Mark - Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Lochinvar Safaris
- Located In:
- Size:
- 10-20 employees (Founded in 2012)
- Tour Types:
- Budget camping tours with set start dates and a fixed itinerary (clients assist with camp chores)
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $60 to $1,000 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
NL
Email Cécile | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
You want the Zambia experience book Lochinvar Safaris!
If you want to see the real Zambia go with Lochinvar Safaris! We travelled with Mark from Lusaka to Livingstone , with 4 people in a jeep. He gave us a lot of information and history of Zambia, really interesting! We saw the real life of the Zambian people. We ate with our hands in local restaurants. Every day we had a briefing over the next day, the time schedule is flexible. Dutch people are more strickt, I guess. The lodge we sleep in Livingstone was standard, the beds are short, but okay. It was clean but nog very fancy or luxury. We made some tours, really like the boat safari! We had one day of and Mark booked for us rafting at the Zambezi, great experience!!! If you want to see the big 5, or other wild animals, you go to Botswana at your free day. I’ve heard that’s really cool! The little park in Livingstone you can see the rhinos. I’ve had a very good time and one day I hope to see Zambia again!
RS
Email Zarko | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
From Livingstone: 3-days safari travel to Kafue National Park (southern part) tour
Lochinvar Safaris has been doing great work. I had excellent time with them for three full days.
Not only that but booking and discussion about plan was smooth. Mark is great communicator and organizer. His team is well committed to provide good experience for customers. We left Livingstone in the morning, and throughout a day there are lots of information Zambia’s history and tradition.
One of first highlights was visiting Pioneer cemetery, originally dedicated to Rhodesian Pioneers. Must visit for anyone who’s interested in this part of Zambia history.
Drive to (and back from) Kafue NP is great, opportunity to visit local villages and how people live, plus view of great flora and fauna.
Two nights stay at Itezhi tezhi town was well experience. Good accommodation, nice host and people who work there. It was great opportunity to have good dishes made of local ingredients, mostly fresh fish from nearby lake.
The second day was drive in KNP, again great flora and fauna. Lots of opportunity to see various birds (like national bird Fish Eagle) and various animals. The safari guide was native from Kafue NP, very knowledgeable about his native land. We also visited Game Rangers International (located in KNP), dedicated to rescue mostly orphaned elephants.
Finally, it was nice visiting Longola Hot Springs, and have opportunity to see how local people enjoy it very much.
FR
Email Saidou | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
All my trip with Lochinvar Safaris was amazing !
I travelled with Lochinvar Safaris in September 2023. Mark provided me with lots of activities and tours and made my trip exceptional. He is very professional and loves his job. He is not in it for the money, his priority is to make the customer happy with their trip. Thanks to him, I was able to visit the Busanga Plains and see around twenty lions, leopards, crocodiles... I also went to the Lower Zambezi where we did a Sunset cruise on the Zambezi River, which was exceptional. I also visited Lusaka, Livingstone and Victoria Falls. Thanks to Lochinvar Safaris, I was also able to visit Botswana and Zimbabwe and everything was amazing. Thank you Mark for this adventure, and I wish you all the best for the future.
US
Email Brenda A. | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Small group tours dedicated to showing you the REAL Zambia experience!
My companion and I took the Zambia: 10 Days Nanzhila Cultural, Historical and Wildlife Safari Adventure” tour in May of 2022. We chose this tour because it was a well balanced tour including time spent in villages with actual villagers, historical sites, natural wonders, and wildlife of course. I was born in Zambia but was very young upon my family returning to the States. So I was excited to see and experience for myself, all that I had seen pictures of and heard stories of life there. The tour did not dissappoint! Because it ended up being just the two of us on the tour, the operator was able to customize the tour a bit to include the place where I was born and the village we lived in. We even got to meet the chief there! Tour is fast paced but with enough time to feel immersed. We were very well taken care of and the guides made us feel like family. We were grateful to find a tour operator that enabled us too afford our dream homecoming trip. The only reason for the 4 stars instead of five is due to a couple of last minute lodging bungles that were stressful. But in the end, we would do it all over again. We have so many amazing memories. Thank you Lochinvar Safaris!
NL
Email Ad | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
In a few days you see and learn a lot about Zambia: the culture, the nature and zambezi river.
If you want to see and learn a lot about Zambia in just 6 days then the trip of Lochinvar Safari is perfect for you. In a SUV we travelled from Lusaka to Livingstone whit 4 poeple. So it was almost a private tour. The schedule was good and flexibel if necessary. The accommodations and food were good but not luxury. Mark, how drove us safely, told and shown us a lot about Zambia. We always feld safe on this trip. The rafting and the Victoria Falls were amazing. We saw and learned a lot about Zambia in a few days for a good price.
US
Email Cindy | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
The employees are wonderful, Lochinvar as a company ?
I suggest customers thoroughly research safarirs confirm where you are staying and the costs that are not included in the trip. There may be a lot of surprises. This was only the beginning of my 3 separate bad experiences.(the other 2 were Kenya julimas safaris (demanding cash for park entry fees). I googled and called the park and confirmed they accept credit cards)and Sabilom Kenya tours. (They canceled the balloon option after collecting $900, then offered, only after asking, $675.
I didn’t have to pay extra for Hwange Park because I chose not to agree with the “change.
” there was supposed to be a waiver. I never saw a waiver. Unfortunately, a lady on our budget trip was charged extra to go to hWange Park(according to her). I was told, She was advised to cancel that Hwange park game Drive and go to Zambizi Park instead. I was told they cited dangerous roads as the reason for the “change”She said she wasn’t granted any partial refund for the lesser Park, but says she felt intimidated in to canceling the hwange park. We went anyway( my partner and I refused to cancel Hwange) and she had to pay $420 extra cash or they would not take her, but we were going anyway . How can that cost $420 extra when it was included initially? . I feel bad for her and for all the other travelers that may have done the same thing and canceled that hWange Park. It was lovely. So many animals and the roads were the usual bumpy dirt roads but nothing serious. In the future, I would spend a little more money and get better hotels and be much more aware of the itinerary and reconfirm in writing.
Dealing with her problems($420) for the entire 8 days was troublesome. Mark( the owner I think) even asked my partner to write up a release for the customers to sign!!! I was there on vacation!
By the way Victoria Falls was dried up on the Zambia side.
I also want to say the The best company I’ve ever used for booking tours is: “Get Your Guide” they care, and have assisted in getting my refunds. The lady says tour radar has not helped yet to recover her $420 , that she feels was an over payment.
Make no mistake their employees are very good!! Fines, Cynthia, Lucky