Travel reviews by Mr J from Coventry

"A perfect place for a one nights stay before or after a flight to or from Livingstone as it is relatively close to the airport."

"Enjoyable two nights stay which was enough to spend time at the falls and also go on a game drive one morning and a boat trip in the evening watching elephants playing in the water.

Rooms were comfortable and food ok although the beef was more like buffalo it was so tough, they even brought me another knife so that I could try to hack my way through it which was a shame because everything else was fine."

"Brendon was a really good manager and an excellent and inclusive guide. Staff were really helpful and friendly, especially Brian who quickly learnt how I liked my cup of tea. I only had to explain once and he made a perfect cuppa every time after that.

Game viewing was average but enjoyable although we had a serious problem with tsetse flies biting lumps off us, even though Brendan used the old trick of burning elephant dung at the back of the vehicle.

Saw a number of birds for the first time including Pennent-Winged Nightjar and the Barred Owlet."

"The camp was enjoyable and again we were the only guests in camp. The room was good with most facilities that you could want.

Staff were helpful and friendly and Derick also made an excellent cup of tea. Food was enjoyable and tasty.

David was a good and pleasant manager but my only complaint was that we didn't think ha was a good guide. He advised us that the animals were skittish and therefore we shouldn't speak as it could scare them off which was fair enough, but then proceeded to speak non-stop to his spotter in a language that we didn't understand which made us feel that we were totally excluded from the game drives. Variety of wildlife was a bit lacking but we recognise that this can happen.

One wonderful evening though, a large herd of elephants came into camp to eat the figs which had fallen from the trees and some of them came within a few yards of where we were standing and didn't seem at all bothered by our presence."

"In my opinion, Sausage Tree is in the top 5 lodges out of all the lodges that I have stayed in during my twelve years of visiting Southern Africa. Rooms were excellent. They were clean, airy, had a fan, which was necessary when the temperatures were in the 40's and had all of the facilities necessary.

Jason and the staff were so friendly and helpful and Arnold also had the knack of making the perfect cup of tea. The food was wonderful, although probably a bit too much for me to manage.

Game viewing was good, with 4 different Leopards seen, along with lions, hyena and wild dogs plus loads of elephants to keep my wife happy. Really enjoyed the interaction with our guide Patrick who as well as spotting game, was a dab hand with his machette when thorn trees overhung the roadway.

3 events worth mentioning. One evening driving back in the dark we saw lights in the bush which I knew wasn't our lodge. They had arranged for our dinner to be served in the bush which was great, we didn't have musical background but the sound of hyenas.

Next morning, I was told not to wear my shoes but to wear flip flops or sandals. We went out on a boat and then saw gazebo's set up on a sandbank in the middle of the mighty Zambezi where we had breakfast. Luckily the crocs didn't like our breakfast and stayed away.

My other passion in life is fishing and I had never caught, or even fished for Tiger Fish, so we went out fishing one afternoon, and this is the only negative aspect of my report. My wife hates fishing and just came along for the boat ride but had a rod stuck into her hand. Yes, you've guessed it, she not only caught more than I did, she also caught the biggest.

What a wonderful time, thanks to everyone. We don't usually ever go back to the same place twice but should we go back to Zambia, Sausage Tree will definitely be on our list."

"I would only recommend two nights at this lodge because there is very little to see except for the bats and the sitatunga.

The chalet was more than a bit tired, it was quite run down and not particularly clean. Few facilities were available, not even a fan. The food was ok without setting the gastranomic juices flowing, although the staff tried quite hard to please.

However, in spite of the somewhat negative start to this review, I am pleased that we went there. When we went to see the bats leave their roost in the evening, we didn't go to a hide but to a public viewing area which gave us a great view of the bats, some of which were very low when they flew over us which gave us a great view. This really was spectacular and wasn't to be missed, although the walk to the viewing area was over quite difficult ground and was difficult for me with my mobility problems. I told Marley, our guide, that if we went there again he would have to carry me on his back.

The 2nd major plus for me was the Sitatunga. Whilst I have seen them before, I have never been able to get a photo of them. This time we saw loads of them, including one trip when we saw a group of 14 and get some fantastic photos, although the females aren't as well marked as the northern species. We went on a normal game drive but saw next to nothing except Puku, although we did see Kinda Baboons, a sub-species that we had never seen before and driving back one evening using the spot light we saw a Marsh Mongoose which was a first for us.

So all in all, if you go there, it should be for the bats and the sitatunga, both of which make it worthwhile."

"Just like Sausage Tree, I would place this lodge in my top 5 of all the lodges that I have stayed at over the last 12 years. The chalet was excellent with loads of space, a safe, tea making facilities and best of all in the hot weather, air conditioning and two fans. We also saw loads of different animals walking past our lodge and drinking from the water hole.

The staff were great and we had a good laugh with them especially Abraham who seemed to have a similar sense of humour to myself. Ian, the manager and I share a love of football and he kept me up to date with Coventry City's results and also emailed me photos showing Mal and myself, George, the elephant, having a kip every day under the tree in the lodge but unfortunately there wasn't enough fruit dropping for the whole herd to march through reception as they usually do at this time of the year. I must also say thank you to Amy for filling in and emailing the locator form to the British Government, although they are that incompetent we were never asked for it at Heathrow.

Food was great but far too much for me but it helped that often it was a buffet which meant that I could have smaller portions.

Game viewing was really enjoyable with Alec and Charles doing their best to find us interesting sightings. We saw lions, hyenas wild dogs and two Leopards. We also saw all 3 endemic species, Crawshaw's Zebra, Cookson's Wildebeeste and the Thornicroft Giraffe. We also saw a Bushy Tailed Mongoose for the first time. All in all a brilliant time."

"Well worth visiting although some of the wildlife was seemed like a captive audience.

Staff really friendly, food really nice, guiding good but a bit of over exaggeration was experienced."

"We wanted wildest Africa and this is what we got.

Really interesting even though wildlife was scarce.

Best part was interacting with the San people who seemed to enjoy our visit to their village and waved us off when we left."

"Only stayed one night."

"Management and staff really friendly and most helpful.

Definately the best guide in Alphieus (/) of the whole trip and as with all of the guides absolutely brilliant eyesight, not only in front of them but at the sides as well.

I suspect that if an animal crept up from behind they would see that too."

"Loved the fact that we had glass doors and didn't have to mess about with zips.

Again staff very friendly and helpful although the guiding was, in my opinion no where near being up to scratch. Really enjoyed the after dinner chats with the owner about all sort of things. Between us we were able to put the world to rights and forget for that brief moment of time that people like Trump and Borris Johnson even exist.

Like most places we stayed at, game was in short supply. The early rains in October meant that there was a plentiful supply of water in the bush and the wildlife didn't need to come out"

"Again, same as most places the staff and management were first class.

They even came to terms with my craving for English Breakfast Tea. Saw Sitatunga on 3 occasions but still failed to get a photo.

We did have to arrange for a different guide for the last day as Kennedy was getting a bit repetative but was a nice guy all the same.

Sorry to have to leave to make our way back home."

"My wife and I only stayed 2 nights at this lodge, wish we had stayed another night. The staff were so friendly and the food was marvellous, it never ceases to amaze me hoe the chefs manage to produce such wonderful food with limited equipment in the middle of nowhere. Accommodation was better than expected and the game viewing was superb. I particularly wanted to see Puku antelope which we saw on the second day, along with Leopard, Sable and Honey Badgers. Brilliant game viewing."

"Great staff, very friendly and helpful. Food to die for. Guiding amongst the best that I have encountered. Our guide Myease and tracker Gary were amongst the best that we have been fortunate enough to have. Spent one and a half hours tracking a pack of wild dogs on really hard ground, made even more difficult by the fact that the dogs kept doubling back on them selves. Also saw, amongst other animals, red lechwe, serval another different pack of wild dogs and a wild cat. Only stayed two nights, should have opted for more.."

"Excellent rooms, fantastic service, wonderful food and the legend known as Baba as our guide. Baba and I spent 3 days making jokes about each other so when limited wildlife about we still had great fun. The rock paintings were great to see along with numerous wildlife including Klipspringers,3 huge hyenas who came really close, another pack of wild dogs and one of the highlights, a family of four Ardwolfs. The only disappointment was that the channel had stopped running in 2015 which meant that the aquatic antelope like Sitatunga were no longer there. I feel that Expert Africa should have notified us of this. However, should I return to Botswana I would want to return here"

"Again staff were excellent along with food and accommodation. Game viewing not as good as at other lodges but still saw Honey Badgers, wild dog and white rhino. We were fortunate to see the pack of 22 wild dogs go on a hunt. We lost sight of them for about 4 minutes. In that time they brought down an Impala and had eaten it except for the last few bones by the time we caught up with them. One Impala obviously was not enough to feed a pack this large so as soon as they had finished they went off on another hunt..
A nice change was that our transfer to the next lodge was by boat instead of by plane. Quite fun dodging the hippos..
Now time to leave Botswana with temperatures in the high 20' to low 30's and get back to Heathrow where it was minus 1"

"Now starting to feel tired after all of the early starts and coffee round the fire at 5-30am especially after listening to the Hyenas all night. Starting to get a bit repetitive now but again staff, food and accommodation were all great.. Also shared the lodge with some really nice people. Gie and Gomes were our guide and tracker and helped us see Leopard, side stripped jackal, two different Cheetahs and an animal I never thought that I would see, a Sitatunga when we went on a boat trip. I was buzzing for hours. Even had a few rum and coles to celebrate."

"The room here was probably the best of the whole trip. Friendliness of staff now taken a bit for granted but I shouldn't do that. I must give a special mention to Linsey and Bonney who were both wonderful. If I had been 40 years or so younger I might have asked them to come home with me. Food again was delicous.
Game viewing not as good here as at other lodges but Chester, our guide still managed to find Lion, Bat Eared Foxes, our 5th different pack pf wild dogs and a Cheetah. Bains Baobabs well worth a visiit"

"Wonderfull tented camp with wildlife regularly walking through camp.

The management team of Shaun & Milly great hosta and fun to share the evening meal with Staff very freindly and guides extremely knowledgeable, not just about the animals but about the birds aswell. This time we went during the dry season and saw about the same amount of game as during the wet season although everywhere looked nicer during the rainy season.

Main highlights were finding a juvenile leopard then her mother and of course, seeing the pack of wild dogs, also the lioness with her 4 new born cubs and a freshly killed Wildebeeste.

All in all, a camp we would highly reccommend."

"2nd time in Ruaha but first time at River Lodge.

A larger camp than we usually stay at ans spread over a large site. The restaurant used for lunch was a bit difficult for me to get to as I have slight walking difficulties and I needed mountaineering skills to get to it, but young David was very obliging in giving us a lift back to our room. Great to meet up again with the management team of Graham & Candy who managed a different lodge that we stayed at on our last visit.

All the staff were extremely helpfull and friendly and our guide Alex had probably the sharpest eyesite of anyone I have ever met. Highlights were many and various but got some super photos of a leopard in a tree and the lions with a fresh buffalo kill.

Enjoyed the little squirrels nest in our roof space and the Bush Hyrax's posing for the camera in between feeding on the leaves of the bushes by our room."

"This was our 2nd visit to Katavi. This time in the dry season, last time in the wet season.

This time it was easier to get around but last time everywhere looked nicer. Tse Tse flies quite bad both times but didn't spoil the trip at all. Staff as friendly and helpfull as ever and the evening discussions with the manager, Nick, just confirmed that his reputation of being extremely knowledgable was no exageration.

So many highlights but for me the best had to be getting photos of slender mongoose and dwalf mongoose after years of trying and also seeinf Roan antelope for the first time. The Roan were like a London bus, you wait for ever for one then see them every day. Wonderfull!!! Rooms were great and a joy to see a civet walking through camp one night right in front of us.

Also saw our first Black Spitting Cobra and also our first Black Mamba hanging from a tree.Luckily, we didn't get too close to either."

"Only stayed at the hotel for about 9 hours to while away some time before we had to catch the plane back to Nairobi.

Hotel comfortable and the meal we had was both delicious and very inexpensive."

"Friendly management and staff made our stay even more enjoyable. Night time activity included seeing thick tailed bushbaby's, Genet, Civit and Honey Badger.

What a start to our annual holiday in Africa."

"Other than the sighting of the wild dogs, which is always a treat, the wildlife was a bit of a disappointment, but this is in no way a reflection on the efforts of our guide, Mr. H or our driver Cacumber who both tried everything possible to find the wildlife.

Everything else was great."

"Brilliant wildlife viewing, including leopard amongst the 30 odd different species. The guide Emmanuel, and driver Daniel did everything they could to find the wildlife that I really wanted to see, including Oribi and Klipspringer.

Problem with something in the tent biting both myself and my wife at night making a bit of a mess of both of us."

"Being the only guests in camp, my wife and I were treated like royalty.

Our guide Ramano (Fred) and Kevin our driver, not only did everything expected of them but far more on top of that.

We also had a good laugh on each game drive. Martha, the relief manager was great company but had an unfortunate accident. I hope that your arm is ok Martha."

"The perfect way to wind down after a hectic 14 days on safari.

Staff really pleasant along with managers Graham and Candy. Meal times interesting with visits from bushbaby's and genets. Cool breeze off the ocean most welcome at night.

Only guests in camp again so we were well and truly spoiled."