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Email Myer Bornstein Photo Bee1 | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Chobe River National Park in Botswana is a Wonderful Location
Except for Airfare to and return from Johannesburg, tips for guides and staff, alcoholic beverages, and miscellaneous the cost of the Safari is all-inclusive. It includes overnight stay in Johannesburg the first night and air transfers during the Safari. The boat that the CNP safaris use on the Chobe River is custom-made with 360° rotating seats with an adjustable camera mount which has a Wimberley gimbal head. This gives you the option of photographing in different directions, high or low and the ability to follow moving creatures. It also means that you do not have to carry as much camera equipment that you would normally have to. I brought with me was a camera body, and three lenses, 17-35 mm, 35-70 mm, and 70-200 mm.
CNP also supplies professional Nikon equipment for the use of the participants. To give everybody a chance photographing from the front of the boat, for the first two trips, you used the seat that you were assigned, and for each succeeding trip everybody moved one seat up, and of course, the front person transferred to the last position.
you are able to photograph multiple species of mammals including wild dogs, elephants, hippopotamuses, Cape Buffalo, and baboons. There are multiple species of birds ranging from raptors to Passerine's along with wonderful scenery
The average day started at around 6 AM with coffee; then we will head out to the Chobe varying locations. We would photograph, and had an instructor available to help with any of problems. We would return to the dock in time to have a late breakfast. After breakfast, the group would gather in the boardroom four a lecture and/or instruction plus time to download our images from the morning’s event. There was time, for a rest before the afternoon’s trip. We would leave by 3 PM at the latest or earlier depending on the distance that we need travel on the Chobe to get to a location. Returned to the dock around 6 PM, where we went to our room freshened up before meeting for supper.
We follow the same itinerary daily, except for the last day, where we left for the morning shoot, returned, finished packing up, checking out, and being driven to the airport we would board the plane for the flight back to Johannesburg. The nicest part was at the airport actor Kasane; we could check our bags right through to our final destination plus get all of our boarding passes.
Included in the cost of the trip was everything from when you arrived in Johannesburg and until you left, excluding tips for the guides and helpers. The cost of the flight from JFK to Johannesburg range from $1000 to $1400, depending on when you booked.
The rooms Chobe Safari Large were large with two double beds side by side, mosquito netting, available, a work desk, stall shower and a large bathtub. In each room were a fan and air conditioning. Breakfast and supper were buffet style with multiple items available for your gastronomical pleasure. There were omelets and eggs cooked to order, cheeses and bread, different juices, coffee or tea. At suppertime, you could have a different soup every day, salads, stir-fry, at least 4 to 5 varieties of meat, fish, and vegetarian.
Two nights, we ate in the other dining room which was more formal with tablecloths and prepared appetizers and entrées.
Alcoholic beverages and wines were available, which you were charged separately for, and their prices were very reasonable.
We had to great captains on the boat, Kawana, and Mokamba, who knew the river, how to position the boat to obtain the best pictures and could identify flora and fauna for us.
IL
Email Abraham Tenne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
wonderful
It was a one life time experience.
Hope to be able to do it again.
SG
Email Mahesh Waran | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
excellent
it was a great experience to be visiting the okavango delta and also do some game viewing in moremi and chobe
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Email Lisa C | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Magical Trip of a Lifetime
This was our family's first trip to Africa, and we really weren't sure what to expect. We were so blown away by our experience in Botswana! The people! The wildlife! The beauty! It was almost overwhelming!
We entered Botswana at Maun (protip: bring your own pen with you to avoid waiting in a line 10 deep for the few pens provided at customs) then flew by a 6-seater plane to our first camp, Rra Dinare in the Okavango Delta. We adored Rra Dinare...the remoteness of it, the fact that there is no perimeter fence...just beautiful. The people at Rra Dinare, like everywhere we went in Botswana, were gracious, friendly, welcoming. The game drives here were almost an embarrassment of riches and we saw the elusive leopard on 3 out of 4 drives! Our driver, Parks, was outstanding.
From Rra Dinare we flew to Chobe and stayed at Bakwena Lodge, which was a different feel. Bakwena is perimeter fenced, which means you can walk around it at night without a guide escort, and you drive down the street about 20 minutes to get to the closest entrance to Chobe National Park. In terms of general "vibe", Rra Dinare's remoteness had more of an immersive "we are on safari feel" at all times, than Bakwena, which is more of a "we are staying at a very nice lodge and are leaving it twice a to go on safari drives", if that makes any sense. We found that the game viewing at Chobe in early April is not as bountiful as the Okavango Delta area, but that is just in relative terms - we still saw all the usual animals at Chobe - elephants, giraffe, zebras, leopard (twice! again!),LIONS (!!), etc....but you went for longer spells on the drives between sitings. The staff at Bakwena was exceptional, and our game driver, Max, was awesome.
The places we went to in Botswana had customer service nailed - gracious, helpful, friendly people at every turn. We had an amazing time.
Email matttrevillion | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Wonderful Botswana / Okavango
A truly wonderful place for wildlife, abundant photo opportunities for elephants, giraffe, hippos, leopards, lions and vast amounts of birds. We travelled from Namibia into Botswana, stayed in Linyanti for three nights then down into the Okavango for another three nights. Magnificent trips on the water via mokoros led us close to hippos, bathing elephants and several types of birds including bee-eaters, storks and kingfishers. Great guides from the camps helped, lovely sundown drives meant we saw bat eared foxes and more leopards.
We did self-drive for two weeks - the roads are a 'challenge' through Chobe and Linyanti, basically deep sand. With hindsight we would've taken some off-road lessons before we went, we had to be rescued once by a passing Botswanan Army truck! If you don't fancy long drives, book with flights betwen camps. The road into Khwai where we stayed was more gravel.
The safari was one of our best experiences yet, we enjoyed every minute of it!
The sightings exceeded our expectations. We were fortunate to see the migration of the zebra. We had wonderful weather. The camping facilities were comfortable and the staff was very friendly and well informed. Everything was well organized. The food was exceptionally good. We were also impressed with our guide's driving skills as the roads in Botswana can be of a challenge. Every day was very special and we became good friends. We will treasure all our memories of this most unforgettable holiday!
FR
Email Brigitte | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
exceptional!! very good guide and very nice cook!very good organisation as well, feeling very secure
the season is nice , not too hot not cold ,no rain ,
campsites are lovely , no neigbours, space and shadow; we saw lot of different animals , following traks;
the cook is excellent and very competent and creativ;
Andy is always joking and laughing, and tryes to do maximum for us. Very efficient as well!
I came in Botswana safari already 6 times!!
CA
Email Keith Grey | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Fantastic staff and animal viewing experience.
Our guide and the assistants on the safari were all excellent. Excellent equipment and facilities. Excellent food. The animal viewing experience was amazing. The locations chosen for the safari, also amazing.
Email Mark Moody | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
5 Nights Safari in Botswana
Everything about the trip was fantastic. I was met by 2 people from Gondwana Tours and Safaris in Maun, given my itinerary and shown to my flight to my first camp. Everything was extremely well organised and the wildlife, scenery, weather, accommodation, food and guides were fantastic. Highly recommended.
Email Helene de Ridder | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
An exceptional place to photograph wildlife and birds
We had a fantastic time on the Pangolin Houseboat in Chobe, at the Pangolin camp in Kwai and at Desolate Valley lodge.
