US
20-35 years of age
Beautiful Scenery and Relaxing Safari Experience
I spent about three days driving through Kruger National Park on a tour bus as part of a University class trip. I loved that each night we stayed at another one of the campgrounds and we stayed in various types of camping cabin conditions from a nice cabin with a loft to permanent tents to little round huts with just beds.
The wildlife was not always abundant, but I liked the experience of looking for the wildlife and the excitement of seeing it. From the tour bus we saw a several of the Big Five during our trip including elephants, wild buffalo, and lions. I was among the few that decided to take an early morning safari on our last morning and we got to see our only rhino. Best of all we got to see a leopard in a tree right off the road, so we ended up seeing all of the Big Five during our trip. While it can be hard to see all of the Big Five in Kruger, the trip was great even before we lucked out and saw all of the Big Five on our last morning.
The scenery is beautiful and somewhat varied as you drive through the different parts of Kruger National Park.
I enjoyed that we took it slow getting to the campgrounds by mid afternoon and having the evening to relax. There was often still wildlife spotting opportunities at the campground including one that overlooked a large clearing. I enjoy identifying different bird species every morning while most were still sleeping using the little wildlife guidebook I picked up at the first gift shop we stopped at in Kruger. Most of the campgrounds had nice pools to swim in and cool off.
NZ
50-65 years of age
Being "poled along" like a gondola, the thousands of stars & evening constant animal noises (frogs).
After a month travelling overland with Acacia Africa from Nairobi on route to Capetown, we hit Botswana. I was expecting more animals as the travellers we met heading north who had just left here had reported plenty to see. But alas not for us. But this is Africa (TIA). It is not a zoo as we humans are privileged to be in the animals natural habit. While a disappointment, I will remember Botswana for:
- lying in and being poled along in a mokoro, a dug out canoe. Listening to the bird and insect life with the reeds being brushed aside. Thank goodness we had a modern fiberglass mokoro as the wooden ones made out of single sausage tree that takes 80 years to grow, but only last 5 - 6 years leak! We had to take everything in and then take out again everything including all of our rubbish. The sky was blue, few clouds and the sun was rising. It was a simply a magic feeling moving along at a gentle pace. So different to the truck travel.
- On the bush walks saw more homo sapiens from other overland groups moving across the open plain than the few animals - zebras, buffaloes plus bird life.
- The evening will be remembered for the brilliant display of stars with a little light spillage plus hearing the hundreds of frogs croaking away ...
- To cap off our visit, the flight over just a small part of the 16,000 sq km Okavango Delta where the 360 degree vista from above rewarded me with my pictures of "textures and colours". We saw elephants and wildebeests from above. It was well worth the US$60 cost. To cap it off, as we left on the last flight, it was sunset as we headed back to Maun airport.
So ... yes, I was a bit disappointed with both Chobe National Park and Okavango Delta re seeing animals living in their natural environment, but I still have many wonderful memories to take away with me: being "poled along" like a gondola - the thousands of stars and evening animal noises.
Read and see my Botswana photoblog at:
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bruceontour/2/1268479817/tpod.html
http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/bruceontour/2/1268480129/tpod.html
35-50 years of age
I was amazed at the quantity and variation in Wildlife
What an amazing place, the volume of wildlife far exceeded all expectation. We flew to Nairobi, picked and and driven to near Lake Nakuru, 2 nights here before heading to Masai Mara for 4 nights. Then drive back to Nairobi and a night there before flying home in the morning.
Lake Nakuru was exceptional for the flamingoes (among many other birds and animals) and is well worth a days visit. The noise of the birds has to be experienced.
Then to Masai Mara which was just amazing, the volume of wildlife was incredible. I could not believe how many animals there were. We did a sunrise balloon ride which was expensive but so worth it. Breakfast on the plains when we landed was just surreal with all the wildlife around. Lions, Cheetah, Elephant, Zebra, Wilder beast, Impala, Gazelle, Buffalo, Giraffe, Hyena, Crocodiles, Ostrich, Vulture, Hippo, Jackal and many more seen :) Camp site was amazing, private site with just 12 travelers + guides ... very luxurious with en suite! Picnic a few hundred feet from the crocodiles ... another next to the Hippos.
Local guides were used in fairly small vehicles who were very knowledgeable and patient when we wanted to stop for photography. If you are interested my photos are here http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobonacus/sets/72157625299783106/
US
65+ years of age
Canoeing the Zambezi - amazing.
Flying into Mana Pools we got picked up by our guides Doug and Taps. We were soon in for our first big surprise walking on foot for about an hour down towards the Zambezi. Walking was not only great exercise but gives you an added understanding and appreciation for the landscape and wildlife.
We were surprised the following day that we were not scheduled to canoe that day as indicated in our itinerary and we were also a bit surprised that another couple joined us. We thought we had a private guide and vehicle. But it was a great day of walks and wildlife. We saw African hunting dogs and lots of cape buffalo.
The following morning we again didn't set out on the river instead going for a game drive and long walk. On the walk we saw several lions including a lioness and cubs. We kept walking to where the lions had come from and found a recent eland kill.
In late morning we set out on the Zambezi in our canoes. We had to work a little harder than expected because the wind was blowing against us and the river was quite shallow. Many times the guides and we had to get out of the canoes and push through the shallow areas.
Canoeing past hundreds of hippos and seeing the wildlife including crocodiles, elephant and amazing birds on the banks was stunning. We stopped at a nice spot for lunch on the river and canoed all afternoon arriving at our mobile tents right at sunset.
The following morning we were on the river around 8am and canoed all day stopping for lunch and to view hundreds of vultures coming in to feast on a dead hippo. Again we wound up at our mobile camp right at sunset.
The mobile camps were amazing - terrific staff and food. Sleeping on the banks of the Zambezi after all day canoeing was wonderful.
Our private guide Doug and our river guide Taps were both terrific - full of great stories. They both made our time there extraordinary.
While we had a terrific time at Mana Pools with great guides if would have been much better for us had we stuck to the plan in the itinerary? We would have liked spending our final day in a game drive and wound up in Vundu Camp the final night. We would have gotten a little more comfortable sleep before heading home (which took 43 hours door to door!). The itinerary called for 15 miles of canoeing with morning and afternoon walks and bird watching with a vehicle available. This was not the case. We canoed all day and covered twice the mileage indicated in the itinerary. This was our only disappointment the entire trip. The canoeing was wonderful but we would have liked much less time on the river each day and more time out walking or in the vehicle to break up the paddling.
Flying home - Towanda (spelling?) was our Sefofane pilot from Mana Pools back to Victoria Falls. He was by far the best we had. We flew into Caribe to refuel and Sona asked if we would see the dam after takeoff. He flew out of the way a bit and banked the plane so we could get some pictures. Then he told us if there was time and he got permission he would fly us over Victoria Falls before landing which he did. What a treat and what a wonderful guy.
NL
35-50 years of age
Review about Selous Game Reserve by Schaapmans
Selous is awesome. You can drive off the road. During a safari day you bump into all vehicles in Selous. That is about 10 4x4's. Make sure you have an awesome driver / guide / tracker. We had the best, tracking down leopard trails as he drove. Few vast plains, more shrub and dense (and dry) vegetation and some lakes. Wildlife is not so much habituated to humans as in other parks. Selous makes Ngorongoro your local European drive through safari zoo. You really track down animals for a true bush vibe and wildlife experience. Unique wildlife as well: wild dogs. Lucky enough to see a rare event in Selous: a leopard with young walking around closeby. Less wildlife density you will observer, but compensated by the awesome experience and unique events.
Amazing and magic experience. Best place visited ever...
The most incredible trip to a very special part of this world. It is an encounter with the basics of humanity and the magical beauty of nature...
We have learned that people can be happy with very little material things and that definitily we have too much of everything and most of the time it is hard to reach peace of mind and joy.
Also realised that animals in their habitat behave better than human beings....
The most frightening experience is driving in Kenya roads...
NL
50-65 years of age
The Sound of Silence of Amazing Namibia
It is hard to write a review about our (self-drive) roundtrip in Namabia without ending up in a copy of my >100 page diary, which I wrote during our visit. The first thing that comes to my mind is the absolute earshattering silence once you leave Windhoek. No planes, industry, traffic or other background noise. Then the breathtaking vast and wide landscape which changes by the hour in colour and scenery. Driving on the gravel-roads, once you leave the tarmac of the Trans African Highway is a joy. However I would recommend a 4x4 twincab (or similar) for comfort. The lodges, farms and tented camps were excellent and so where the meals. In some cases we even felt uncomfortable looking at how the local people live. That brings us to the local people of Namibia. Never have we encountered such friendly people, who are very much interested and eager to have a chat. Although it is a bit awkward in the beginning being the only whites in the crowd. Apart from getting used to that, we have never felt unsafe or not being welcome. We traveled in May-June which is just outside the high season. Advantage is that it is not crowded, not even in the main touristic areas. Disadvantage is that the wildlife is more shattered and more difficult to spot as water is still available and the grasses are rather high. But we saw more than enough to balance the scales. Where to go? Make your choice, it is beautiful everywhere. My personal highlight: sitting between two cheetahs on the grass and stroking their necks, while they were licking my bare legs. Advice is, do not travel more than 300 km per day and try to plan a longer stay at highlights as Etosha, Namib Rand and Namib Naukluft Park. A warning: Africa get under your skin! You will always want to come back.
US
50-65 years of age
Review about Access 2 Tanzania by Ian Moore
Their personal attention to your needs is second to none from the minute you contact them to the time you leave for home. They have excellent local guides who provide you with personal attention for the complete trip.
IL
under20 years of age
Chobe National Park for every one who love nature.
Chobe National Park is a great park for every person who love nature in any different way, from little insects up to big elephants.
The wildlife in this park is containing all sort of animals and all sort of types, insects, mammals, snake and lizards,birds and much more. The amazing part in the park is that the animals are completely free and don't have a fence to keep them in and they still staying in and around.
The park is combining couple of different environments for the animals. In the park there is water, bush, open area and even sand area which give the person who visiting an opportunity to see all kind of different animals in different situations.
My best part in my trip was that I had an opportunity in Sabuti to sleep in a tent in nature and to feel the wildlife all around and actual to hear and feel the nature all around me.
Chobe National park is defiantly my favorite wildlife adventure that i had so far.
US
35-50 years of age
The jewel of East Africa, a MUST-SEE travel destination!
We spent the first 3 days of our trip in Kampala with side trips to Jinja, Entebbe and Ngamba Island. On day 4 we were picked up by a private tour guide. He would be with us for the remaining 5 days of our trip which included Gorilla trekking in Bwindi, Queen Elizabeth NP and other sights along the way. Our guide spoke decent English, was very affordable and his knowledge of the local flora & fauna, wildlife and history made him an invaluable part of our Ugandan experience. We asked him to show us the ‘real’ Uganda and he delivered! He took us to visit with local families, we watched a group of local men make alcohol from fermented bananas and stopped by a wedding in progress where we were greeted by friendly locals and invited to join the party.
The weather was perfect, cool in the mornings and evenings and warm throughout the day (never hot). The Ugandan country side is simply stunning….green patchwork covers the mountainous terrain and the people are some of the friendliest I have ever encountered. We also had incredible food throughout our journey including a delicious tilapia dinner on the shore of Lake Victoria (for the low price of $1.30).
The gorilla trekking was the highlight of our week but we also did a boat tour of the Kazinga channel which was wonderful!
I've travelled all over the world and I can honestly say that Uganda was my absolute favorite destination. The friendly people, incredible scenery, affordability and abundant wildlife make Uganda a “must-see”!!
