SE
20-35 years of age
Meeting the African wildlife
The wildlife was the best ever. We first went by boat and watched hippos and crocodiles and birds of all kinds. Great guides that spotted even the smallest animals in the national park and pointed them out for us eager photographers. The weather was great and we had a great dinner at the Chobe Safari Lodge. After that we entered the national park by truck and had a great guide there too. We met elephants, giraffes and lions and a whole variety of different animals.
US
50-65 years of age
The natural beauty and diversity of the Okavango Delta can't be beat anywhere in Africa.
We traveled August 13-28 and included Cape Town, Victoria Falls/Livingston, Chobe National Park, Moremi Reserve and the Okavango Delta. We booked through a gay African Holiday Specialist - Savvy Navigator and Southern Destinations - because as gay travelers to Africa, it was important to us to stay at gay-friendly properties. We stayed at Chobe Under Canvas, Baines Camp, and Eagle Island. The sheer volume and diversity of wildlife in Chobe can spoil the rest of a holiday. Wildlife is so abundant that I'd recommend going to Chobe at the end of a safari trip, rather than the beginning. You will be blown away. We went to Chobe first, and then had such high expectations at Baines and Eagle Island, that we felt let down. If you do the other direction, and go to Chobe last, you will experience the wildlife of the Okavango and Moremi and appreciate those environments and then get hit with a climax at Chobe. That said, and as this is supposed to be a review of Okavango and not other parts of Botswana, Okavango did NOT disappoint. It is remarkably beautiful. I grew up in South Florida and there were parts of Okavango that reminded me of the Florida Everglades (except that the Everglades doesn't have elephants, giraffe, leopards, antelope, jackal, honey badger, etc.). We were in Okavango in August so it was Winter, and the dry season. There were NO mosquitoes and the days got into the 80s F. No rain, in fact, no clouds the entire trip, (even in Cape Town, which is supposed to be rainy in August). Eagle Island is a luxury camp with wonderful accommodations and good, not great, food. All of the other camps allowed for communal dining, a feature I enjoyed because you can interract with people from all parts of the world, or you can eat alone. Eagle Island doesn't encourage the communal dining and is more like a "hotel" in that respect. Eagle Island gets high marks for its guides (our guide, Chris, has been transferred to another Orient Express property), and activities, which include, motor boating and makoro, fishing, walking safaris, village tour (recommended), and relaxing. The focus, though is on water activities. Eagle Island also provides a helicopter ride for guests included in the price. What a treat to be able to see the animals from the air, and to see the Okavango islands and waterways from a vantage point you could not get otherwise. Bird viewing is quite special in Okavango. Birding - excellent in Okavango, various varieties of storks, egrets, bee eaters, kingfishers, vultures, herons, bustards, and the beautiful starlings, rollers, etc. I would have liked to have seen more eagle species, e.g. Martial, Crowned, etc., but missed them and only saw the Fish Eagle.
US
50-65 years of age
Review about Chobe National Park by Scott and Mark
Wow. If you've ever seen the scene in the movie Jurassic Park where the family finally comes upon the vast plain with hundreds of dinosaurs of different species spanning across a vast plain - that's Chobe. The sheer volume and diversity of species is incredible, multiple antelope species, literally thousands of elephants, lions, leopards, dogs, etc. are easy finds. Herds of buffalo, zebra, and antelope; and large quantities of giraffe and baboon; and easy bird spotting all make Chobe a "destination." You will be spoiled after visiting Chobe. You should go here as your last safari destination. We stayed at Chobe Under Canvas, which is a truly tented camp. The entire camp relocates every 5 days. The advantage of "glamping" at CUC, though, is that at 6 am, when the park opens, you are already in the camp and are not being "picked up" at your out-of-the-park hotel/property. You get earliest spotting and best conditions with no other vehicles/tourists around.
US
50-65 years of age
Review about Moremi Game Reserve by Scott and Mark
Moremi had fewer animal sitings except that we had quite a good viewing of a mother and baby leopard enjoying a meal. Moremi was nice because it has both water and land activities and offers a good variety. We stayed at Baines Camp, which has some wonderful, romantic options. Weather permitting, they will move the bed out to the balcony so you can sleep under the stars (and mosquito netting). It's a remarkable experience and while you may feel like you prefer the safety of being indoors, it really is an experience not to miss. At one point we were wakened by an elephant casually eating grass next to our balcony. It was literally up against the railing and seeing that from your bed was among the most memorable experiences of the trip. They will also set up outdoor bubble baths on the balcony - very romantic! Getting to the camp requires a long boat ride snaking through paths cut through marsh. How the guides know which paths to take is beyond me. The water is crystal clear and if the guides spot a scrap of paper or other trash in the water they would stop and reverse to pick it up. Pristine beauty.
Review about Okavango Delta by Simon G
The delta in May was quite full of water and the "bush vibe" was incredible. We would go for a 4 hour safari and not see a single other vehicle during that time. A ride in a mocorro is essential and a brilliant way to see the small details in the water such as frogs and (at a safe distance) hippos.
A beautiful country with so much to offer!
We found the scenery to be the most attractive feature of Zimbabwe in particular places like Lake Kariba with its fishing and wildlife and Victoria Falls, one sight not to be missed. The food is delicious and gives you a taste of Zimbabwe's rich culture! With lovely weather every day and temperatures well over 30 degrees throughout summer Zimbabwe is a holiday not to be missed!
Review about Mana Pools National Park by Mike
Lots of wildlife and birdlife and excellent fishing
65+ years of age
A GENUINELY DIFFERENT SAFARI:WOLHUTER
The Kruger Park is somewhat overvisited but this safari will show you the real bush in a different way. You travel in the usual 10 seater Land rover with a genuinely knowledgeable guide. Each night you camp in the open, protected by an electric fence connected to the batteries of the safari vehicles. You sleep in tents that are set up for you, luggage and all, in a new location each night. The food is cooked over a log fire by a wonderful, inventive cook and there is plenty of it as well as plenty of whatever you fancy to wash it down with. Occasionally you will have a night game drive during which all the nocturnal animals, the one you miss in daylight, are all visible and active. Other than that there are usually game drives very early in the morning, after a cup a real coffee, followed by a freshly cooked breakfast of your choice when you get back to camp a couple of hours later. The rest of the day is quite leisurely and usually ends with another game drive in the cool of the evening. Every member of the team seems to want to ensure you see all that is to be seen and that you enjoy it. Toilet facilities are ample and straightforward but don't go expecting things to be at a 5* level. The tents and beds are comfortable, the food is delicious and the whole atmosphere jovial and convivial.
65+ years of age
Review about Addo Elephant National Park by arnorab
A really caring, interesting place.
65+ years of age
Review about Mountain Zebra National Park by arnorab
If you like zebras....