Reviews of Shinde Footsteps
Wildlife sightings and reviews
49 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Shinde Footsteps and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
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"Shinde Footsteps review"
On arrival at Shinde airstrip, we were met by our guide for the next 5 days (and a lone tsessebe) and the news that a leopard had been found very close by and so we made our way there. This was to set the tone for our stay as the abundance of wildlife and birds meant that we saw everything we could possibly wish for including leopards, lions (in trees and on the ground), wild dogs, elephants, hyena, secretary bird, Pel's fishing owl, etc.
On arrival at the camp we received a very warm welcome from Priscilla and were made to feel instantly at home. Our tent was spacious and had a large deck from which we would sit and watch any passing wildlife during those times between game drives. The camp also had a plunge pool which we found to be a great way of cooling off during the middle of the day.
Our guide, Innocent, was a great enthusiast with a superb knowledge which he was very willing to share, teaching us how to identify different animals tracks and trying to enable us (without much success!) to identify the different types of egrets we came across. He was also a keen photographer and again was willing to share what he knew with us.
The food, along with the service, was excellent and everyone was involved including the chef and waiter who would introduce the evening meal and wine selection each night. Overall, out stay at Shinde footsteps was everything we could have hoped for and more." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana
"Shinde Footsteps review"
Again in retrospect our room was smaller than in other camps we visited but it had a generous balcony with active wildlife, hippos at night, monkeys, water buck and a water monitor lizard during the day. However all the facilities in the room were excellent with proper showers etc and and adequate Wi-Fi connection.
Given the lack of water in the lagoon there were no water based activities at camp so to take part in any Mokoro or boat trips meant driving 1 1/2 hours back to Shinde airstrip. This particular drive is quite long and very arduous not helped by the fact that the camp had clearly old Land Cruisers.
We did do the trip 6 times during the time we were there. Our guide OB was lovely, attentive and looked after us very well but even he seemed exasperated by having to do the drive repeatedly!
Having said that it is a glorious camp, very quiet and secluded. The food was excellent and the Footsteps choir were exquisite!" See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana
"Shinde Footsteps review"
Looked after by a great team, excellent guiding and water and land activities so great mix ." See all these reviews: 14n in Botswana
"Shinde Footsteps review"
There are only four tents so you will rarely see other vehicles when out on a drive. There was a lot of game here, something different round every corner. Big herds of lechwe, wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, elephants, lots of birds etc. Guiding from Robbie was fabulous. He was so good at positing the vehicle for photography.
The rooms were beautiful and the food and service first rate.
Highly recommended" See all these reviews: 14n in Botswana
"Footsteps across the Delta review"
The camp staff were all delightful and friendly. The food was excellent, particularly considering the remoteness of the location.
Our arrival at the camp was memorable for having a large bull elephant walk a few yards in front of our tent as we unpacked.
We mostly did walking from the camp, but also did a game drive to take us to a walk further from the camp. We saw a wide variety of game, some at surprisingly close quarters even when on foot - including elephants, lions, hyenas and a leopard.
Bird species were very numerous and included a sighting of a Pel's Fishing-Owl." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana
"Footsteps across the Delta review"
It helps that we had the luxury of the camp to ourselves for two out of the three days we spent here.
Apart from this, the setting is fantastic, the staff incredibly friendly and professional and the guiding superb. Being there, having the concession to yourself and the professionals showing you how to make the most of your stay is more than we dared hope for.
Highly recommended!" See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana
"A step back in time"
The walks were enjoyable, but 4 hours, especially as the temperature rises in the morning was a bit much. And ironically we got closer to the animals in the jeep than on foot. We saw a lot of zebras, a few giraffes, fewer elephants and heard but didn't see lions, leopards and hyenas. And a lot of hippos.
Overall I think it's a different, calm and interesting camp. But I wouldn't go back unless the facilities were updated." See all these reviews: 4n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
"The best place ever!"
The service and attention to detail were astonishing and OP is an absolutely incredible guide with a brilliant personality. All the camp staff were superb and were very happy to interact with the guest.
We had some fantastic walks, saw masses of animals (including hyena, jackal, genet, and sitatunga, as well as lions and hippos). The night drives were magical and we had one extraordinary 'surprise' dinner away from the camp. I can't praise this place enough - or the team that makes it so special." See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
"Amazing and wonderful experience "
Suggested activity - 1 night or early morning we could sit indoors, with a guide, who would distinguish the different animal sounds - morning at about 4am might be best as they arouse from their sleep." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe; 1n in South Africa
"Footsteps Review - Sqwangwa!"
The tents were very comfortable in camp, with hot water boiled on the fire if you want a bucket shower. Food at the camp was amazing, even forgetting the very basic equipment used to prepare it. The camp itself is superbly located on a lagoon with a lot of walk-in visitors (hippos, elephants, hyenas) to keep everybody company and Hope, in particular, busy chatting away ("What are you doing here?")!
We also had 2 very enjoyable games of football with the staff, one of the highlights of which was surely a surprising slide tackle by Sue on Nancy. And for the record, we still maintain we scored 7 goals in that first match, not 5 as the official stat sheet shows. We were very appreciative of the staff spending time with us on their own personal time, like the first night when they all joined us around the fire for a chat and the final night when they put on an excellent traditional dancing/singing display. Sadly, we never got to hear Congo's full story, though we were told that if you start in the panhandle, then head up a long way, keep walking and walking, then turn left and keep walking, and walking and walking, you would eventually arrive in his village, which only has 10 people, or actually 9, because Congo was with us! Boster (aka Dr Loorve), however, did manage to introduce a new word into human vocabulary, "Sqwangwa" (for those of you unfamiliar with the term, it refers to the metal plate upon which the burning coals of a fire are first placed), which even now makes me laugh when I think of it. And if Moses tries to convince you that his first girlfriend at the age of 12 was a girl from the US, don't believe him.
I cannot recommend this camp highly enough. If you are coming to the Okavango Delta, I highly recommend you spend at least some of your time here. I get the impression it is not that well known given its distance (1.5hrs) from the nearest (Shinde) airstrip. For us, those drives from/to the airstrip, where we saw wild dogs and a leopard, were another game viewing highlight.
A totally amazing 4 days. Didn't want to leave. Sqwangwa!" See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
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