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Email Greg Woyshner | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beautiful landscape with wonderfully friendly people.
So we had a driver bring us from Joburg to the border crossing. It may have been a long drive but I was lost in my own thoughts and staring at the ever changing landscape. I am so glad we did the drive up. We did charter a plane back but I would not have changed my travel plans at all. As far as the safari, man that was something special. Just when you thought you could not see more you did! We stayed at two locations. Tent Camp At Mashatu and the lodge. Both were completely different. If your in need of an air conditioner then the lodge is for you. Considering we went in July the nights were quit cold. So air was not needed. Both stand on their own but if I had two choose again I would take the tent camp. The rustic look but not truly rustic lodging would be my choice. Having an outdoor shower/bathroom and hearing the animals walk past your tent at night is exhilarating. The staff and food worked. The large selection of beers did not hurt either. I would recommend this camp to anyone. I would also return but maybe a difference season to see how the landscape changes. What a wonderful trip and some truly amazing memories.
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Email Stephan Daus | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Excellent place with great potential
Magnificent sceneries. Mosquitoes are NOT an issue if you travel in May (dry season) - we only noticed a small handful throughout our 12+ day trip. Even sunscreen seemed not so necessary because our trips often involved shades from cars, boats or under trees. (do bring it though).
Bush vibe:
Pros: Dirt roads, huge unfenced parks, mostly no mass tourism accommodations. Very few tourists in central kalahari.
Cons: Some self-drive tourists using their own cars and not contributing to the local economy. More tourists in Chobe.
Unfortunately a lot of garbage, like everyone on this fragile planet.
Overall a definitely worthwhile visit!
CA
Email Martin Routhier | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Meromi Park safari
Our guide was fantastic and we saw all kind of animals. Perfect day and happy we booked with your site.
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Email Mike and Marianne | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Botswana was everything we expected and more!
Botswana was an excellent destination for our safari as the variety of wildlife we encountered was outstanding.
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Email Jennifer Cruciano | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
3 of the big 5 in one day!
I carefully read many reviews and looked at what was involved with a day trip and the price. I chose Africa Beast because they included it all and the park fees were included. The only extra was a tip for our guide. We live in South Africa for 3 months of every year and have been on countless game drives both paid and self drive. This was the first time we have ever seen a lion on a drive! We saw a lioness and later 2 males. We also saw cape buffalo and elephants. The rhino have been removed to safety dut to poaching, and there were no leopard to be seen during our day time drive. Chobe river is beautiful to drive along and then motor in it seeing crocodile, hippo and elephant among many birds. We also learned that we were in an international waterway as one side of the land is Botswana, and the other side is Namibia. It was an expensive day for our family of four, but the tour made it so easy: picked up at our hotel, brought to the border crossing and escorted through the process for both leaving Zimbabwe and entering Botswana, a drive, a lovely lunch at a stunning lodge, motoring through the river, and then being ushered through the border crossing and brought safely back to the hotel. I'm so glad we booked!
Email Skye Winslow | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Amazing wildlife - not just animals but also the birds!
We had no idea that a "budget" travel could in fact be so luxurious! We were two people with a full time staff of four -including an incredible guide and chef. We felt safe and secure and well looked after and it is a trip we will never forget. We were so close yet still a safe distance from elephants and rhinos! We had no idea how beautiful it would be -- especially the sun rises and sun sets. We highly recommend the trip!
Email Ross James Wilson | 65+ years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Friendly people; wonderful wildlife; sadly drought stricken so dry rivers and significantly reduced
Botswana is a wonderful travel destination. The wildlife experience was top level with very knowledgeable guides. The people are very friendly. Our safari lodge was very nice. Unfortunately, we visited during a bad drought so we didn't see it at its best.
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Email Emily L | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Chill vibes and lots of animals!
We did a 6-day safari in May 2024. The weather was great, warm during the day but not too chilly at night. We started in Maun and ended in Kasane, traveling through Moremi, Savuti and Chobe game parks, and included a Chobe River boat cruise - definitely do a boat cruise if you are interested in seeing birds and hippos and crocodiles up close. We saw so many animals including elephants, giraffes, hyena, wild dogs, hippos, lions, cheetah, leopards, jackals, zebras, baboons, vervet monkeys, warthogs, water buffalo, wildebeest, an ostrich (!!) and tons of different deer & antelope and birds. We used tour operator Tony's Mobile Safari out of Kasane and loved them. We camped in tents at night and got to listen to the mating calls of Impala. We loved the camaraderie of the different tour operators, who would share info on game sightings so each tour group got the chance to see the most animals and the jeeps would jockey around for best positioning when there was a group of lions enjoying a kill (for instance) so everyone got a good photo and viewing opportunity. Overall all the Botswana people we met were friendly and relaxed, which made for a great vacation.
We were 100% happy with choosing Botswana as a destination and would go back and do it all again.
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Email Susanne | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Worth a visit and a return, but expensive.
We did two things in Botswana, a self-organized tour to the Tsodillo Hills and the Moremi Game Reserve with a rented 4x4 car and a tour with Kalahari Tours (3d/2n) to the Chobe NP. Both experiences were remarkable.
As Botswana is a wild but safe country, you can organize a tour yourself with care and good preparation. However, even in the low season, many campsites and rental cars were no longer available due to advance reservations. It seems common to do a reservation without turning it into a booking later. In fact, we hardly saw any other self-drivers. If you don't want to book early due to the unpredictable weather situation in the low season, it can be become difficult to get a space and/or a car.
We welcome the policy of reducing the amount of tourists traveling to Botswana by limiting space and rising prices , but it should be possible to explore the countries beauty on ones own.
We hope to come again and visit other parts of this fantastic country.
CA
Email CJH | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Easy, friendly Botswana
We entered at Kazungula border for a day in Chobe park. The experience was easy, the tour staff were friendly and helpful. Yes things did not run on time and we had to wait for other people to gather; but as they say, "this is Africa". Just relax and enjoy the scenery. Wish we could have stayed longer.
