Reviews of Linyanti Bush Camp

"This report concerns Linyanti Bush Camp
I had booked 3 nights. At the time of my booking 3 nights included an airstrip to camp helicopter transfer as well as a 20-minute scenic flight. Flying helicopter over the camp area is just stunning, you have the choice of flying doors on or doors off.


Arrival
I was greeted by a kind host who took me through formalities. She informed me of camp times:

05.30 – wake up
06.00 – breakfast
06.30 – departure morning tour
11.00 – return from tour
13.00 – lunch
16.00 – high tea
16.30 – departure for afternoon tour
19.00 – return
19.30 – dinner


Meals were taken with other guests and some staff members at a long table. I like that, I enjoy meeting likeminded travellers.


On a personal note, I much prefer bush breakfasts. I love getting out early as the wildlife has a routines early morning “when waking up.” Breakfast is taken outside by the firepit.


INTERNET shed
Internet is available in a shed outside the main area. There is a terrace with chairs.


WILDLIFE
The purpose of a safari tour is to see wildlife. There is wildlife in abundance here. There is a waterhole just outside the main camp area, and there is all the wildlife in the areas around the camp.


I enjoyed time with my guide. The first three tours, we did alone, then new guests arrived and joined us. We enjoyed wildlife in abundance, no need for “searching.” There were lions in the area, one lioness with four cubs, and one lioness with two cubs. The guides communicate well and to the advantage of all camp guests, hence we also identified to sets of two mail lions.


Elephants come close to camp at times, so did a leopard. One morning we saw the pawprints. Of course, we all looked for the leopard on the tours, it was hiding. However, after sunset in the evening, it simply turned up right outside the camp by the waterhole.


TENTS
I like tents with wooden floors. You also get very spacious tents, large bathrooms, tea tray and plenty of thermos bottles with water. The light setting is good, also if you enjoy reading in bed.

Laundry is done to perfection on a morning to evening service.

Wildlife in abundance and great varied nature is what you get in this camp.

Enjoy." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana

"We loved this camp - in fact it was possibly our favourite of the three we stayed in, but that said we had a guide who was relatively new to the camp (a few months) and who did not seem well versed in where to find different types of game. The position on the marsh was great - and we could hear hippos every night.

We were overall disappointed with how much game we didn't see, especially having come from Chobe NP where there is so much. The Guide knew his stuff, characteristics, tracks, droppings etc., but just didn't seem to find too much to see. From that perspective it was a weaker stay than our other stops although a lovely camp. The camp has a good system of a hostess who always met you, and dealt with queries etc.

The tents were excellent with lovey bathroom, nice shower, a fan and a settee in the tent, as well as a deck. Laundry was done efficiently and quickly.

The food was good and the camp staff were very imaginative at moving things around. We had lovely lunches by the pool one day, down on the marsh another, a boma with a Braai one evening, and because I had a special birthday a private dinner on our deck for our last night - so they really varied things. All the staff were very friendly and helpful.

We had a good Mokora ride - very peaceful and informative, and because we were there for three nights we had a 30 min helicopter ride over the marshes, which with an open door helicopter was a great new experience. I wanted to do a walking safari but it was not available. We did a night drive which was more worthwhile than some we have done!

With hindsight perhaps we should have perhaps requested a different guide which would have improved the overall experience.

It is also worth noting that the local airstrip had been washed away, so it was almost a 2 hour drive each way to get to the airstrip which was very uncomfortable!" See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"Our group of three couples had the camp and guiding area to ourselves. An excellent experience - more variety than we anticipated seeing.

Helga was a first-class, bright, accommodating host and Joe was an excellent guide! Joe worked very hard to get us some excellent sightings. He was easy for our old (ages 70 to 81) ears to understand.

At some other camps we visited, the guides also had excellent skills but their accents were harder, even much harder, for us to understand, especially those in the middle and back rows of the vehicle." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana

"We were in Linyanti camp not Linyanti Ebony.
We were very well welcomed and accommodated by the staff at all levels a really good start to our camp experience.

This was a lovely friendly simple camp, just what we had asked for, the food was simple well prepared and presented, which met our needs very well. Hot water flask in our room was great, again just as we requested as was the location nearest to the main lodge, thank you.

The journey to the lodge started for us at 10.30am from Victoria Falls via Kasane and then a flight followed by a 2 hour+ safari, type journey in a safari vehicle, arriving at Linyanti at just after 3pm, having had no opportunity to eat since breakfast at 8am, we would have appreciated a warning about this and could then have made provision. We were then expected to have high tea and go straight out on a drive, all too much we needed to get into our luggage wash and change shoes etc. Additionally we learnt that the journey from the airstrip was actually only 1 hour, the safari element increasing the time taken, in the hottest time of the day, We felt that the food and time element needed discussion and adjustment at the time of booking. The staff at Linyanti were very keen to give us our "money's worth!" and found it hard to understand that we needed time and we eventually negotiated a safari delayed until 5pm, unnecessary hassle really.

Baboons are very active here, so care needed to keep items in drawers or closed bags etc.

It was a thrill to be sitting on the veranda and find an elephant's trunk pop around the corner as some 12 mothers and babies cut through to the river." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"Attentive staff. Good meals & wine. The cleanliness of the camp was not as good as the others. Walking safaris not as readily available as other camps.
And, it seemed strange to hear that another group had the same experience as us during our Mokoro sundowner. While having our drinks, we were asked to move away from the sight as elephant we’re approaching. The group the previous day had the same ‘excitement’" See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana

"Linyanti Bush Camp is disadvantaged by its terrain. While the marsh is lush, you can't go in it and so can view animals only at a distance or if you happen upon them heading into the marsh. The rest of the habitat is largely Mopani trees chomped down by elephants. So the habitat is not scenic and often obstructs clear views of wild life.

There are lots of elephants best viewed while heading in and out of the marsh. There are zebras, giraffes and a variety of antelopes and birds, however, the views were often obstructed by the scrub habitat. Amazingly, we saw a leopard on a night drive. What a treat! Our guide, Joe, was very knowledgeable and engaging. At our request, he brought us to the Savute section of Chobe a few hours away. We saw many elephants very close-up, a large pride of lions and two cheetah brothers napping during the day.

The accommodations at Linyanti were disappointing and in need of upgrade. When we were brought to our tent we were told not to leave any of our belongs out because baboons had learned to open the velco sealed screened windows. So we never unpacked while there. The floor boards were open to the ground so anything that could fit through the half inch gaps had free access to our accommodation. We found a scorpion on the ceiling the first night. There were also many mosquitos in the main lodge which annoyed guests during the dinner meal.

The food was very good. And one evening we had a special dinner celebration with dancing that was outstanding." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana

"Fantastic place with marvelous staff.

One of those places where you feel at ease and comfortable from the start, and where the staff is only concerned with the guest's well-being in a very hospitable, down-to-earth way.

Staying there felt a bit like being part of a family, it was a pity to leave.

Would recommend anyone that wants to visit riverfront scenery this place." See all these reviews: 11n in Namibia; 7n in Botswana

"I thought the accommodation was a little more basic than I expected. We fed back our comments to the camp.

However we enjoyed our visit, despite the drought, and we thought our gude was very good. We also thought that it was a long distance from the airstrip and we would have preferred somewhere relatively close to an airstrip.

However we did feel we were right out in the bush far from anywhere. Because there was little water so we couldn't get out on the boats, they paid for us to have a 30 minute helicoptor flight which was fantastic and we couldn't believe the number of elephants we saw." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"The staff here was unbelievable. While I did not think the location was as good as Kwara, the genuine enthusiasm of the staff for the work they were doing was so wonderful. We were serenaded at night with beautiful voices and welcomed to join in song and dance. The manager clearly knows what he is doing and respects and values those who work with him.

The food was very good as well. The safaris were excellent and the guide was wonderful. The marsh made game viewing a little constricted in area because the animals all congregated in one area, but there were lots of animals near the water. The sunsets were gorgeous. Sitting on the veranda watching the elephants was beautiful.

The surprise helicopter ride was so exciting. Having the perspective of the delta and wildlife from the air was special." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe

"Very skilled and friendly guides, excellent food, perfect location. Hundreds of elephants!

Our very first experience of wild Africa, and it didn't disappoint at all. Guides were very respectful of the animals, but still allowed us to get really close and have excellent views. Lots of wildlife. And an unexpected helicopter trip which was fantastic.

Would highly recommend to friends." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana