Travel reviews by Annemette from Denmark

"This report concerns Camp Kalahari


RELAXING FORMALITIES FOR HALF AN HOUR
I arrived feeling motion sickness. I was unwell. The MackAir plane was old, and it was parked in the sun in Maun before take-off. (I later met the passengers again. We had all been unwell. A too hot small plane, and no cooling aircon got the better of us. One can only worry about the pilot and his wellbeing.)


I was desperate for 15 minutes on my own. I asked the guide, if I could please go straight to my tent, delay formalities and just recuperate.


I am impressed by the kindness and consideration from all staff in the camp. No nonsense, I was taken straight to my tent, I was on the bed in a minute. A kind spirit came to my tent with ice cubes, hot tea, and a re-hydration powder, and disappeared again. A little angle. I was so appreciative, and I still am. No words, just a tray full of rescue plans. THANK YOU!


FEELING WELCOME IN THE GROUP OF GUESTS


After a 20-minute rest, a lot of tea, water, and the powder, I made my way to the main area. I was made to feel so welcome. Both the staff and a group of 19 Americans and Canadians welcomed me.


Formalities managed, quick talk about vegetarian food. All good.


5 STARS
I LOVE Camp Kalahari. I will TripAdvisor them five stars, and ten if it was an option.


The staff get on well together. You feel that as a guest. They are easy going, blend in without being an authority. It is clear the management encourages the staff to “think” and step away from procedures, if that is what a guest needs right now.


Meals were taken at one long table where guests and staff mixed. We shared some good laughs, and I enjoyed learning about the group’s adventures around Botswana.


Breakfasts are enjoyed in the bush, which is my absolute favourite. Good products, a variation of dishes every day, fresh and high quality.


TENT
I was in tent No. 8. Spacious tent with a ballroom sized bathroom. At all times, the housekeeping kept the tent fresh and looked after.


There is plenty of thermos bottles with water in the tent.


The wake-up includes delivery of hot drinks on a tray.


There are robes and slippers in the tent.


Laundry done to perfection as a morning to evening service.


TOURS AND GUIDE
Because the American & Canadian group had their own vehicles, I was on my own with my guide. He was fun, full of knowledge, and he knows a thing or two about wildlife. He enjoyed sharing, and I enjoyed learning more.


It was a pleasure to be on tours. Wildlife in abundance. The Kalahari desert is just stunning nature. I am glad my agent; Expert Africa, advised me to include the Kalahari in my tour. Originally it was not on my list.


MAIN AREA
The main areas are attended to all day. You have drinks and a cookie jar available all day. The internet is in the main area only. (On a personal note, I like it when the WiFi is in the tents only, it allows for guests to enjoy time together rather than guest looking at phones.)


CATERING
We hit 46 C mid-day. What I am really impressed with is the quality of the food products used, moreover the fact that in the middle of a dessert, the chef managed to serve fresh crisp salat leaves garnished with fresh crisp herbs. I can barely keep coriander crisp in my kitchen. Respect.


Noting you ask for seems to be any trouble. Guests spend time together in the large sofa groups, where high tea is taken, other meals are taken as a group at one long table.


SPECIAL TREAT
I was the only guest on my last evening. One group left; one was due the next day. I was treated to a beautifully set dinner table in the “courtyard” in front of the main areas. Joined by my guide and his colleague, we dinned together. A real treat.


SAFARI VEHICLES
They have big safari vehicles, comfortable and very spacious. I took this for granted until I arrived at a camp, where the vehicles are so small, I constantly pressed my knees against a metal rod in front of me. Here it was all comfort.


MEERKATS
Camp Kalahari, San Camp and Jacks Camp share meerkat guides, who look for the meerkats early morning. To me a “colony” is a large group, we found 3 (three) meerkats, and I was told it was a colony.


While I appreciate wildlife does what wildlife do, I would scale down some of the images and wording in the promotional material. “Colonies of meerkats,” sets the level of expectations high.


There is wildlife in abundance, and an immense variety. It is such an interesting experience to see the wildlife in the desert.


I would go back, and I highly recommend this camp. The accommodation, the main areas, the teams, the tours, and guides, the catering, the relaxed atmosphere, ALL 5 stars.


Thank you for adding to my Botswana experience. I loved every minute.

-o0o-"

"This report concerns Linyanti Bush Camp
I had booked 3 nights. At the time of my booking 3 nights included an airstrip to camp helicopter transfer as well as a 20-minute scenic flight. Flying helicopter over the camp area is just stunning, you have the choice of flying doors on or doors off.


Arrival
I was greeted by a kind host who took me through formalities. She informed me of camp times:

05.30 – wake up
06.00 – breakfast
06.30 – departure morning tour
11.00 – return from tour
13.00 – lunch
16.00 – high tea
16.30 – departure for afternoon tour
19.00 – return
19.30 – dinner


Meals were taken with other guests and some staff members at a long table. I like that, I enjoy meeting likeminded travellers.


On a personal note, I much prefer bush breakfasts. I love getting out early as the wildlife has a routines early morning “when waking up.” Breakfast is taken outside by the firepit.


INTERNET shed
Internet is available in a shed outside the main area. There is a terrace with chairs.


WILDLIFE
The purpose of a safari tour is to see wildlife. There is wildlife in abundance here. There is a waterhole just outside the main camp area, and there is all the wildlife in the areas around the camp.


I enjoyed time with my guide. The first three tours, we did alone, then new guests arrived and joined us. We enjoyed wildlife in abundance, no need for “searching.” There were lions in the area, one lioness with four cubs, and one lioness with two cubs. The guides communicate well and to the advantage of all camp guests, hence we also identified to sets of two mail lions.


Elephants come close to camp at times, so did a leopard. One morning we saw the pawprints. Of course, we all looked for the leopard on the tours, it was hiding. However, after sunset in the evening, it simply turned up right outside the camp by the waterhole.


TENTS
I like tents with wooden floors. You also get very spacious tents, large bathrooms, tea tray and plenty of thermos bottles with water. The light setting is good, also if you enjoy reading in bed.

Laundry is done to perfection on a morning to evening service.

Wildlife in abundance and great varied nature is what you get in this camp.

Enjoy."

"WELCOME
I arrived by helicopter, which gave a stunning landing right next to the camp. My guide waited in a vehicle and gave me a warm welcome pointing out a few things in the camp, I could see from a short distance “on the outside.”

Camp Manager KP greeted me upon arrival. We sat down with a drink, while she took me through formalities, practicalities, and my dietary issues. Everything seemed effortless and easy. I was informed, I would be with another couple for lunches and dinners through out my visit, although it would be a new couple every day.

I would have my own guide and vehicle throughout.

WAKE UP WITH A HOT DRINK AND BUSH BREAKFAST
I love the wake-up calls that come with a fresh hot drink. I am also a great fan of getting out on tour early and enjoy a bush breakfast. That is unique and a privilege. Enjoying good laughs, anecdotes, and information with my guide, while we take breakfast, is something I really enjoy.

Each bush breakfast brought new dishes. The catering is outstanding with a keen eye on both quality, alternatives, and creativity.

If you want something, you ask, and you get a “yes, we can do.”

MAIN AREAS
There is a main area stocked with just about any type of drink, be it alcohol or soft drinks, they are available. A very smart – posh – coffee machine ensures all types of “designer coffees.” That area includes the dining tables.

You can take lunch and dinner there, however, they have a trick up their sleeves here. A chandelier with glass and candles hanging between two trees is lit close by the firepit, and a table set for dinner outside. The camp is situated a few meters from the Selinda Spillway, which just adds to the charm and romance, when you dine outside.

A second main area consists of sofas and tables, this is where we enjoyed high tea before the afternoon tours, and drinks before dinner.

Everything is high quality with an emphasis on cosiness and charm as well as comfort and safety.

TENTS
The tents are spacious and well equipped, the bathrooms are the size of a ballroom. They have white towels! You know your laundry (and they do) when you dare white towels.

The bedlinen is also white, crisp and of very appealing quality.

There is plenty of thermos bottles with chilled water available in your tent. You are also provided with a neat coffee and tea tray with cookies and the optional hot chocolate.

You will find binoculars, a yoga mat, stationary, a nice pen, and a fantastic notebook, which also serves as a book with information on wildlife. It is a gift. I love that gift, it made so much sense, thank you.

The light setting is perfect, also if you enjoy reading in the bed.

There is a walkie-talkie for contact to staff if needed.

Your private outside area comes with a sofa and a table…. baboons and the occasional lion, to name a few.

Nice comfortable soft bathrobes are available in a quality you can wear in the heat too.

HOUSEKEEPING
Every time you leave the tent, for tours, lunch, or dinner, the housekeeper checks up on water in the thermos, if anything needs to be straightened, bedlinens, towels etc. There is a constant focus on you feeling good. The tents are always spotless.

Laundry is done to perfection. A first ever for me was, the laundry is ironed. I have never stayed in a camp that includes ironing of your laundry, impressive and a delight.

WATER BOTTLE
You get a water bottle with your name on. Unlike any camp, I have been to, you just leave your bottle in the vehicle, when the tour ends. Your guide ensures the bottle is washed and refilled. When you start your tours, the clean bottle is available with fresh water and ice. Eye for detail, again. I appreciate that my bottle was washed between each tour.

ONLY INTERNET IN TENTS – SUPER
You have powerful internet in you tent – only! I love it. It ensures a good interaction with staff and guests in the main areas. To me there is nothing sadder than being in a main area of a camp with guests, and everyone is staring into a phone. GREAT idea, more camps should copy.

CATERING
We hit 46 C mid-day. What I am really impressed with is the quality of the food products used. Moreover, the fact that in the heat, the chef managed to serve fresh crisp salat leaves garnished with fresh crisp herbs. I can barely keep coriander crisp in my kitchen. Respect.

All meals came with menu choices. The dinner menu is published in a frame after lunch, and you can decide, what you would like. There is a huge flexibility, you can ask for about anything.

The chefs are eager, enterprising, and like to surprise with quality, flavours, and design of the dishing up.

GUIDE
My guide has a fantastic sense of humour, we had a lot of fun, even when we navigated cultural differences. He is a seasoned guide, who takes immense pride in sharing his knowledge, finding wildlife, and keeping you safe.

When we were to set out on the first tour, he took me through a map of Botswana, then he explained the wildlife on the eastern and western side of the spillway, and he produced a plan for my 3 nights at the camp. I fully trusted his plan, so we went with that, which turned out to be spot on.

“Finding wildlife” is no tall order here. You will find wildlife in abundance. With “finding” I mean the special things, like the Zables we saw, the swimming honey badgers, when my guide listened to a flock of zebras from afar, and felt sure, there was a kill to look at. Indeed, a cheetah had just killed a pregnant impala when we arrived. The zebras blow air through their nostrils in a distinct way when there is trouble around.

This is where I got a bit more than I expected. The cheetah left the kill to her two cubs. They were eating from the back legs, and a few times they tried to pull the kill from one tree to another. They were too small to do this yet. Mum cheetah turned up and pulled the kill, as a lesson for her cubs. They attacked the back legs again, AND suddenly they pulled out the embryo via the birth canal and started playing with it.

We joked constantly about seeing the rare pangolin. I know for a fact, that a few days after I left, a healthy pangolin was spotted in the area. I might have to come back.

The spillway is lovely, it gives amazing sightings. Early morning a flock of hyenas playing in the water, lions, leopards, giraffes, springbucks, impalas, hyenas, jackals, elephants etc., all in abundance, a list of birds as long as my arm.

At one point my guide claimed I was the easiest guest ever. I immediately responded, “there is not a single friend of mine, who will believe that.” He replied, you say what you would like, easy – easy.

The camp managers, and the guides listened to all guests, gave advise and suggestions. My guide and the camp manager KP have suggested a few camps to me. They could argue why they felt the camps will be the right choices for me. I will investigate this for sure. 2025 is waiting around the corner.

I would go back, and I highly recommend this camp. The accommodation, the main areas, the teams, the tours, the guides, the catering, the housekeeping, the stunning location, not to forget the wildlife in abundance, and the relaxed atmosphere, ALL 5 stars.

Thank you for adding to my Botswana experience. I loved every minute.

-o0o-"

"THIS REVIEW CONCERNS MY EXPERIENCE WITH CAMP KANANA in Botswana (owned by Ker & Downey.)

September 2024, booked 3 nights.

Prior to uploading on Expert Africa’s www., Tripadvisor, and other media, the report has been sent to the management with Ker & Downey. The Sales Director has replied, mostly about what other guests think, which is completely irrelevant to me – and to the users of Expert Africa’s guidance, Google reviews, and Tripadvisor.

I found Kanana Camp run in an unappealing regimented style. As a guest you need to fit into staff routines. When staff claim, you can ask for anything, well, not true. If it does not fit the regimented time schedule, their eyes fluster.

It appeared difficult for the team to assist with any requests that were out of their very set schedules.

Arrival
I got into the vehicle at the airstrip. We drove into the shade and out comes the disclaimer form which needs to be signed right there by the airstrip! This was a first, and fortunately only time that happened! All other camps manage this procedure inside the camp. I found the procedure annoying.

It surely made me understand, I was heading towards a regimented camp – OMG.

Arrival in camp
Manager Carol greeted me. We sat down in the main area and tried to have a conversation. Carol shared information on how this camp was run. Time schedules, among others.

Well – someone should consider sending the Service Design Manager on a course. It went completely overboard. I quietly counted nine (9) staff interrupting our meeting. Every time we tried to revert to our conversation someone new came over to introduce themselves.

Do you ever revisit your actions? It is impossible to remember names and faces, when you come in such numbers, and being interrupted constantly is very unpleasant and confusing.

Lunch
It was an order: “you are having lunch now.” (13.00 hours.) I very clearly felt, my lunch was a breach of the team procedures, it was something they needed to get over with. My guide and I had lunch together, not my choice, it is how the tables are set up. There was an endless number of staff constantly interrupting again. Asking about drinks, trying dish up our food, interrupting again to check everything was ok.

Noone asked if I wanted company neither at lunch nor dinnertime. I sat with a guide I just spent hours within the vehicle. We had exhausted subjects for communication. I am sure it was painful for both of us.

I noticed there were no guests in the main building and the tables are set up, so you barely see the other guests. The main area is U shaped with trees in the middle. The trees block the views between the two areas in the main camp. This made it hard to see or enjoy other guests at mealtimes.

Lunch is served at 11.00 hours, basically when you return from the morning drive. Again, the regimented style takes over. There must be staff available to welcome you back to camp, and therefore it is easy for the team to get lunch finished.

Tent No. 5 and No “0”
After lunch Carol walked me to my tent. We passed a few, and I started commenting on how far from the main area, I was going to be. I know Maruska (EA) had made notes, that I prefer not to be far from the main area. The camp was by no means full, and we passed several empty tents. When we arrived at No. 5 (feeling halfway back in my home country) Carol did say, she could move me to tent “0” next to main area. I accepted. This transpired at 14.00 hours.

The next remark takes the price for stupidity in my mind, when I heard Carol say: “you will have to wait until after your afternoon tour, the housekeepers are having their break.” Actions speaks louder than words. That remark completely encapsulates my experience; we say you can ask for anything, but we do not act it out.

While I do not want to feel entitled, I did find the above to be an issue that was not necessary. They had the notes from my agent, the mistake was entirely on the camp management in their distribution of tents. Furthermore, a price tag a little short of USD 2,000 does come with some expectations in terms of a functional camp.

I sat in tent five until high tea, left for my afternoon tour, returned for dinner, and only thereafter, could I unpack and settle in. FYI – no one was in the main area; the guests were somewhere else.

Black net
I assume someone decided to do something different and suggested black mosquito nets around the beds. I would like to ask the interior designer and camp owners, just how much time do you think it takes to identify black flies and mosquitoes against a black background? The net is not see through, which means you cannot enjoy the outside views from the bed. Interior design gone wrong.

The net also absorbs the little light, you find in the tents.

Poor lighting
The poor lighting in the tents makes the above-mentioned black nets even more hopeless. Five lamps in total, all with a yellowish light bulb. I looked for a dimmer, not available. The two bedside lamps are facing towards the ceiling and cannot be moved around, hence reading in bed is not an option. The full lighting of the tents reminds me of a night club – yellowish and dimmed. A frustrating light setting.

Water in thermos in tent
One (1) thermos bottle with chilly water is available in the tent – ONE! Bear in mind that early morning and after around 18.00 hours, you cannot go to the main area for refill, as you are only supposed to move around when escorted.

There is no fresh water available by the sink for brushing teeth. In this camp the tap water is copper/brown and not for drinking or brushing your teeth in. In all other camps, I have been to, we had average four chilly water thermos available, one hot water thermos bottle, plus one by the wash basin.

No coffee & tea tray
I have never ever in any country stayed in a camp that did not offer an appealing tray with cookies, snacks, coffee and tea and a large thermos bottle with hot water. Never. Until I got to Camp Kanana. Considering the hours when you are not supposed to walk around alone, the lack of a tray is an issue.

No flashlight available
I wonder if Ker & Downey have safety and security officers? There is no flashlight available in the tents. While I fully agree with guests not going outside alone after darkness sets in, you simply must consider safety. An animal charging a tent, a fire, an unwell guest, loss of power, to name a few. To me it spells lack of security big time, and I found this very alarming.

Water bottle
This is the only camp that did not provide a private water bottle with a name tag. There are some transparent water bottles with screw lids available by the water tank in the main area. They did not look completely clean; they have stains on them. That would be ok, unless – I unscrewed the lid of a bottle and saw traces of lip sun block or something similar, and the bottle smelled very unappealing, so that is a no thank you.

I don´t find it respectful to pull out a bottle carrying another company name in a camp, but I had to in this situation.

Banging my knees against a metal rod in the vehicle
I have never seen such small safari guest vehicles. I wonder what a big man does. I am 184 cm. I sat with my kneecaps against a metal rod. Every time the vehicle “jumped,” I banged my knees. That was painful to put it mildly.

Morning coffee
They wake you up at 05.00 hours with a cup of coffee or tea. Well, á cup literally. God forbid you would enjoy two cups.

It was a freezing cold morning and the below arrived at my tent, on a tray. I has asked for instant coffee, and I did write hot water, on the note.

There was about enough water for one cup. I bet you can imagine, how freezing cold the cup was, being walked through the camp to the tent. The water had gone lukewarm. You cannot make instant coffee with lukewarm water and in any case it was a complete let down. How can this even be, I mean, I am not the first camp guest?

Schedule
05.00 – wake up, supposedly with a hot drink
05.30 – escort to main camp - breakfast
06.00 – departure morning tour of about five hours
11.00 – LUNCH upon return to camp
16.00 – high tea
16.30 – departure afternoon tour about 3½ hours – the last 1½ hour in complete darkness
20.00 – dinner

No wildlife
I saw a leopard cub only because an adult with a cub had been found earlier in the day. When we arrived after 50 (50) minutes’ drive, the mum was not with her cub, so we looked for her for a while. On the same tour we saw two lions in a tree. Bar that a few impalas, and four elephants.

Coming from three camps in areas with wildlife in abundance, this area was a major let down. The tour felt more like a search and rescue mission than a tour in the wild. I sensed my guide’s worry about this too. He confirmed that what we saw that afternoon, would be what I should expect throughout my 3 (three) night’s stay at short of USD 2,000 per night.

I appreciate wildlife does what wildlife do, however, this was completely ridiculous. You travel in Botswana for wildlife. Hours in a vehicle just hoping is by no means a real safari.

Between them the guides did not share info on sightings. I did suggest my guide to radio the other guides when we saw two lions in a tree. That is what colleagues do in other camps.

BORROW A GUEST PONCHO … OR NOT
It was freezing cold the morning; I was at the camp.

My flight out of Scandinavia was 2 hours delayed, I had 19 minutes to get to the MRU flight, and I did. Long legs, flat shoes, and determination. However, one of my suitcases did not make it.

Hence, I was a little underdressed for the morning tour.

When I got into the vehicle, I looked for a poncho in the box, there was none. I asked the camp manager if the camp offered ponchos, he replied: “we only use ponchos if it rains, you can purchase a jacket in the shop.” While he was pointing to the jacket the guide was wearing. Again, the service delivery fails completely.

They claim to offer service?? This was at 06.00 hours in the morning.

TIME TO GO
The list of issues that irritated me, coming from really appealing well run relaxed camps, are endless, as you can see. To be fair to the team and to look after myself, I called it 30 minutes into the morning drive the next day. No wildlife in 30 minutes. I struggled with the chilly water delivered to my tent, and I had to struggle at breakfast getting HOT water and a HOT cup to do a HOT coffee – I mean really? It became irritating. Everything was time consuming, and by the time they came with HOT water in a thermos bottle, well – it was time to leave.

I was offered Okuti and Shinde, an hour into the work to relocate me. When I asked about wildlife; eyes flustered, and a candid person replied, “same as here.” That means NO WILDLIFE. I therefore decided it was in my best interest to leave.

I regret having to upset people, but I saw no reason to sit the above out to please anyone. The price tag is hefty, so are the promises on their website.

MEETING IN MAUN
I met the Ker & Downey Assistant General Manager and the Inbound Markets person in Maun. The Inbound Markets person met me at the airport too.

The Inbound Market responsible person had the same behaviour as the camp team. Already in the airport AND in the 15 min. transfer, she kept asking, why I left. MADNESS!

I was just out of a camp, where I most likely upset a few people, I had been in a plane for two hours – give me a break! I insisted I needed a bathroom, and fortunately the GM at my new lodge (who reads people and situations well), came to my rescue and insisted, we went to my room first.

I did address the lunch and dinner times at the meeting. The Ker & Downey Ass. General Manager highlighted the high tea served in camps at 16.00 hours. Dinner is served at 20.00 hours. Lunch at 11.00. High tea is not a meal, it is snacks, cakes etc. For most people it is a rare occasion and not a healthy meal.

To me the timings for the lunch and dinner are too far apart. NINE hours, let me write that again, there are NINE hours between lunch and dinner.

I was charged in full and have paid my two nights in the new accommodation, and I also paid short of USD 2,000 per night at the camp I left after one night.

How other guests experienced their stay, has no positive impact on my experiences, as I am sure you agree with.

(Photo documentation is available on TripAdvisor and Google.

Look for the lovely well run camps in the Kalahari, Linyanti and especially along the Selinda Spillway.

-o0o-"