CA
Unique eco-system in Botswana
We stayed at Kwando's Tau Pan lodge in the CKGR for three nights in January, 2011. The CKGR was quite different than the lush concessions up north and the differences were really interesting. The wide expanses of the pans were beautiful. It was very peaceful and quiet. We saw very few people.
We found the accommodation at Tau Pan excellent. The lodge is very new with spacious rooms. We had a large indoor and outdoor shower and an indoor and outdoor sitting room. The food was always excellent and fresh. The lodge uses new Range Rovers with roofs for transportation. Unlike the other Kwando concessions that we visited (Kwara and Lebala) there was less 'off roading' per the CKGR rules. We enjoyed seeing lots of wildlife although not in such abundance as in other parts of Botswana. The steenbocks pronking at dusk was a highlight as was hearing a lion roaring though the night. We are not 'birders' but we found the bird life in the CKGR diverse and interesting.
Our guides we excellent and we particularly enjoyed the guided walk by the bushman, Scupa. He showed us how to find tubers for water, set snares, make soap out of a plant etc.
We met another couple on the bush plan on the way out who had stayed at Kwando's other lodge, Nxai Pan and loved it.
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20-35 years of age
Review about Etosha National Park by woods950
Best place in Namibia to experience a safari.
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20-35 years of age
Truly unique destination that can only be considered, 'mars-like'
Our trip originated out of swakupmond with a brief visit to Walvis Bay to enjoy the dolphin and oyster cruise (highly recommend if you like oysters and champagne.) We climbed the dunes on foot which was shortly followed by a trip on ATVs. Both exciting in their own right as I've never experienced dunes of that size and that expansive.
We headed north from swakupmond to drive up the skeleton coast on our way to Etosha. We stopped by the Cape Cross seal colony, which was amazing. Definitely make this stop.
One note, this is definitely a trip where the site really is that there isn't much to see. It's so barren a landscape that you're amazed that people live near or around this area. You feel like you're on another planet. As such, make sure you have the right car and spare tires. Set the pressure in your tires correctly. Bring water and food as well; just in case.
Our whole trip was a self-drive and organized by a 3rd party agency.
Review about Ngorongoro Crater by Cookiebabe2
Amazing place. From the view at the top of the crater through to the bottom of the crater. We saw our first white rhinos here.
Review about Tarangire National Park by Cookiebabe2
We watched leopards hunting from the comfort of our tent terrace!
Review about Serengeti National Park by Cookiebabe2
It's huge! Seeing the migration with wildebeast coming from every direction was awesome.
Review about Lake Manyara National Park by Cookiebabe2
Great for elephants, baboons and hippos!
Review about Arusha National Park by Cookiebabe2
Arusha was full of elephants but we saw little else here.
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20-35 years of age
Review about Namibia by woods950
Abundant wildlife and feeling like civilization hasn't really hit this country yet are the two things that I love about Namibia and was glad I was able to spend a part of my life (7 months) living in Opuwo. Go to Opuwo.
Tanzania takes your breath away
From the moment our guide collected us at Kilimanjaro airport, we knew we were in for a holiday experience of a lifetime.
Our guide's knowledge of his country, its history and of course, his knowledge of the parks and wildlife we encountered, was first class.
We spent seven days traveling starting at Arusha, through to Lake Manyara and then on to the Ngorongoro crater and through to the Serengeti. Everyday and every park brought a new experience and a new encounter...my first view of the Ngorongoro crater is one I will remember forever, as was seeing the wildebeast migration in the Serengeti ...both occasions brought a lump to my throat!
Scenically the parks we visited were all very different and if you're traveling to Tanzania I would recommend you take in as many parks as possible so you really feel you're experiencing everything this country has to offer.
All the camps we stayed at were of a very high standard, good food, clean rooms, battery charging facilities etc etc and the country seems to have a very good infrastructure in place - good main roads / airports.
We were spoilt when it came to wildlife, encountering the Big Five on numerous occasions and it's something I could never tire of.
We've had safaris in Kenya on many occasions but our time in Tanzania was way and above what we'd experienced in Kenya. We had very high expectations for the holiday and it delivered way and above on every level.