Reviews of safaris to Kwando-Linyanti area
626 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Kwando-Linyanti.
P & B,
UK
"Trip of a lifetime"
I visited Botswana between 10 Jul 2009 and 22 Jul 2009
"This was the most expensive holiday we have ever taken - but it was truly worth it. Botswana seems to have got it just right. There was no commercial feel to it, just observing the natural world, and being guided by locals who you felt genuinely care about the environment, love their jobs, are well trained and justly proud of their country.
Suggestions for improvements:
You are right - it really is COLD in the mornings! Lots of layers are the best things to take - and I was very pleased I had my gloves.
We took your advice on the order we did our trip, and for safari novices it was really good - the night in Motsentsela to acclimatise, then starting the trip at Muchenje - luxurious and a good overview - then Lagoon where we got a bit more involved by following the wild dogs, and some hunting lions, and then finishing with Grant at Santantadibe where we really felt a part of the African bush.
I cannot think of anything that could have improved our trip (oh, perhaps if we could have stayed longer..)" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Suggestions for improvements:
You are right - it really is COLD in the mornings! Lots of layers are the best things to take - and I was very pleased I had my gloves.
We took your advice on the order we did our trip, and for safari novices it was really good - the night in Motsentsela to acclimatise, then starting the trip at Muchenje - luxurious and a good overview - then Lagoon where we got a bit more involved by following the wild dogs, and some hunting lions, and then finishing with Grant at Santantadibe where we really felt a part of the African bush.
I cannot think of anything that could have improved our trip (oh, perhaps if we could have stayed longer..)" Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs B
Wokingham
"Good time and odd time ..."
I visited Botswana between 4 Jul 2009 and 12 Jul 2009
"Despite comments made on the previous page about our time at Linyanti, we enjoyed the holiday as a whole and had some excellent and unique experiences. We don't think the additional cost of travellilng to Botswana was worth it since there was no more exclusivity than we have received elsewhere e.g. Beho Beho in the Selous and Chongwe River House in the Lower Zambezi NP - both booked through Expert Africa.
Suggestions for improvements:
Maybe have more confidence in sending more tourists to Vic Falls ...?" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Suggestions for improvements:
Maybe have more confidence in sending more tourists to Vic Falls ...?" Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 6 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Good
Mr D & Ms B
Toronto
"Kudos to Expert Africa and Susannah Mumford"
I visited Botswana between 1 Jul 2009 and 16 Jul 2009
"We will return to Africa.
Very impressed and pleased by Expert Africa service -timely, courteous, knowledgeable (expecially about the selection of camps), well-organised.
Suggestions for improvements:
We were very satisfied. Well done, and thank you." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Very impressed and pleased by Expert Africa service -timely, courteous, knowledgeable (expecially about the selection of camps), well-organised.
Suggestions for improvements:
We were very satisfied. Well done, and thank you." Read full review: 15 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs K
Virginia
"Overall"
I visited Botswana between 30 Jun 2009 and 10 Jul 2009
"Just one comment. I would not particularly recommend the guest house we stayed in for one night at Johannesburg. We felt the dinner was a rip-off and the accommodations were only acceptable. The transportation to and from the airport, however, worked very well indeed.
Suggestions for improvement:
When we go again, which we plan to do, we will certainly contact you guys. [Ed: this means Expert Africa!]
Everthing was very well organized and all went smoothly." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Suggestions for improvement:
When we go again, which we plan to do, we will certainly contact you guys. [Ed: this means Expert Africa!]
Everthing was very well organized and all went smoothly." Read full review: 10 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs E
Lund
""
I visited Botswana between 27 Jun 2009 and 9 Jul 2009
"It was excellent 12 days to remember. it is very private and wild. it´s our 5 safari Tanzania, Namibia and 2 South Africa. it´s a pity you don´t have a Ocean and wine.
Wine is a big interest so next year the whole family 10 persons go to South Africa. But I and my husband are going back to Mombo for the animals and Zarafa for the location." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Wine is a big interest so next year the whole family 10 persons go to South Africa. But I and my husband are going back to Mombo for the animals and Zarafa for the location." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 10 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W
Devon
"A Wonderful Experience"
I visited Botswana between 21 Jun 2009 and 2 Jul 2009
"We have had a wonderful holiday"
Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mrs P
Arizona
"Wonderful trip to Botswana"
I visited Botswana between 16 Jun 2009 and 29 Jun 2009
"We loved our trip! Although I had a pretty good idea of the camps I wanted to stay at, Susannah helped me to select Tau Pan for the desert camp, and I felt that she would have been willing to spend all the time required if I had needed more help with the rest of the trip. All transfers were seamless; we felt that all we had to do was sit back and enjoy, which we did! We can't wait to go back.
I have to put in a plug for the Kwando camps. We did not stay at any Wilderness camps, so we don't have a comparison, but at all three Kwando camps, the guides were enthusiastic, kind and so knowledgeable. They not only knew the mammals, they knew every bird and plant, and would spend as much time as we wanted looking at everything. We also loved having the trackers with us and felt they added a lot to the experience. The trackers and guides work incredibly hard and put in very long hours--they are amazing. We also loved the atmosphere at the Kwando camps--very relaxed, informal, and friendly." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
I have to put in a plug for the Kwando camps. We did not stay at any Wilderness camps, so we don't have a comparison, but at all three Kwando camps, the guides were enthusiastic, kind and so knowledgeable. They not only knew the mammals, they knew every bird and plant, and would spend as much time as we wanted looking at everything. We also loved having the trackers with us and felt they added a lot to the experience. The trackers and guides work incredibly hard and put in very long hours--they are amazing. We also loved the atmosphere at the Kwando camps--very relaxed, informal, and friendly." Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 13 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs H
Wroughton
"Safari trip of a lifetime"
I visited Botswana and 1 other country between 14 Jun 2009 and 28 Jun 2009
"We have brought home wonderful memories and had an amazing trip from start to finish. The whole experience was everything we wanted it to be - and more! As we left the Uk , I was concerned that I had seen so many documentaries and David Attenboroughs that I might be disappointed. How wrong could I have been - it was was above my expectation, there was real wildlife as soon as you left camp and often in it.
The staff were overwhelmingly friendly, nothing was too much trouble and we met some interesting staff and visitors alike.
Suggestions for improvements:
Tipping - this was all a bit difficult. Chris Macintyres book mentioned and I'm glad it did. There were guidelines to suitable amounts in each camp , which were different from camp to camp, which seemed odd. Everything was set based on the average wealthy American family, who live with a culture of tipping. The British don't, the Americans we spoke to said if those were the suggested amounts they felt they should pay more and we just felt mean! I was very glad to have thought this through from home. Maybe its something you could emphasise more in your useful information.
I didn't engage enough with the Wilderness safari culture and ethical stance before I went, due to lack of realisation and time but I'm glad we chose the things we did, given the difference it makes to parts of the country and opportunities it presents. It could be somethign you make more reference to or raise the profile within Expert Africa" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
The staff were overwhelmingly friendly, nothing was too much trouble and we met some interesting staff and visitors alike.
Suggestions for improvements:
Tipping - this was all a bit difficult. Chris Macintyres book mentioned and I'm glad it did. There were guidelines to suitable amounts in each camp , which were different from camp to camp, which seemed odd. Everything was set based on the average wealthy American family, who live with a culture of tipping. The British don't, the Americans we spoke to said if those were the suggested amounts they felt they should pay more and we just felt mean! I was very glad to have thought this through from home. Maybe its something you could emphasise more in your useful information.
I didn't engage enough with the Wilderness safari culture and ethical stance before I went, due to lack of realisation and time but I'm glad we chose the things we did, given the difference it makes to parts of the country and opportunities it presents. It could be somethign you make more reference to or raise the profile within Expert Africa" Read full review: 14 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs LB
Alderney
"A great holiday"
I visited Botswana between 12 Jun 2009 and 23 Jun 2009
"We enjoyed the whole trip, everything went well, food and accommodation were extremely good and everyone we met was very kind and helpful.
Maybe it would have been good to see a cheetah and a lion but you can't have everything!!!!
Suggestions for improvement:
This is our second trip with Expert Africa (we went to Namibia last year), we have been very impressed with your services, we particularly appreciated having someone who took us right the way through from first enquiry to the ticketing and that you have 'experts' on each country who know 'their' countries so well.
Susannah was so helpful and answered my e mails immediately. I am sure that when we return to Africa we will be using you again." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Maybe it would have been good to see a cheetah and a lion but you can't have everything!!!!
Suggestions for improvement:
This is our second trip with Expert Africa (we went to Namibia last year), we have been very impressed with your services, we particularly appreciated having someone who took us right the way through from first enquiry to the ticketing and that you have 'experts' on each country who know 'their' countries so well.
Susannah was so helpful and answered my e mails immediately. I am sure that when we return to Africa we will be using you again." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
Mr & Mrs W
Exeter
"Overall Rating"
I visited Botswana between 22 May 2009 and 7 Jun 2009
"The whole trip was a great success and this is based on the knowledge of Expert Africa in guiding our selection of camps and final destination.
We were recommended to limit our stay in the camps to 9 days and this proved to be right as the safaris are tiring. Marushka was particularly helpful when we had to cancel our previous booking due to ill health and Lucy was an excellent stand-in when Marushka was not available.
We would recommend Expert Africa to anyone and we will be back again looking at Namibia!
Suggestions for improvements:
As some of our fellow guests lost their luggage en route it would be helpful if your advice to customers suggested that they took a small emergency pack in their hand luggage (toothbrush, toothpaste etc), and you might suggest to the camps that they had a small stock of emergency supplies to help minimise the stress of lost luggage.
Other than this the trip was excellent from first contacting you to completing this form. Thank you." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
We were recommended to limit our stay in the camps to 9 days and this proved to be right as the safaris are tiring. Marushka was particularly helpful when we had to cancel our previous booking due to ill health and Lucy was an excellent stand-in when Marushka was not available.
We would recommend Expert Africa to anyone and we will be back again looking at Namibia!
Suggestions for improvements:
As some of our fellow guests lost their luggage en route it would be helpful if your advice to customers suggested that they took a small emergency pack in their hand luggage (toothbrush, toothpaste etc), and you might suggest to the camps that they had a small stock of emergency supplies to help minimise the stress of lost luggage.
Other than this the trip was excellent from first contacting you to completing this form. Thank you." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
Overall trip
Excellent
626
reviews of Kwando-Linyanti by travellers since August 2007
Overall rating by our travellers
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Inspire meWhere to stay in Kwando-Linyanti
Our suggestions for safari camps in Kwando-Linyanti area
Lagoon Camp
Within the vast Kwando Reserve, renowned for its wild dogs, Lagoon Camp offers excellent game viewing that focuses on predators.
Lebala Camp
With enthusiastic guides and trackers, Lebala – in a vast private reserve – is particularly well-placed for seeking wild dogs.
Selinda Camp
In an attractive area that is particularly rich in game between June and November, the luxurious Selinda Camp caters particularly well for photographers.
DumaTau
DumaTau, in the private Linyanti Reserve, offers game drives, seasonal boat cruises and walks. Wildlife safaris here are quite seasonal, and are at their best during the height of the dry season, between June and October.
Linyanti Bush Camp
An increasingly rare find in Botswana, Linyanti Bush Camp blends relative simplicity with numerous activities and very good guiding.
Selinda Explorers Camp
The luxurious, traditional tented Selinda Explorers Camp offers a mix of walking, canoeing and game drives led by really top notch guides in a game-rich area.
Savuti Camp
Set above the Savuti Channel, the refurbished seven-room Savuti Camp offers the potential for viewing large herds of elephant and significant lion encounters.
Zarafa Camp
Zarafa is an exclusive camp overlooking the scenic Zibadianja Lagoon within the Selinda Reserve, a particularly game-rich area between June and early November.
Kings Pool
King’s Pool is a top-end luxury safari camp with a price tag to match; the game viewing can be very good during the dry season.
Linyanti Ebony
Independently owned and run, the small Linyanti Ebony sits on the same site as Linyanti Bush Camp, with similarly high standards of guiding, and a strong emphasis on the wildlife experience.
Linyanti Expeditions
Tip-top guiding. In tune with the habitat. Down-to-earth, authentic camp comfort. A place of wilderness safari harmony.
Little DumaTau
Small and sophisticated, Little DumaTau lies adjacent to its larger sibling in the private Linyanti Reserve, overlooking a beautiful lagoon.
