The 2025 Safari Awards Winners Announced:  Best Safari Operator in Africa - Jack's Camp ........ Best Safari Experience in Africa -  Sirikoi ..........Best Safari Property Location in Africa - Greystoke Mahale..........Best Family Safari Experience in Africa - Sirikoi ..........Best Marine Safari Experience in Africa - Azura Benguerra ..........Best Safari Guiding Team in Africa - Cottars 1920's Camp .......... Best Safari Cuisine in Africa - Chem Chem .......... Most Romantic safari Property in Africa - Jack's Camp .......... Best Safari Spa in Africa - Royal Malewane .......... Best Riding Safari Operator in Africa - Ride Botswana .......... Best Mobile Safari Operator in Africa - Nomad Tanzania Mobile Safaris .......... Best Walking Safari Operator in Africa - Robin Pope Safaris .......... Best Value Safari Property in Africa - Flatdogs .......... Best New Safari Property in Africa - Onguma Camp Kala .......... Best Safari House/Villa in Africa - Mkombe's House Lamai .......... Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property in Africa - Grootbos Garden Lodge & Qorokwe Camp .......... Best Community Focused Safari Property in Africa - Singita Pamushana .......... Best Wildlife Conservation Organisation in Africa - Mara Elephant Project .......... Best African Tourism Board - Rwanda Tourism Development Board .......... 

Robin Pope Mobile Safaris

58 Awards

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Robin Pope Mobile Safaris

Awards

RUNNER UP BEST SAFARI GUIDING TEAM IN AFRICA; FINALIST BEST MOBILE SAFARI OPERATOR IN AFRICA & BEST SAFARI ACCOMMODATION GROUP IN AFRICA

What's Special About Robin Pope Mobile Safaris

The atmospheric mobile camp is extremely comfortable and well-equipped with walk-in tents and full bedding. The shower is under a tree and the bush loo is complete with a wooden throne. An initial two nights at Nkwali and a final three nights at Tena Tena or Nsefu completes the safari.

Safari Awards

Robin Pope Safaris was nominated in the following categories:
Best Safari Guiding Team in Africa (2nd Place)
Best Mobile Safari Operator in Africa (3rd Place)
Best Safari Accommodation Group in Africa (Finalist)

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Known as ‘the best wilderness experience of the South Luangwa’, a walking safari with the Robin Pope team is quite simply unforgettable. For five days, an intimate group of no more than six guests will cover up to 10km per day, following the clear Mupamadzi River as it winds its way to the Luangwa.

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All you need to know

Intro

The Robin Pope Safaris’ Mobile Walking Safaris have long been known as the best wilderness experience of the South Luangwa. After a night at Nkwali, the party drives to the north of the park where they will walk for five days covering approximately 10km a day, following the Mupamadzi River. This clear river is a major tributary of the Luangwa.

Highlights

Adventuring deep into the bush, away from roads and human life, is a great experience. But to do this for five days of walking is exceptional. As you would expect with Robin Pope Safaris, the camp is fully serviced and provides everything a guest might want at the end of an awe-inspiring day. The area is remote and wild, the terrain and habitats varied and the game shy and unused to man. From ants to buffalo, a bird's nest to tracking a lion, you will learn the many facets of the bush.

Safaris

Walking safaris and game drives at Nkwali and Tena Tena or Nsefu. Highly experienced guides lead the five-day walking safari through the varied terrain of the far north of the park. When walking, guests will see the bush in great detail, with every sense heightened. The area is remote and wild, the terrain and habitats varied and the game shy and unused to man. From ants to buffalo, a bird's nest to tracking a lion, you will learn the many facets of the bush. Follow the call of the lion, creep up to a buffalo herd or watch a beetle cross the sand. Elephants, dense populations of hippo, leopard and lion are prevalent with frequent sightings of endemics Thornicroft’s giraffe and Cookson’s wildebeest.

Wildlife

The unspoiled South Luangwa National Park is one of natural jewels in Zambia's crown, and home to one of the most varied collections of wildlife on the planet.

The park is centered around the Luangwa River. Untapped by man, its natural ebb and flow of flooding makes much of the park inaccessible by road which keeps it a sanctuary for the large concentration of game that live there. A paradise for birders, over 450 species are to be found in the park, and the wildlife includes elephant, buffalo, hippos, giraffe, leopards and lions.

Quick Facts

Region
Africa
Property Type
Mobile Safari Operator
Average Stay

7 nights

Average Price

International rate:
from $4664 per person for whole trip (7 nights)
Includes: full board, all gameviewing activities, laundry, bar, transfers to/from Mfuwe Airport, meet & greet at Lusaka & Mfuwe Airports.
Excludes: visas and flights.

Child Policy

Children/young adults not permitted below 21 years unless in a private group, then minimum age 16.

Accommodation

After a night at Nkwali to start off the safari, you begin your walk. The fully serviced mobile camp is extremely comfortable and well-equipped with walk-in tents and full bedding. The shower is under a tree and the toilet is a bush loo with a wooden throne. Meals of a high standard are served under the open sky. A final night at Tena Tena or Nsefu completes the safari.

Accolades

2011 Responsible Tourism Awards:
Overall Winner
The Good Safari Guide:
Winner of Best Safari Guiding Team 2010

Season

In our part of the world, we're blessed with distinct seasons, from the dry heat of winter through to humid, wet summers. The new year is an astonishing time in the bush; the birds are breeding, it's the peak birth time for many animals and all around you'll see the natural world come alive. The lagoons re-fill after the long dry season, and as the game goes to higher ground, you get a great chance of watching them. It mostly rains overnight ensuring little or no disruption of activities by day. Boating through the lagoons and along the Luangwa makes a wonderful activity.

From April to May, the main wet season has gone, the grass is high and the migrant birds begin to leave. At the end of May our most remote safari camps re-open. Winter time comes in June and July, which is also our dry season, and although it's warm by day, you'll need a jacket at night as it gets chilly.

September brings hot, hazy weather and a riot of flowers on the trees. It's an excellent time to see game, and if you're a birder then you'll see the Carmine bee eaters nesting from now until November. In October it gets very hot, up to 40 degrees in the shade. This is the end of our dry season when our camps that are located far in the bush, close.

With November and December comes the onset of the rains, the migrant birds return, the bush sprouts new life and begins to bursts into vivid green, heralding the start of another Emerald Season.
The beginning of the rains can also bring a deluge of flying ants and other insects (sometimes in pretty big proportions, but normally lasting a few hours). With the insects come the cooler temperatures but also the humidity.

OPEN: June - September only

Region
Africa
Property Type
Mobile Safari Operator
Best Safari Guiding Team

We were looked after so well, the guides seem to know everything and it was all so enjoyable.

MK from United Kingdom
08-04-2025 @ 3:07pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Loved it! The best guides, so knowledgable! They looked after us so well, I learned so much and enjoyed every minute.

MK from United Kingdom
08-04-2025 @ 3:04pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

The guides at RPS are simply the best - having travelled widely the team cannot be equalled

JP from United Kingdom
08-04-2025 @ 12:20pm
Best Mobile Safari Operator

Magical experience in the wilderness!

JP from United Kingdom
08-04-2025 @ 12:20pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Great experience, lovely locations and expert guides

JP from United Kingdom
08-04-2025 @ 12:20pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

We have used RPS for 12 safaris as the guiding cannot be beaten - professional, knowledgeable and great personalities

01-04-2025 @ 2:29pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Exceptional wilderness experience, guiding is superb and the camp just perfect

01-04-2025 @ 2:29pm
Best Value Safari Property

Wonderful holiday

03-05-2024 @ 7:30am
Best Safari Guiding Team

Jason Alfonsi is the best thing that’ll happen to you

11-04-2024 @ 5:33am
Best Walking Safari Experience

Robin Pope safaris

06-04-2024 @ 12:13am
Best Value Safari Property

Robin Pope

06-04-2024 @ 12:13am
Best Walking Safari Experience

Amazing experience in remote South Luangwa - everything exceeded our expectations

12-03-2024 @ 12:50pm
Best Value Safari Property

One of the most memorable safaris.

04-03-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Outstanding experience. So dorn close to a lion. WOW

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Safari Experience

We are planning a return. We wouldn't unless we were extremely happy with our previous experience.

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Safari Property Location

Beautiful location. Lots of variety and animals.

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

Jason was super fantastic.

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Mobile Safari Operator

Very comfortable and great service.

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Value Safari Property

Great value for the price

01-03-2024 @ 11:50pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Kanga was an amazing guide. So knowledgeable across a broad spectrum of topics.

V
01-03-2024 @ 8:35am
Best Walking Safari Experience

The RPS guides are phenomenal, and this is a true wilderness experience

29-02-2024 @ 12:40pm
Best Ecologically Responsible Safari Property

The RPMS taught me how to interact with nature without harming it. The crew was always mindful about setting up camp, toilets, showers & cooking in ways that did not harm the environment.

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Value Safari Property

The Robin Pope Mobile Safari opened my eyes to to the joy of observing the sights, sounds and smells of a safari in a way that vehicular safaris never did.

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

The RPMS was the most extraordinary walking experience in my life! Understanding that a leopard was near, by the agitated screams of the monkeys alone, was enough to convince me!

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Mobile Safari Operator

I have no other walking safari to compare it to, but my experience with the RPMS was so extraordinaire I would never need/want to try another mobile safari.

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Safari Guiding Team

My guide, Kanga, was knowledgeable, kind, genuinely happy in his role. Simply the best.

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Safari Experience

The RPMS was by far the best, most exciting savanna safari experience in my life, and I've gone on at least a dozen vehicle safaris.

GG
28-02-2024 @ 2:46pm
Best Mobile Safari Operator

I have been fortunate to experience this mobile 2 times and would love experience that remoteness and being at one with nature again again

28-02-2024 @ 2:35pm
Best Value Safari Property

amazing, comfort, food , company of like minded people and wonderful guides and staff throughout

28-02-2024 @ 2:35pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Awesome experience with the animals and environment

28-02-2024 @ 1:10pm
Best Walking Safari Experience

Best 7 day walking hike I ever did

28-02-2024 @ 9:10am
Best Mobile Safari Operator

Most memorable trip I have been on

28-02-2024 @ 9:07am
Best Value Safari Property

All inclusive, comfortable, wonderful staff

28-02-2024 @ 8:56am
Best Mobile Safari Operator

Seamless move of camp while we walked

28-02-2024 @ 8:56am
Best Walking Safari Experience

Immersion with unhabituated fauna, very authentic

28-02-2024 @ 8:56am

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