The Zambezi Valley in Zambia

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 27 reviews.

Wayne Price

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

Written July 2008
A fab trip-exciting, exhilarating yet relaxing too! The scenery as we travelled along the river was beautiful and the sunsets and sunrises were stunning. The wildlife was amazing too and very close!!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Watching the sunsets and sunrises from the peaceful river settings was quite stunning.
What did you think of your group leader?
TK was an excellant leader who took away any worries about our safety whilst on the river. He and Carlos were on hand at all times with answers to any queries and were full of imformation.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If travelling during the winter months take your own sleeping bag and make it a warm one-the nights are freezing!!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A fab way to see wildlife up close whilst enjoying the peace and tranquility of the river. It really is wilderness camping though so be prepared for no toilets or showers for a week!!
Edward Harding

THE ZAMBEZI VALLEY

Written June 2008
The whole package was very well planned and executed, with just the right amounts of paddling, walking and relaxing. It is a holiday that will always set the standard for others that I go on.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hard to say, probably lying awake at night listening to a lion that sounded very close to my tent, or maybe watching a herd of elephants playing in the river not 50 meters away from the camp.
What did you think of your group leader?
Very good. Relaxed but authoritative manner with plenty of local knowledge.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Pack light. You really wont need that much beyond your camera and tooth brush.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Only two problems. I was expected to share a tent with a young lady who I did not know, she wasn't too pleased with the idea of sharing with an old bald guy either. The guides gave me their tent and slept in the open. It was a very long and boring wait in Nairobi airport.
Exodus Response
Dear Edward.
I am pleased that overall you had a wonderful trip. However, I was concerned to read that you had to share with a single female on the tour. This is never standard practise for Exodus, we only ask that same sex clients share if they have not paid a single supplement. I have spoken to our local partner about this, they have apologised for their error in this instance.
I also apologise for the long wait in Nairobi, unfortunately this is totally beyond our control as we are at the mercy of the airlines connection times.
I hope you will accept this apology regarding the rooming situation.
Regards
Karen
Africa Regional Manager

- Exodus Staff
Dave Cann

4-legged Africa, up-close and personal.

Written November 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Insirational is possibly the wrong adjective.There were stunning sunsets,humbling visits to villages,unbelivable encounters with wildlife,slightly worrying near enconters with hippos,great people and I won't mention the lions.
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What did you think of your group leader?
Our leaders could not have been more professional,knowledgable,helpful,obliging or brave-sorry,I said I wasn't going to mention the lions.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
We tacked on a few days on the end of the holiday checking out Livigstone and Victoria Falls and we were so glad we did.It was great to see the business end of the river and go rafting,relax by a pool,have a few beers,sleep in a room with a shower,etc.It's easy to get there if a little time-consuming due to the reliability of Zambian buses but it was all part of the experience,giving us a great chance to meet some of Africa's two-legged inhabitants.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
Go on,do it,you won't regret it.
Mark Little

Some Great Experiences

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

Close up views of Elephants
Beautiful campsites
Excellent guiding

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What did you think of your group leader?
2 leaders - both first class
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Long waits at airports - perhaps consider booking ' land only ' and more direct flights
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Very poor provision for vegetarians
Helene Johansson

Tusks knocking on our tent

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
It is amazing how close we made it to the wild animals and how close you actually can get, if keeping quiet and still, to wildlife. The animals of africa are magnificant and the most beautiful ever seen. We had elephants and hippos tip toeing around our tents during the nights and will never forget waking up at 3am and in the moonlight see two hugh long white tusks 3 meters outside of our mosquito net tent. I was scared the elephant would hear my heart beating. We did not dare to lift our heads too high as would he be able to lift the tent with us in it? This was one of the many encounters on the trip with the wild life on the Zambezi river. We heard in the nights the lions and hyenas and found leopard dropping and paw prints not far from our campsite. As we stood on the Zambian side looking across to the Zimbabwe side of the Zambezi we could spot miles of river beaches with endless pods of hippos, elephants, crocodiles and other beautiful game. I am so happy we did this trip rather than sitting around in a jeep/bus as usual safaris are carried out in.
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What did you think of your group leader?
There is a lot to say for CB and TK. Two guys with the biggest white smiles in Africa. So funny and fair to all of us.
Very nice and well educated guys from Zimbabwe. They were most inspiring and both of them passionate about the wild life. It looked like as they enjoyed the encounters with wild life just as much as we did. They could trek and sence the presence of an animal and heard noices that noone else of us heard. They named the plants in latin and not only told us about the fact but also about the tradiontions and how people use nature in order to survive and get remedies. They were the most hard working guides I have ever seen. Not only they paddled for two during the day got up at 4am and never went to bed before anyone of us socialising and making sure everyone was happy.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I could not recommend this trip enough. I can see why Exodus got this paddle trip on their luggage tags. It is a true gem among exodus trips. The paddling is not hard and anyone can do it. I would however recommend to bring your own sleeping bag as it was cold at night and the once given not enough. But I am always cold.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
OK Exodus should have made an emphesis on that only nature colored clothes should be worn. Wildlife is sensitive to bright red and purple moving things and some were annoyed as som co paddles were dressing as colourful birds rather.
this is a very sociable trip but sometimes it was hard not to tell co paddles to shut up as there might be a rare bufffalo around the next rug of grass. I know we missed out on a lot of life as we could hear them taking off as soon as someone stopped talking. English chat in all honour but... not always!
Kirsty Anne Mclean

Zambezi Canoe Safari - I can't believe how close we were able to get to the elephants

Written September 2007
What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
This holiday was fantastic. I really enjoyed the peaceful way we were able to get close to wildlife - we saw some amazing things with hippos close by as we canoed along and elephants sleeping behind our tents at night - quite unforgettable. We were looked after exceptionally well by our 2 guides and couldn't have been better fed out in the wilds.
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What did you think of your group leader?
The 2 guides were fabulous. They worked tirelessly to keep us fed, comfortable and having a great time. They were great fun and were a real part of the group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
You'll love this holiday it's so peaceful yet full of new experiences and wonderful things to see.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
This is my second Exodus trip and both thave been great holidays but some of the thrill has been lost by the seemingly endless journeys to get there and home again at the end. The routes chosen from the UK seem to be the most long winded ones possible with long waits between flight connections - this seemed fine until you realise that there is a direct flight to your destination which takes at least 12 hours less time.