50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
These tours are wild!! Africa untouched!
My wife and I did a trip to Botswana with African Adventure Safaris last year and we were really blown away. It was our first time in Africa and we did not know what to expect, we were looking for a camping safari as this is the way that we like to travel in other countries and were a bit concerned in the beginning about camping in the wilds of Africa. Anthony really made us feel at home and safe and led us on probably the best trip we have ever done! We saw so much wildlife on the tour and went to some places where we did not see another tourist for days which is one of the things Botswana is renowned for. I especially enjoyed sitting around the campfire at night listening to the sounds of the bush and the stories that Anthony had to tell were amazing, he really has a passion for the bush and wildlife and we were lucky to have him personally guide our tour. We will definitely do another trip with him in Africa, he warned us that we would catch the Africa bug and we are definitely hooked!! The food was great, it is amazing what can be cooked up on the fire, we were expecting to loose weight! Our visit to Victoria Falls was great and it was also nice to have a bit of luxury at the end of the trip, we were really spoilt. Having travelled extensively in South America and Asia we were looking forward to something different and I know now why they say Africa is a must for all!! A big thank you to everybody else that made the trip possible, Ephram and Matanta in the Okavango and especially to Bev in Victoria Falls who made our stay there so enjoyable! We will see you again I am sure.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Excellent and professional, had a great tour of Botswana!!
The trip was fantastic!! i especially enjoyed the knowledge of Anthony Washford who guided us on the trip, he was an amazing guide and new just about everything about the wildlife of this amazing country. I also enjoyed the fact that we camped wild most of the time and were so close to nature especially in Central Kalahari Game Reserve. We saw male lions fighting right on the edge of the campsite which was a thrilling experience. I would highly recommend Botswana to anybody who would like a taste of 'real Africa' and Anthony really made our trip for us!
US
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Review about African Travel by Madam Bella Bleuski
I've used them for 3 trips to the continent of Africa: Egypt, South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Zambia and have a 4th coming up in Oct. to Tanzania. Everything they have offered has come through, except for once, and they compensated us immediately for the lack of the tour. Very experienced.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: first safari
This was the trip of a life time
Going to Eastern Africa was a dream of mine since I was a little girl. When I got married, my husband and I went on our honeymoon. We wanted to experience the Mt. Gorillas as part of our journey. Ken and his driver Alfie gave us an experience I will never forget in this life time. Ken worked very hard to make sure everything went well and went out of his way to change things around so we experienced things that were important to us. Our trip was booked to see Mt. Gorilla but Ken made sure we drove through the rural country side so we could see what life was like in the villages. We stopped in a small town and had lunch at a local restaurant (eating like the locals is very important to us; if we wanted to eat like we do at home we would stay at home) and went to a local market (which is one of my favorite things to do when traveling. Nothing tells you more about people than their market) We got to see Lake Bunyonyi, which was spectacular and where Alfie stopped the jeep for me so I could see a local man's baskets (he was walking down the road, transporting them on his head). They bought me a basket, which is now a treasured piece in my home. Ken is passionate about conservation and we had some educational and meaningful conversations about Uganda and it's natural wildlife. But the Mt. Gorilla's were by far the highlight of the trip. We were informed we might hike for hours to see the Gorilla and even then there was no guarantee. We hiked about 45 minutes through thick forest and then we saw them. Being so close and personal with them was a spiritual experience. At one point, a little toddler looked at me. I gazed right in his eyes and we held that for about ten seconds. After that, that little tot stayed close to me the entire time we were there (we were only allowed an hour with them for their well being), including pulling my hair (we are not allowed to touch them but I guess they didn't know they were not supposed to touch us!) and swinging over my head and throwing sticks at me. I just loved it! The mama was close by and made a grunting sound at first. I actually told her, "Don't worry. I won't hurt your baby." She looked at me and then didn't grunt at me anymore (but she kept close by). To see those magnificent animals, our cousins-I was convinced 100%- was auspicious. Words really can not describe our time with them.The silver back was this enormous creature who was clearly in charge. I loved watching him and how we led his family. We followed the group for an hour as they foraged and roamed for an hour. I was sad to leave them and I think about our time with them often (I have several photographs in our home and at work to remind me of this very rare and special experience.) I would recommend Ken in a heartbeat. You will not have a better guide than him and you will not have a better experience. Uganda is a lovely place that will remain in your heart.
FI
Experience level: over 5 safaris
Unique safari experience
I am very happy with my first Masai Mara safari with Roho Ya Chui. Kicwha Tembo was a good choice: accommodation, food and facilities were great. And the wide open landscape of Masai Mara with animal herds was so stunning!!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about South Africa by Russell R
South Africa is a wonderful country as it is not too dissimilar to many western countries eg: fantastic hotels, restaurants, good roads, great food, however, it has its own unique favour in its culture, scenery and wildlife.
It is a safe destination (as safe as anywhere in the world) providing the rare opportunity to combine fantastic game viewing with get scenery (Table Mountain, Drakensberg Mountains, Beaches etc) and great accommodation. You can easily self drive here (I have done it with my family).
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Absolute trip of a lifetime!
I have just finished the full 72 day Absolute Safari. We covered an enormous distance seeing and doing so many incredible things.. Game driving in the big yellow truck, crossing boarders, mountain treks and gorillas, islands and beautiful beaches, house boat charters, wild rafting down grade 5 rapids, sleeping under the stars, water holes, desert, mountains, rainforest, 4 seasons... I have hardly scratched the surface! This is a hands on camping safari which is a bit rugged on the edges but well organized covering a great trip route on an itinerary through Africa, and comes with the support of 2 road crew to assist you on your adventure. I highly recommend this company to those with a sense of fun and adventure to get the most out of the people and places visited on this safari.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
the crew and office were fantastic! made a great trip - lots of fun and value for money
The trip was varied in what we saw and what we did, animals and scenery were fantastic. My guide and driver were friendly and full of information. The accommodation was basic camping but good - some lovely campsites. The Big Yellow Truck was exciting! food was excellent, i want to go with them again!
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Incredible wildlife and an amazing lodge experience!
There aren’t enough good things I can say about our time at Mala Mala. It was genuinely a once-in-a-lifetime experience. There were times when it was hard to remember we were in a jeep because our animal encounters were so vivid and personal. For instance, we watched a baby water buffalo born just minutes before our arrival take its first, halted steps. Later, we looked up into a tree and saw a leopard ripping apart an impala it had just killed, while a hyena circled below waiting for scraps. We were only twenty feet or so away from the hyena – too awesome! The impalas, alas, endured another casualty the next day. In the morning, we saw a pack of wild dogs fighting over the pieces of an impala, which gives new meaning to the phrase “pack of wild dogs.” We saw a plethora of giraffes, elephants, rhinos, and zebras, oftentimes only a few feet away from our jeep.
We saw big game everywhere, but one of the more interesting compenents of the safari was learning how a complex ecosystem operates – from the smallest insects to the leopards and lions. For instance, our ranger spoke to us at length about the “life cycle” of rhino droppings, and scooped a small mound off our path to reveal an ant lion hiding in its hole – no larger than the size of a pencil eraser. There was nature all around us, from the elephant herd that walked by my porch only fifty yard away, to the amazing stars in the night sky. I genuinely adored each moment.
One of the more meaningful moments was the morning of our departure, when we went on one last drive to see the only Big Five animal we had left to spot – a lion. After an extensive search involving quite a bit of off-roading with tree branches whipping our faces, we came upon a pride of five lions, lying in the center of the road, asleep. I could now check off the Big Five! I even received a certificate to prove it.
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.