Review about Nxai Pan National Park by Leslie Bialik
It offers everything that the Central Kalahari Game Reserve offers and some very interesting salt pans and baobab trees, too. Kwando Safaris gave us an experience very similar to that of Central Kalahari Game Reserve and I fulfilled a lifelong dream of meeting my first San Bushman who was our tracker. Our guide was Lucky Garenamotse who owns Lucky Tours and Safaris and who was on loan to Kwando for 3 months. I would recommend Lucky to anyone! He knows everything about the birds and plants in Botswana and a whole lot more, too. Sweet guy, great driver, lots of fun.
It was everything we imagined about the Kalahari Desert - wildlife everywhere and intense heat!
This was an amazing place so full of contradictions. It looked like there wouldn't be too much wildlife supported in the desert-like area, but animals were everywhere! There were no rhinos, hippos or buffalo because of the arid environment, but plenty of lions and cheetahs, elephants, giraffes, gemsbok, springbok, zebras, snakes, and so many birds! Kwando Safaris gave us a top notch experience with excellent food, bush walks with San Bushmen, game drives and beautiful accommodations looking out at the waterhole. Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about any questions we had, and our tracker was a San who did an interesting bush walk and was able to identify and locate everything for us. The birds were particularly impressive with their variety and beauty, and the insects were the biggest we've ever seen. We saw lions mating and cheetahs on the hunt. Kwando Safaris is environmentally friendly with all their power from solar energy. They had no internet, no cell coverage, no radio, no tv, but did have power points where we could charge our computers and cameras. There is no air conditioning, but with the thatch-roofed huts and the ceiling fan, we were able to stay reasonably cool during the 110F heat of the day. We weren't expecting such attention from the staff and were treated like royalty. I'd recommend Kwando Safaris and the Central Kalahari Game Reserve to anyone. It provided us with a lifetime of memories to cherish.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An astounding bush experience marked by spectacular wildlife...like living in an IMAX movie!
Although technically the most rustic of the places we stayed, our camp in Musanza was situated in an idyllic riverbank setting, and was surrounded by mopane (which actually look similar to ironwood trees and were unknown to us, although they are rather common in the area) and checkerwood trees. It ended up surpassing our expectations and was our favorite of all the camps we have visited. The staff were wonderful and the cook was great; the food was superb. There was something amazing about having the opportunity to lounge in collapsable "director's chairs" just outside our tent before high tea in the late afternoon, watching the exotic birds in the tree and vines, reading, or occasionally seeing or hearing hippos splash in the Lufupa river fifty feet away.
Yes, hearing hippos. I had never before thought about hippos making noise, but they actually make a very distinctive (and rather loud) sound that marked our days and nights and that we had never before experienced. It is an expansive and deep laughing sound, as if someone had recorded a guffaw and then played it back --much louder-- at a slower speed. At the risk of dating myself, I would liken it to a 45 rpm record being played back at 33 rpm. The hippos frolic and splash in the water, submerge themselves for a few minutes, then resurface and bellow out HOOOO HAR HAR. (One person in our group posited that they go under the water to share fart jokes, then come back to the surface to laugh over them. If you ever have the chance to hear this sound you will find this explanation strangely.
The beasts splash around in the water, submerge for a minute or two, then surface and call out HOOOOO HAR HAR HAR. (One wag in our tour group suggested that they go underwater to tell fart jokes, then surface to laugh at them. If you ever get to hear this sound you will find that theory strangely conceivable.)
We really wanted to walk that fifty feet and sit on the river bank, but were told to keep a distance of at least ten feet from the water at all times, since that is the striking point of the crocodiles who share the water with the hippos. We did not need to be instructed on this twice.
One of Musanza's afternoon activities was a boat ride up the river that lasted a few hours, in an outboard aluminum skiff that accommodated roughly seven. There was a plethora of birds, and as we meandered up river our boat driver made sure to maneuver around the hippos. You would think since the hippos are fairly large targets that this might be an easy task, however, since they occupy a fair amount of time underwater is more difficult (and more dangerous) than it appears. There were times when he would spot bubbles further down the river and would simply steer us in a compact circle for a few minutes until the underwater hippos had vacated. There was an occasion where he misjudged, and a hippo reared just under the surface about two feet to the left of the rig, causing a huge ripple and provoking a not entirely uncalled for shout from a woman who had the distinction of sitting right at that point of the boat.
Hippos look funny, and their laugh adds to that picture, but they are genuinely dangerous because of their inclination for capsizing boats. They are close to the top of the list of large animals that routinely cause human deaths. (This being around here of course; there are not very many hippo-related casualties in our neighborhood). They are also threatening to each other, with a social structure that features a lot of the alpha-male, "are YOU lookin' at ME?" stuff. A couple miles upstream from our camp on the river bank, we happened upon a severely injured young male hippo limping through the brush and into the river. He had a nasty wound on his left rear flank, which most likely arose from a brush with the wrong adult male.
A stop at the Treetops school was including on our boat trip. This school is where more affluent parents, mostly from the capital Lusaka, send their children for four to five days of seeing the animals, living in the bush, etc. It is basically a summer camp featuring elephants. There was a larger variety of ethnic diversity than we expected (Indian, black, and white), until we were given the explanation behind "affluent": these were al children of the diplomats and other "upper crust" in Lusaka. The school had a classroom and separate, camp-style dorm buildings, and was situated in a clearing close by the riverbank. The setting was dominated by a giant baobab tree, which also merits some discussion.
If you have ever studied French in school then you probably read "The Little Prince," By St. Exupéry, in which case you have already conjured up a mental image of a baobab tree as a vine-draped thing that has roots drooping from all its branches and thus spreads itself over a very wide area. Well, delete that image because St. Exupéry was entirely wrong in confusing a baobab tree with a banyan. A baobab is defined by a very wide trunk and comparatively thin branches - in fact, it looks as if someone chopped off all the branches from a much older tree and they have only been growing back over the past couple years. The trunks are of such great diameter that in old times poorer residents of the village would hollow them out and use the still living tree as a home; in some instances the community would use them as prisons. The baobab at Treetops could probably have served as a small maximum security jail: the tree was roughly 150' high and easily 25'-30' wide at its base. (We have a picture of us standing at the base - it's so big that you have to look two times to see us.)
We left Musanza (and Zambia) with heavy hearts; it had truly been an Edenic three days and we really bonded with the staff there (it probably didn't hurt that we were the only guests). As seems to be the standard procedure at every camp we have visited, the last night included musical performance by the staff, a lively drum display that had everyone up on their feet.
Review about Botswana by Leslie Bialik
Botswana is a very friendly place. The government is stable and doesn't tolerate corruption. There are many locals who have small safari services and some larger safari companies, too. There are good choices and the prices are fair. The country has so much to offer - the wetlands of the Okavango Delta, the salt pans of Nxai Pan National Park, the bushveld of the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. I'd go back to Botswana in a heartbeat! But if you go in their summer, be prepared for blistering heat!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Zambia by geosync2006
A true "National Geographic" experience in every way!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Extremely Satisfied After a Trip of a Lifetime!
I was a bit nervous to plan our honeymoon with someone I had never met before. I had looked around at local travel agents, but they really didn't have any expertise in Africa and I knew that we'd end up on some cookie-cutter trip. Chris is a true expert and has traveled to Africa several times. And let me tell you, he knows his stuff! I actually called him and spoke to him for a while before booking with him. He was so upfront with things and he ended up planning an incredible trip for us. (He's really nice too) I had told him that we wanted to hike with the mountain gorillas in either Rwanda or Uganda, and that we also wanted to go to Kenya and Tanzania. We wanted to do a mix of basic camping, tented camps, and lodging. He hooked it all up and checked in with us as he pieced it all together. He even suggested that we ended our trip in Zanzibar- and I'm so glad we did. It was a relaxing way to wind down after an adventurous 2 1/2 weeks. When I say that there was not one glitch during the total 3 weeks we were there, I truly mean it! We flew into Rwanda and we were immediately greeted by two extremely kind gentlemen who brought us straight to our hotel and gave us a run down of our schedule for the next three days we'd be there. The hotel was gorgeous. We were assigned to another driver that following morning and he came right on time and took care of us throughout our time in Rwanda. He was so great, I hated to leave him! He brought us back to the airport for our flight to Nairobi. Again, all our flight details were handed to us and we didn't have to worry about anything! Got picked up in Nairobi by another professional young woman who was so organized. She knew our entire agenda and went through it with us. Chris put us in a beautiful hotel in Nairobi where we felt very safe. Food was yummy too! During our trip in Kenya, we had a wonderful guide. He worked SO hard and was so professional. Everything was about us. He wanted to make sure we saw every animal, and he busted his behind until we did just that. We felt safe, and well taken care of! We stayed in tented camps in Kenya, and they were incredible! Even our journey from Kenya to Tanzania went so smoothly (I was a little nervous about the transportation). When we arrived in Tanzania, we were picked up for our 5 day camping tour. The guide and cook we traveled with were so sweet and they treated us like royalty. The cook worked so hard to prepare our meals, and his food was soooo good! When it was time to head to Zanzibar, we took a small flight (all arranged by Chris) and it was such a smooth transition.
We felt safe the entire time we were in Africa, and at every location. We never had to question anything. There was not one moment of confusion or miscommunication, not one issue with reservations, or transportation, nothing! To be honest, I was expecting something to go wrong, as things typically do when traveling for a long period of time.
Our trip was unforgettable. Rwanda may have been my favorite part of the trip. The country is beautiful, the people are friendly and hardworking, and seeing the gorillas was a dream come true. With that said, Kenya and Tanzania were a must see- truly breathtaking!
I would most definitely recommend The Safari Partners! You won't be sorry!!
US
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing blend of wildlife, scenery, local people, traveling companions, plus Victoria Falls. Wow!
I was looking for a good safari company with my daughter, Katie. We had chosen one in Tanzania and were prepared to book it. Katie then heard about Open Heart Safari from a friend who knew Tom Bennigson. We both surveyed Tom and his ideas over a long phone conversation with him and came away convinced that he knows what he is doing in Africa, that he understands what it means to be "open hearted" himself, and that he had actually crafted a safari experience that lived up to that name. We then had a conversation with Laura, who was just as courteous and responsive to our questions. We were hooked. We not only felt at ease with the leaders, but we figured that other people who would be drawn to this type of safari would be the type of individuals we would want to travel with.
The safari itself surpassed our greatest expectations. South Luangwa National Park is overflowing with amazing animals - so diverse, abundant, majestic, amusing, accessible, natural, free, and exciting - never mind photogenic! Kafue is pictorial, removed, wild, and thrilling. We did not feel like we missed anything passing up Tanzania except for the hoards of people. We also acquired a day at Victoria's Falls, which deserves a spot on everyone's bucket list.
What makes this safari unique, however is the exchanges with other humans - both with the locals and our travel group. An entire day and night in a thatched-hut village in the bush mingling with the people, two days and a night with both youth and adults engaging in a grass roots community conservation and development project. There were opportunities almost every day to think back and share with our group what we were experiencing and witnessing - always with plenty of laughter. Occasional yoga and other movement, artfully led by Laura and matched to our abilities. We had some wonderful conversations and are looking forward to staying in contact with each other across the country. Who knows - we may even arrange a reunion somewhere!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Botswana adventure
My 16 year old daughter and I joined Jane for a great time. It was my third time in Africa, but it was the time I learned the most about the true Africa. The staff was wonderful and we felt spoiled at all times. We felt safe and had lots of fun. The food was amazing, it was way more than I expected. I chose Ulinda's Safari because I got the feeling that it would be real and I would be given a one on one experience and we did. Im very glad that I chose them to expose my daughter to her first African adventure. I would recommended them to anybody who wants the real African experience. Thanks Jane!
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Brief jaunt into the Zambian wilderness yielded a leopard sighting and a moment of respite.
I visited the Kafue National Park for a short weekend get-away during a business trip. My expectations for the visit were few but important: to complete my 'big five' by gazing upon a Leopard and to enjoy some R&R. I was able to view the other 'big 4' at a reserve in South Africa.
Well the park delivered on both expectations. During my visit, I stayed at the Mukambi Lodge in the Kafue National Park. The accommodations were great. Spacious lodge with operational amenities. The meals included both Zambian and international fares, which were all delicious and filling. I participated in two drives around in the park: one ride at dawn, and one ride at dusk. It was the dawn ride when we happened across a Leopard, which though brief in sighting was unforgettable. During both rides, we viewed Elephants, wild dogs, and various antelopes. Very enjoyable rides altogether.
I highly recommend considering the Mukambi Lodge as a accommodation and safari operator. The professional staff immediately makes you feel at home and the small quantity of lodges allows you to get to know the other guests. The safari drives are well delivered, with ample occasion to absorb the sights and the wildlife, and are tailored to maximize the wildlife sightings depending on the season.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
My African dream came true
The accommodation in Kenya, Masai Mara in Kichwa Tembo Camp was well selected, the driver of the camp and especially the photo safari with the owner of Roho Ya Chui was an experience. I was able to photograph the Big Five and the absolute highlight was the river crossing of zebras by the Mara River while being attacked by crocodiles. In the evening, the images were discussed, I have received a lot of tips and suggestions. The weather in December was ideal. It will not be my last trip to Africa with Roho Ya Chui.