Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs IS from USA

"Very nice hotel right on Zambezi River; monkeys, baboons, zebras, giraffes right on the property and short walk to Falls. Transfers from airport to hotel, and then from hotel to Botswana ferry, were very smooth.

All personnel we dealt with were wonderful...very friendly, polite, cheerful, helpful & intelligent. The Falls were impressive even though it was the "dry season."

We enjoyed dinner at Ngoma Zanga restaurant in the town of Livingstone (traditional African food). We stayed just one day here and that was just right."

"We loved the entire staff especially our guide, Hobbs. He was great at finding and staying close to lions and other wildlife. His life story is amazing. Managers (Ke? and Keome?) spoke excellent English and were always attentive and responsive.

The atmosphere here was very close to nature, but not "primitive"-- all material comforts provided! Animals were frequently near (but not in) the camp. At night, we could see the stars through our tent windows and hear the sounds of the African night---wonderful! Pleasant view of a marshy area. It seemed to us that there were fewer guests-per-vehicle here than in Duma Tau, but that may have just been the luck of the draw.

Charging camera batteries: All are turned in to a central place for charging, to be picked up at next meal, so it helps to have your name on your charger.

Food: Was copious and hearty and tasty.
Nice touch: Guests are greeted by staff at the camp entrance (usually with hot towels) EACH TIME they return to campl
Wildlife we especially enjoyed seeing here were cheetah, lion, and large spotted genet. This was the only camp we visited that provided a wildlife "spotter" in addition to the guide on every drive.

The only problem: We had trouble sometimes getting hot water in the outdoor shower."

"Duma Tau was the most upscale and "ritzy" of the camps we visited. It was larger and more "social." Fellow guests were mostly wealthy-ish tourists from the U.S. Food was fancier than other camps.

The staff was extremely knowledgeable and courteous. The managers seemed to have been educated in the U.S. or England.
The approach to Duma Tau from the air strip is like a moonscape--endless dry terrain & dead-looking trees. but the camp itself is in a green patch on a river, with tons of wildlife. Wildlife frequently came right into the camp! (elephants & hippos & owls). Luxury tent has a wall of windows overlooking a huge marshy plain often filled with herds of game, and at night we heard baboons, elephants etc.
Animals we especially appreciated seeing here: wild dog, leopard, & lion.

Our guide, whose name is Name, was fantastic...very knowledgeable and a good teacher.
On one night, the staff performed an amazing song and dance routine for the entertainment of guests--this was one of our best experiences in Africa!

Nice touch: Each guest has a full set of towels in a unique color, so husband & wife can tell their towels apart, a minor but much appreciated and rarely experienced convenience. Also, guests are always greeted at the camp entrance with hot towels by the managers upon returning to camp.

Each room has a full set of plug adapters and a charging strip---a very nice convenience for recharging camera batteries etc.
We would especially recommend this camp to people who like upscale service and who care about food, wine and comfort as much as wildlife."

"We stayed at Chitabe Lediba, NOT the "main" Chitabe Camp. Although we were kind of "pushed" into this camp after trying to reserve at the main Chitabe Camp, if we had it to do over again we would stay at Chitabe Lediba again, we liked it so much.

Our private guide, Oates, was excellent, very eager to go looking for game day or night (we did lots of both), and great at finding it and explaining all the natural history. We especially enjoyed seeing leopard, cheetah, lion, African wild cat, honey badger, spotted hyena, and bat eared fox.

The atmosphere at this camp was informal, friendly, fun, and laid back. Our fellow guests were a mix of students, retirees, couples, and savvy travelers of all ages from all over.
On the negative side, our tent was older and less attractive from the outside than at other camps, and there wasn't much of a view. That was a minor drawback at this great place.

Managers Josephine and Kenny were excellent company and excellent managers, taking alternating nights on the job. They dispense with the business of greeting guests on every return to camp.
Nice touch: Our plane was supposed to arrive (when all the flights are supposed to arrive), during the noon lunch/siesta break, but it was delayed so we arrived in later afternoon. We thought this would mean we would miss our late afternoon/early evening game drive, but no! Our guide greeted us at the airport with the "sundowner" picnic hamper already in his truck, and we went right out on the game drive. That was MUCH appreciated."