DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about Bwabwata National Park by lifeisgreat77
Kwando River is the best, i ever saw!
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
The staff are very friendly and price is reasonable
We will use them again next year for our KILIMANJARO Expedition and Safari
ES
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Necessary but tirying
We went on the 6-day safari. Most of the animals we saw were in Masai Mara, we could see the big 5 in one day. However Amboseli and Lake Nakuru were more beautiful. I think you should go to see those too (the Kilimanjaro views are amazing). The big inconvenience is the distance between the parks cause it takes half a day to get from one to another and sitting in the car for so many days is exhausting and not comfortable. The other objection we had was our guide, Ali. He didnt explain anything, he was not very nice and when we talked to him about a problem he responded us in a bad way. These people have to know that we pay a lot and come from very far to enjoy that trip so we just want to enjoy what we paid for. He was unrespectful to me with the things he said. That was not nice and we didnt feel comfortable. The last days he changed and started explaining some things and being friendly. Accomodations in Masai Mara and Amboseli are tented camps, they say there's hot water but its cold, but the place itself is not bad (except Amboseli, cause there were many insects in the tent and the mosquito net was full of holes). Food is ok, buffet with some meat, rice or pasta and veggies and fruit.
Your own private paradise
No big five or Serengeti-style mega-herds but lots of other wildlife to enjoy. Never saw so many raptors in one place.
You need to work a bit harder than in Luangwa because this park was recently established and animals here are not used to people watching them. Makes it feel all the more 'wild'.
Only one lodge in this park so you really feel like you own the place; especially if you are the only guests like we were. Staff (many from local community) is excellent.
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Amazing experience
It was unbelievable for us to be so close to animals i've never before seen in their natural habitat. Our guide was very good at helping us identify and learn about the animals and the beautiful, unique birds we saw on our safari. This was an experience we won't ever forget.
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..
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
CH
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the experience was good, and the assistance perfect
The programm was very interesting and the lodge of very high quality.
Maybe the time dedicated to the safari was a day too long.
The tour operator was always ready to help and we all have an extraordinary experience in South Africa, especcially with the two trips in balloon.
An enormous, spacious, uninhabited, dry, cold and hot, real African landscape
The Central Kalahari is enormous. Driving through this Reserve, only on dirt roads, is quite an experience.
Maybe 2 or 3 other cars can be seen daily. There is a lot more chance to see wildlife than humans.
Don't expect to see animals every 10 minutes. Sometimes you have to drive some distance to see them.
Overall Botswana gives much more bush - wildlife experience than the touristic areas in Kenya.
A video of this trip can be seen on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BWD5I6YrIo
An amazing experience. I would recommend it to others.
I saw a Leopard quite by chance. I also saw giraffes, buffalo, elephants,and various other animal. The weather was hot and dry. There was a lot of dust. The lodge was brilliant with lovely clean rooms and a good al a carte menu in the restaurant.