US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing!
I can not talk highly enough about our experience. It was amazing. We choose a private 4X4 LandCruser safari. I would never do it any other way. It was not that much more and was an excellent experience. We had an outstanding guide and the accommodations at the SOPA lodges were perfect. We will never forgoer the experience of seeing the African wide-life up close and personal. It was not a vacation or a trip. It was a life changing experience. Thank you to Mufasa tours for a truly amazing experience.
Absolutely amazing and the only group to use.
Everything went flawlessly and if there was a change in plans they were flexible. I highly recomend this group. They are extremely friendly and talk to you about Uganda and hands down are the only way to travel around beautiful Uganda.
BE
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
loved it
I loved our safari trip at selous game reserve a lot! the food and accomodation were very good and halal, which was important for us. Furthermore, we loved our guide! We did not like the bush walk and the village tour..
Almost eaten by elephant
While in reservation, it looked like there is something alive everywhere you looked. Guide (or lets call him the driver) was native Kenyan. He was able to spot lion 5km away from us while driving (avoiding holes on road) and talking to us. All drivers were cooperating like bees. They notified others when there was something special. If that happened, time stopped and every car was rushing to the announced spot. This showed to be very efficient, we have seen lion kittens, lion dragging his pray, bathing elephants, fighting impalas, little playful elephants and zebras. We were also woken up by an elephant eating our roof during deep night in camp (we actually mostly smelled this one, it was really dark :) )... To sum up, you should put this on your bucket list.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
The safari easily met my expectations of glamping , beauty and wildlife abundance.The wildlife sigh.
The wildlife sightings were unbelievable, up close and breathtaking. Even though it rained extensively all 3 nights it did not deter or dampen our morning and afternoon game drives. The glamping experience was exceptional especially for our grandsons. The buffet style food was plentiful and very tasty for all meals. The mode of transportation in an 8 seat land cruiser was definitely a bonus with the wet muddy trail conditions. Without it we would have been stuck and denied certain trails to explore. Our guide was very knowledgeable and vigilant. How he could spot, see and point out animals and their habits was incredible. He made every effort for us to see as many of the big 5 close up as possible.
65+ years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Interesting but tedious. However the staff at Victoria falls and Hwange national park were exception
The wild life and scenery are average. The accomodation at Hwange was superb and rustic . The cook and staff at Hwange looked after us very well. We were lucky to have Liberty as our guide as he was kind and knowledgeable.
We particularly enjoyed the lunch in the bush where the table was laid out to celebrate my friend's birthday.
DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
From the Kalahari Desert - Moremi - Okavango Delta - Chobe and Vic Falls
Deception Valley Lodge and the Kalahari are well worth a visit. The Lodge was great and just by observing the area around the waterhole I could see plenty of big groups of tiny little birds up to Giraffes, Wilderbeest, Kudu and much more. The guides and the tracker was very knowledgeable so we could see lots, specially lions and also lots of birds, owls on the game drives. It is amazing what the guides and trackers can see and find on the drives. I also want to mention the amazing scenery and also the bushmen walk was very interesting. Accommodation, Food, Service and the activities was excellent.
Xakanaka - from the desert to the water. I think Xakanaka is another must visit on a trip to Botswana. The game drives were amazing, the guides very knowledgeable and excellent, the atmosphere in the Lodge was very personal and sleeping in tents while hippos walk through the camp is an experience!
Sanctuary Chiefs Camp - another change in the scenery. Accommodation, Service and Food were excellent. Unfortunately the transfer from Sanctuary Chiefs Camp to Sanctuary Baines Camp was delayed by 4 hours. We were waiting at the airstrip for 30 minutes when the guide asked at the lodge and they asked at Mackair. So then the lodge found out about the delay and we drove back to the lodge and they were already preparing a 3 course lunch menu for us. My compliments in preparing this in such a short notice.
Sanctuary Baines Camp - very personal service, I loved the Mokoru ride through the delta, the very surprising and romantic bath under the stars and sleeping outside. Due to the delayed transfer from Chiefs Camp I didn't have enough time to do the elephant acitivity. The drives through the waterways is certainly an experience you don't get anywhere else.
Chobe Game Lodge - this 3 days made this trip from excellent to "only" good. I cannot rate the Chobe Game Lodge as a 5 star Lodge. They only offer buffet style breakfast, lunch and dinners. In a 5 star property I expect dinner to be served on the table. In the 4 main meals I had, there was one pizza buffet (lunch)und one pasta buffet (dinner). If I want Italian food I don't need to travel all the way to Botswana. There are no waiters in both bars to take orders and bring the drinks to the table. I have seen 12 seater game drive vehicels from the Chobe Game Lodge packed up with 10 passengers of different parties and other cars had only 4 passengers. The staff didn't help elderly guests in and out of the cars. This was done by other guests and watched by the staff. In comparison to the other lodges I also need to say that I had the feeling that the guides are less knowledgeable then at other lodges.
I am sorry but in a 5 star Lodge I expect a higher quality of service.
The Chobe Nationalpark ist known worldwide for excellent game viewings and I was really looking forward to it. During my visit the game viewings were very poor and I believe one reason is that the access to the park is very limited. And when there is a sighting you might have to share with 20 or more other cars everyone fighting for the best spot. This is not a safari experience I would recommend.
Ichobezi Houseboat - very relaxing and a nice change to the Lodges.
Elephant Camp - all excellent, the Lodge, the staff, the food, the activites. I could do the walk with a Sylvester the cheetah and enjoyed the excellent guides and met the elephants. Also the tour to the Vic Falls was phantastic and our guide showed not only the falls but gave us also lots of information and showed us plants and wildlife.
Vic Falls Hotel - just awesome. You can feel and read about the history of this special place throughout the hotel. The location, the atmosphere, the service are phantastic. Thank you very much for this special place.
And finally the sunset cruise on the Zambesi River. That afternoon was a storm coming and I didn't realy feel to go on this cruise. But I went and it was a nice closing to this trip through Botswana and Zimbabwe. We had some great sightings and another amazing African sunset.
Thank you very much
NO
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
It was all about the cats this time!
Masai Mara is a beautiful area and we thouroughly enjoyed our time there. Our guide Joseph knew what he was doing and gave us a really excellent wildlife experience. We saw lots of all the big cats, 4 of the Big 5, beautiful nature, and had a lot of fun.
Seeing the young leopard was as exciting as seeing the big leopard carrying his/her remainderof kill of the previous day down from the tree.
Joseph was calm and knowledgeable, his driving skills were excellent and we always felt safe. He did get stuck in the mud once, but managed to get us out.
The breakfast picnic was another amazing experience.
Our stay at the Zebra Plains was lovely. Excellent food and the location is just amazing.
65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
It was an amazing experience that last in my memory for ever
The wildlife was fantastic ....never imagined we would see so many animals ...the scenery was interesting and varied
The weather was perfect for our trip ......our accommodation was more that what we expected clean comfortable and the food was exceptional ...
Transportation was very good and comfortable considering the terrain we travelled ....
The guides were helpful and very informative until the time for us to leave and they made it clear they were not happy with what we had tipped ...as the didn’t speak or assist us with our luggage from that point on ..other than that we had an amazing time and would thoroughly recommend it to anyone .....
Review about Okavango Delta by Johnny Woozer
The Delta, pan handle, is very beautiful. Many waterways meandering through this area, seperated by islands. Have been here twice. The first time many elephants, zebra and antelopes were there. The second time we only saw some birds. However this area is famous about the birds which can be seen.