to the terminology used in describing what we do in the safari tourist industry. We definitely do not consider ourselves hoteliers, operating hotels or resorts. We are safari operators running safari camps in far flung, remote locations in the wilds of Africa, which produces very different challenges to that of running a hotel in an urban environment.

Most of us find ourselves pursuing careers in the service industry through a passion for wildlife and the wilderness, whereas hoteliers generally have a far better idea of what they are letting themselves in for and train themselves accordingly. We, on the other hand, generally have no formal training in hotel management and have to learn the hard way (with many of us falling by the wayside).

A new season has begun

admin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:08:42 +0000

Tafika opened on 1st May and we have already welcomed our first guests and all too soon said farewell!

Gameviewing this early in the season has been good, with some excellent sightings from the microlight – including wild dogs!

One Life Photographic Competition

admin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:07:35 +0000

Bryan Jackson, our resident expert guide and photographer, has entered a portfolio of his photographs from Mkasanga Village in the One Life photographic competition. Should Bryan be fortunate enough to win any prize he will donate it to the Tafika Fund which supports the school and clinic at Mkasanga Village near Tafika.

Our Hides

admin — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 09:05:31 +0000

At the start of each season our Safari Manager, Bryan Jackson, sets out to locate the best possible sites for hides to offer our guests ideal bird and game viewing opportunities.

Some are rebuilt in the same spot each year and others depend on the best bird nesting/feeding spots established later in the season.