Travel reviews by Dr H from Habsburg
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
5
Excursions taken
0
First trip to Botswana
Botswana between 4 Dec 2007 and 18 Dec 2007
"The trip was excellent, except for Meno a Kwena, which was horrible"
Kwara Camp
"Kwara Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
4 Dec 2007
"We can recommend to visit Kwara during the rainy season, despite the fact that animal densities are fairly low at this time of the year. We saw a pack of wild dogs, 2 prides of lions, a coaliton of cheetah, and Hyena. We do not recommend to have night drives, as we had virtually no sightings at all. But this may be different during the dry season."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Good
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sandibe Safari Lodge
"Sandibe Safari Lodge review"
3 nights
Arrived
7 Dec 2007
"We had the best overall experience of our trip at Sandibe. Our guides Katembo and James just excell at their job, both not only in terms of the quality of their guiding. Katembo and James were very amiable and considerate throughout our stay at Sandibe. The management team was very competent - and the food was very, very good. We can recommend to visit Sandibe during the rainy season, despite the fact that animal densities are fairly low at this time of the year. Katembo worked very hard to track leopards, and finally succeeded to find one with a fresh impalay kill. We saw large herds of Giraffes, and Elephants were still fairly abundant."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Lebala Camp
"Lebala Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
10 Dec 2007
"We had the best guiding experience of our trip at Lebala. Steve and Simon were just brilliant. The management team was very competent. We can recommend to visit Lebala during the rainy season despite the fact that game and prey densities are fairly low at this time of the year, as the guides there work extremely hard to track down predators and make their very best. We saw a coaltion of cheetahs Cheetahs hunting Katembo worked very hard to track leopards, and finally succeeded to find one with a fresh impalay kill. We saw large herds of Giraffes, and Elephants were still fairly abundant."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Good
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Average
Food
Good
Facilities
Average
Selinda Camp
"Selinda Camp review"
2 nights
Arrived
13 Dec 2007
"Selinda is a very nice location. However, game drives at this time of the year yiled very few sightings. At Selinda, game drives are done without a tracker, which means that the driver stays on the tracks for most of the time. Without a tracker, our guide was not very keen to track down game. It is probably much better to visit Selinda during the dry season, when game is abundant."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Average
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Average
Facilities
Good
Feedback response
Selinda's management comments that Botswana has had their wettest rainy season in over 20 years (2007/2008) and these rainy season conditions dispersed the wildlife tremendously resulting in sparse wildlife during this wet period.
Because of the rains guides have been purposely staying on tracks as much as possible, as from experience leaving the track in these conditions is an invitation to get stuck & a number of guides have had to be towed out by tractor in the past because of going off road during the rains.
Selinda's management has also explained that each of their guides are accomplished trackers in their own right and do track, and indeed are keen to track down game if the opportunity arises and conditions allow.
Because of the rains guides have been purposely staying on tracks as much as possible, as from experience leaving the track in these conditions is an invitation to get stuck & a number of guides have had to be towed out by tractor in the past because of going off road during the rains.
Selinda's management has also explained that each of their guides are accomplished trackers in their own right and do track, and indeed are keen to track down game if the opportunity arises and conditions allow.
Meno A Kwena
"Never again!"
3 nights
Arrived
15 Dec 2007
"Thsi was a terrible experience. These people are amateurs. The location is truly sad. The watering hole was set up to attract animals, just for the tourists sitting at the top of the cliff. It is an ecological disaster: prey animals get traped around the water hole - cheap food for lions. The manager tried to force us to go on a nature walk, with an unarmed guide. All walks are done like that. This is a risk nobody should take. We had to go through lengthy and unpleasant discussions with the manager in order to be able to do the activities we wanted to do.
During our stay, we drove in a completely rotten car which had no insurance. At the end of one of our day trips, we almost lost a wheel (4 bolds were gone, the 2 ones left were loose). On our way back to Maun, we were stoped by the police, because of the missing insurance. Our guide somehow managed to get us through to Maun."
During our stay, we drove in a completely rotten car which had no insurance. At the end of one of our day trips, we almost lost a wheel (4 bolds were gone, the 2 ones left were loose). On our way back to Maun, we were stoped by the police, because of the missing insurance. Our guide somehow managed to get us through to Maun."
Poor
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Poor
Location
Poor
Service
Poor
Activities
Terrible
Rooms
Poor
Food
Average
Facilities
Average
Feedback response
We were sorry that this traveller was disappointed by Meno a Kwena – they visited with their friend, Mr B from Zurich, whose comments, below, make several of the same points.
Our responses are also below. In general, whilst we understand why these comments are made, we disagree with some of their conclusions.
Regarding the waterhole … the scientific evidence is clear: this waterhole is vital for the game. Recent scientific studies of the Makgadikgadi Pans have strongly recommended more like it along the length of the Boteti and, currently, these are being built by the park’s authorities.
From our own recent visits, we understand that Meno a Kwena is different from most camps in Botswana. However, for the right visitor we know that it can be a highlight of a trip to Botswana. We view it as an original, owner-run camp which shows a real commitment to the environment, the wildlife and the local community. Talk to us if you are thinking of visiting Meno A Kwena.
Our responses are also below. In general, whilst we understand why these comments are made, we disagree with some of their conclusions.
Regarding the waterhole … the scientific evidence is clear: this waterhole is vital for the game. Recent scientific studies of the Makgadikgadi Pans have strongly recommended more like it along the length of the Boteti and, currently, these are being built by the park’s authorities.
From our own recent visits, we understand that Meno a Kwena is different from most camps in Botswana. However, for the right visitor we know that it can be a highlight of a trip to Botswana. We view it as an original, owner-run camp which shows a real commitment to the environment, the wildlife and the local community. Talk to us if you are thinking of visiting Meno A Kwena.