FREQUENTLY ASKED
You sure can! We offer an excellent mix & match package to enjoy the best of the safari world. A guide will drive your rental vehicle inside the National Park, he/she can take you on a night drive as well, and the vehicle is for your own use outside of the National Park. DNPW does not allow individuals to drive "open" professional safari vehicles inside the park. However you can explore yourselves the fantastic Game Management area without the need of our professional guide. Normal "closed" vehicles are still allowed in the park on self-drive, but they need to exit the park by 18.00 hours.
Unfortunately not, DNPW only allows South Luangwa Registered guides to drive open professional safari vehicles inside the park and actually so do we. Insurance and other liabilities just don't allow us to accept any other guides than our own, who have been duly trained by us and know the park inside and out.
Sorry no, our vehicles are only insured for game drives inside the park with our own team of guides. Therefore it is not possible to rent a professional vehicle and arrange your own guide. We work with an excellent team and can try and honour your request for a specific guide, but can not guarantee he or she will be available, or be allowed to guide on our vehicles, under our licenses.
Indeed our safaris are prices for 9 people, sitting on the back seats. So that is exclusive of the front passenger and the driver. We understand you might be with more people, or some are kids, but any child over the age of 12 is considered an adult. However, if there are smaller kids part of your group we indeed can be flexible. Depending on the total number and age groups, we can allow a few extra children, or for instance leave the spotter out on evening safaris. However, this is always up to our discretion. Understand 13 adults and a few kids will never fit and is just not safe. Better to get an extra vehicle and guide, mix up your times and have more flexibility with children anyway.
We ourselves do not offer accommodation, but can assist for sure! Since we call this area home, we know all the places and can assist with making your personal itinerary and arrange all bookings for you. We work alongside many accommodation providers within this area and are the specialists in offering safaris and / or vehicles for the people who do not want to share their vehicle with strangers. No need to accept set timings for your safaris, no price per safari per person, and yes to stay out longer or come back earlier, the choice is yours. We discuss plans in detail and arrange your self-drive, room only, self-catering or camping arrangements at any of the accommodation suppliers. This gives you the chance to explore the park and its surroundings at your own time and who knows even have a meal in local restaurant too and really get to know this area. More and more private houses for rent are showing up too...
You have found the right people! We especially cater for individuals and groups wishing to combine safari with community work. At times you wish to go on safari, our guide will take you and your group on a professional game drive inside the park. At those special moments you spend your time in the community working on various projects, you and your group can use the vehicle yourselves. Easy logistics at favourable rates too. Rest assured, we have short and long term experience with these sort of requests and can work on a flexible itinerary for you.
We ourselves do not offer accommodation, but can assist for sure! Since we call this area home, we know all the places and can assist with making your personal itinerary and arrange all bookings for you. We work alongside many accommodation providers within this area and are the specialists in offering safaris and / or vehicles for the people who do not want to share their vehicle with strangers. No need to accept set timings for your safaris, no price per safari per person, and yes to stay out longer or come back earlier, the choice is yours. We discuss plans in detail and arrange your self-drive, room only, self-catering or camping arrangements at any of the accommodation suppliers. We can even supply you with a basic 2 person camping kit, inclusive of a rooftop tent. This gives you the chance to explore the park and its surroundings at your own time and who knows even have a meal in local restaurant too and really get to know this area. More and more private houses for rent are showing up too...
We have a fleet of 4x4 vehicles available for your self-drives in and around South Luangwa National Park. We can even kit this vehicle out with camping equipment, giving you the freedom to go when and where you want. Know that camping inside the National Park is not allowed. However there are nice campsites on the river at the boundaries of the park.....and indeed the park is not fenced, so plenty of wildlife to be seen there too. If wished for, we can even suggest an itinerary to get the best out of your self-drive around this beautiful area.
Our vehicles are to be used in the greater South Luangwa area. We do however have excellent knowledge and experience in the rest of Zambia and even Malawi. We service the area of South Luangwa and on request the rest of Zambia too. We can offer you a fly-in package whereas a different vehicle is ready for you upon your new destination. We can even combine safari, with the northern circuit, exploring lesser known waterfalls, lakes and mountains. Taking the roads less travelled ! So get in touch and let us explore your wishes!
Adding a rooftop tent and other camp equipment takes a lot of work. Therefore we only offer this option for the duration of your hire. You could however swop your fully kitted vehicle for a safari vehicle for instance and mix up the hires to your preferences.
No they are not. Kindly carefully check our terms and conditions and know that the vehicle (and optional camping equipment) is at the sole risk of the Renter (fair wear and tear excepted) from the moment the key and/or the vehicle is handed to the Renter until such time as Personal Touch has recorded the return of the vehicle. Vehicles are insured for self-drive activities in the South Luangwa National Park and visits to Community Projects or shops in the Mfuwe area. The Renter is liable for any damage caused to the vehicle including tyres whilst the vehicle is on hire to him.
Company reserves the right to ask for a cash or credit card deposit to cover the liability excess of USD 1000,= for our game viewing vehicle or USD 2500.= for our 4x4 (kitted) vehicles.
The Renter shall be held responsible and liable for any damage, repairs, towing costs, loss of revenue and/or total loss sustained to the vehicle, howsoever the damage and/or total loss is caused and whether or not it is attributed to his fault or negligence (including but not limited to hail damage, animal encounters or other) resulting from such incidents.
All Mfuwe airport transfers are included in the price for hires of more than three days. If you mean other transfers, we can arrange that too. Please contact us with specific details, so we can send you a custom quote. Road transfers to/from Chipata, Malawi, Lusaka other places are all possible.
E-visa are now easily applied for online. Check out the very informative website of the Zambian Immigration Department. Visa on arrival are also available for most Nationalities. Please check at the same page and ensure to have the correct amount in cash USD with you. Often there is no change at land borders and always check the stamp placed in your passport upon leaving the immigration. Do know all visa on arrival need to be paid in US dollar cash, so check before departure!
For payments of your reservation with us, we offer a multitude of payment options, even in your own country. So, yes EURO, GBP and others are accepted for payments of your reservations.
Whilst on holiday, the most accepted currency in Africa (besides the local official currency) is still US dollars. Be aware of notes before 2010 as these are not accepted. We advise to bring some cash and also some smaller notes. Ensure your bills are clean, undamaged and not stained One hundred dollar bills might bring you trouble in getting the correct change. Euro, Pounds or South African Rands are not accepted by us or many other places. You may be able to change these at a bank. Traveller cheques are also not widely accepted. Better bring your cards and draw funds whenever you can.
They sure are! However power outages, technical problems and other mishaps may occur in the more remote places. This includes Mfuwe. Best is to get some funds upon arrival at the airport or when in a larger town. Mostly you are only allows to draw maximum of K 4000 per transaction. For current exchange rates, please see Xe.com which shows you the mid-rate.
Yes you can. Know that park entrance is payable per person per day (not 24hrs). This means that you pay the same if you go in for a morning and afternoon or for an afternoon only. So plan your days carefully. If you are a safari fanatic and wish to go into the park each day, you can indeed pay all in one go and get a permit for your entire stay. Know that DNPW does not do refunds for any days not using your permit. Self-drive guests are allowed in the park until 18.00 hours. People on safari with our guide may go on a night safari and leave the park by 20.00 hours. The same personal permit applies, however the entrance fee per vehicle for entrance after 18.00 hours applies (once off, not per person). See terms and conditions for current fees.
This new world we seem to live in brings an unprecedented situation for travel and travellers.
One thing is certain; it is pretty easy to avoid big crowds in the great outdoors of South Luangwa on your private safari.
Personal Touch Safaris is proud to have obtained the Global Safety Stamp. Ensuring you that we work according the Safe Travels Protocols set out by the World Travel & Tourism Council.
This is allowing travellers to recognise companies around the world which have adopted health and hygiene global standardised protocols – so consumers can experience ‘Safe Travels’.
Read more on your safety here
We might have missed your specific question!
If so, apologies, but do get in touch with us as here to assist.
Looking forward hearing from you...