Reviews of safaris to Central Kalahari Game Reserve
146 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Central Kalahari .
Ms TG
London
"A satisfying trip"
I visited Botswana between 3 Jun 2016 and 11 Jun 2016
"I have no criticisms. I thought everything worked beautiful and I had a great time. I didn't see everything I would have liked, but I understand you see what you see.
Incidentally, the ex-staff member who dealt with all the arrangements for my trip was NICK HOBBS (not listed below). All my comments on the overall service apply to him, and NOT to a random team member I had to pick, otherwise the form wouldn't be accepted." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
Incidentally, the ex-staff member who dealt with all the arrangements for my trip was NICK HOBBS (not listed below). All my comments on the overall service apply to him, and NOT to a random team member I had to pick, otherwise the form wouldn't be accepted." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Good
D & S
Shenfield Essex
"Our June trip to Africa 2016"
I visited Namibia and 1 other country between 2 Jun 2016 and 17 Jun 2016
"As usual, Expert Africa provided us with all we required - a great holiday and experience!"
Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 11 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Porky
Perth
"Lots to See and I Saw Most of It!"
I visited Namibia and 1 other country between 25 May 2016 and 17 Jun 2016
"The highlights in some sort of order :
Hoanib Camp *****
Edo's Camp ****
Ongava Tented Camp****
andBeyond Soussusvlei Desert Lodge ****
Mack Air ****
Desert Air ****
Okonjima Bush Camp ***
Olive Grove Guest House ***
Wilderness Air **
Damaraland Camp *
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Tracy organised my/our safari really well. She had to blend in two different itineraries and there was a fair bit of juggling to be sorted through and she did it well.
The only arrangement that I found a bit frustrating was to find out that Wilderness Air did fly direct from Sousessvlei through to Hoanib, albeit from an airstrip a bit of a drive from Soussusvlei Desert Lodge. I felt that it should have been feasible to organise a transfer (perhaps at extra cost) to fly direct from Soussusvlei and avoid an overnight at Olive Grove in Windhoek which was really a """"wasted"""" travel day which might have been better spent at Hoanib.
And I think Expert Africa need to talk closely with Wilderness Air - the latter seems to have some problems." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip
Hoanib Camp *****
Edo's Camp ****
Ongava Tented Camp****
andBeyond Soussusvlei Desert Lodge ****
Mack Air ****
Desert Air ****
Okonjima Bush Camp ***
Olive Grove Guest House ***
Wilderness Air **
Damaraland Camp *
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Tracy organised my/our safari really well. She had to blend in two different itineraries and there was a fair bit of juggling to be sorted through and she did it well.
The only arrangement that I found a bit frustrating was to find out that Wilderness Air did fly direct from Sousessvlei through to Hoanib, albeit from an airstrip a bit of a drive from Soussusvlei Desert Lodge. I felt that it should have been feasible to organise a transfer (perhaps at extra cost) to fly direct from Soussusvlei and avoid an overnight at Olive Grove in Windhoek which was really a """"wasted"""" travel day which might have been better spent at Hoanib.
And I think Expert Africa need to talk closely with Wilderness Air - the latter seems to have some problems." Read full review: 23 nights in Africa; 18 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Good
Mr R
Hoboken
"March 2016 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 6 Mar 2016 and 16 Mar 2016
"The combination of the friendly staffs and spirit of Africa and just being in the safari mode was wonderful and trumps all the small quibbles.
Seeing a leopard mother and her cub playing a small distance away and seeing a cheetah close up in the wild are hard experiences to match. Thus, we had a fabulous experience overall.
If the ceiling fans can be added at Little Kwara and the flights can be adjusted to take vacationers directly to their spots (instead of flying them more than 90 minutes out of the way), the review could have been even more positive." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Seeing a leopard mother and her cub playing a small distance away and seeing a cheetah close up in the wild are hard experiences to match. Thus, we had a fabulous experience overall.
If the ceiling fans can be added at Little Kwara and the flights can be adjusted to take vacationers directly to their spots (instead of flying them more than 90 minutes out of the way), the review could have been even more positive." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs & Mr D
Sydney
"My Jan 2016 trip"
I visited Tanzania and 4 other countries between 24 Jan 2016 and 15 Feb 2016
"It was excellent, brilliantly organised and managed.
In retrospect we should have chosen Sabyinyo in Rwanda, Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater. I would have preferred to stay at the Hyatt in Dar - or an alternative to the Serena - it was a shocker.
I had concerns about Little Kwara before I went and these were confirmed. I would not stay with a Kwando facility on a return to Africa." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
In retrospect we should have chosen Sabyinyo in Rwanda, Ngorongoro Crater in the Crater. I would have preferred to stay at the Hyatt in Dar - or an alternative to the Serena - it was a shocker.
I had concerns about Little Kwara before I went and these were confirmed. I would not stay with a Kwando facility on a return to Africa." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 7 on a Tanzania safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr C
Harvest
"My Jan 2016 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 1 Jan 2016 and 14 Jan 2016
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms C
Ontario
"My Nov 2015 trip"
I visited Botswana between 7 Nov 2015 and 17 Nov 2015
"It was a trip of a lifetime for both of us."
Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs F
Bristol
"Another Amazing Adventure in Namibia/Botswana"
I visited Namibia and 1 other country between 3 Jun 2015 and 25 Jun 2015
"Another wonderful holiday in Namibia and Botswana visiting some old favourites and some new ones that will probably become old favourites now.
Everything went smoothly from the arrival of the brochure to our arrival in Namibia and our return home.
Sabina organised an excellent trip for us - was that Sabina that we met at Doro Nawas? we thought it was but perhaps were wrong.
Nothing can replace the absolute peace we feel either looking at the stars or sitting round a waterhole late at night . The long empty roads are a joy to drive and arriving at such magical destinations incomparable. We feel that we had several holidays all rolled in to one - a couple by the river, in Etosha, at wonderful Doro Nawas, the seaside, and then Sossusvlei.
Just one amazing adventure.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Thanks for such a great trip from start to finish." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
Everything went smoothly from the arrival of the brochure to our arrival in Namibia and our return home.
Sabina organised an excellent trip for us - was that Sabina that we met at Doro Nawas? we thought it was but perhaps were wrong.
Nothing can replace the absolute peace we feel either looking at the stars or sitting round a waterhole late at night . The long empty roads are a joy to drive and arriving at such magical destinations incomparable. We feel that we had several holidays all rolled in to one - a couple by the river, in Etosha, at wonderful Doro Nawas, the seaside, and then Sossusvlei.
Just one amazing adventure.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Thanks for such a great trip from start to finish." Read full review: 22 nights in Africa; 13 on a Namibia trip
Overall trip
Excellent
Ms S & Mr K
USA
"My May 2015 trip"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 25 May 2015 and 10 Jun 2015
"Trip of a lifetime
Loved all the camps in different ways but preferred the Kawando Group because it is locally owned and the staff seemed more genuine and accommodating. Just a different and more relaxed atmosphere than the corporate owned.
Flying from camp to camp was so relaxing unlike our previous trip to Tanzania where we were on bumpy roads most of the day
Everything went so smoothly with no delays and the camps were even more impressive than we ever imagined
It was simply the best in every way
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not one thing and I will recommend you to all my friends." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari
Loved all the camps in different ways but preferred the Kawando Group because it is locally owned and the staff seemed more genuine and accommodating. Just a different and more relaxed atmosphere than the corporate owned.
Flying from camp to camp was so relaxing unlike our previous trip to Tanzania where we were on bumpy roads most of the day
Everything went so smoothly with no delays and the camps were even more impressive than we ever imagined
It was simply the best in every way
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Not one thing and I will recommend you to all my friends." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs CP
Henley
"Great visit to Botswana"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 2 May 2015 and 17 May 2015
"This was a great trip, with many good points and highlights.
We loved the Kalahari - the size, space, remoteness and sense of peace, and were very impressed at the amount game there - big herds of springbok and oryx. The Delta was special - the sense of peace, and the colours. The game was great - big herds of elephant, plus giraffe, Kudu, Oryx, Impala. We got very lucky and saw 4 adult leopard and 3 cubs over the course of the trip, plus lion hunting buffalo (unsuccessfully!).
The people are delightful - warm, relaxed and friendly, and of course the quality of guiding is very good." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
We loved the Kalahari - the size, space, remoteness and sense of peace, and were very impressed at the amount game there - big herds of springbok and oryx. The Delta was special - the sense of peace, and the colours. The game was great - big herds of elephant, plus giraffe, Kudu, Oryx, Impala. We got very lucky and saw 4 adult leopard and 3 cubs over the course of the trip, plus lion hunting buffalo (unsuccessfully!).
The people are delightful - warm, relaxed and friendly, and of course the quality of guiding is very good." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
146
reviews of Central Kalahari by travellers since August 2007
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Where to stay in Central Kalahari
Our suggestions for safari camps in Central Kalahari Game Reserve
Tau Pan Camp
The comfortable Tau Pan camp inside the Central Kalahari Game Reserve offers some of Botswana's best summer game viewing and birdwatching.
Kalahari Arms Hotel
Kalahari Arms Hotel, in the town of Ghanzi, is a practical overnight stop for travellers crossing the Kalahari to or from Namibia.
Kalahari Plains Camp
Kalahari Plains Camp, situated in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve, is a traditional tented camp offering some of Botswana's best summer (Dec–Mar) game viewing, and an introduction to authentic Bushman culture.
Edo's Camp
Edo's Camp is a small camp with only four spacious tents overlooking a permanent waterhole. Surrounded by 20,000 hectares of private game conservancy you can expect to see white rhino, springbok, oryx and eland here.
Deception Valley Lodge
A private reserve on the border of the CKGR, Deception Valley Lodge offers more flexible activities than within the reserve and a particularly good Bushman experience.
Dinaka
The newest addition to Ker and Downey Botswana’s portfolio, Dinaka is based on a private game reserve on the northern boundary of the CKGR.
Gham Dhao Lodge
Gham Dhao Lodge is one of a number of lodges located on the northern boundary of the CKGR, offering a year-round Kalahari experience.
