Travel reviews by Andy & Karen from Malvern

"A good lodge for overnighting in Maun.

Friendly staff and good facilities close to the airport in a small private reserve.

Can watch Giraffe feeding if you wish."

"Tau Pan is the last remaining permanent camp in the CKGR and as such is a great place from which to explore the NP. The rooms are large and well appointed on a ridge looking out over Tau Pan and to the Kalahari beyond. There is a large communal lounge and dining area, plus a small pool. It's a great place for star gazing, and there is the option of an overnight in a star bed. The food was excellent and plentiful.

NB There is no mobile signal nor wifi at the camp. There is a very weak internet connection at the office. No big issue unless you're the guest who blew the emergency horn 4 times because they couldn't get online....

We specifically came to see the desert in bloom and that's what we got. Wildflowers were plentiful amongst the grass and trumpet thorn. We saw good numbers of Oryx, Steenbok and various other game. The local Tau Pan Pride were about but we saw no other cats. We had some great sightings of Bat Eared Fox and clocked up 10 different raptor species in 3 days which is pretty impressive!

One of the challenges at Tau Pan for wildlife viewing is that you are restricted to the roads so wildlife is often at a significant distance. This can make it extremely challenging for photographers (a 600mm doesn't touch it). We knew this going in, but were still slightly surprised at the relatively few roads and that, for example, there wasn't a single track across Tau Pan - plenty of game but just dots in the distance. The animals can also be quite skittish - herds of Oryx mostly turned tail and ran, which may be a result of self drivers chasing them or simply a lack of confidence around safari vehicles.

One of the activities is a day drive out along Passarge Valley and across Deception Valley. This was good for getting a feel of the landscape and the beauty of Deception Valley, but again was characterised by pretty low animal sightings, particularly the last 90 minutes (an observation shared by other guests).

Overall we were pleased we went to the see the area, and having visited Botswana twice before the compromise on close encounters was ok for us. Just set your expectations accordingly, particularly if you are visiting in green season."

"I can't imagine there is anywhere else in Africa quite like Jacks Camp.

Our 250m square tent, decorated in the late Victorian / Edwardian style with a touch of Moroccan spice, was only missing Carson the butler! Two double beds, a day bed, two outside beds, a chaise longe, sofa, umpteen armchairs, bureau, in and outdoor ablutions....you get the picture! Mix in some essential modern amenities and you have great accommodation. The only issue was forgetting where you put something down! The communal area was scaled to match, with its own museum / set of 'cabinets of curiosities', vast dining area, high tea tent and lounges. Everyone should go once just to experience it.

As with all the best camps, however, all this largesse would be utterly pointless if the team of people running it were not simply outstanding and they are. They somehow make all of this 'work'. Never have we stayed in a place where every single member of staff was so 'on point' - there when you need them, slipping into the background when you are chatting with other guests, and friendly and welcoming without once seeming forced. One of the reasons we had come back to the salt pans was because of our experience at the 'more rustic' Camp Kalahari which emitted exactly the same friendly vibe - I was unsure we would find it at its bigger and posher sister camp Jacks but it was there in spades. They are of course super efficient and knowledgeable, not least our number one favourite guide in the whole of Africa - Booster. What a star and a veritable Alexa of knowledge. Thanks buddy.

We visited in green season to try and catch the Zebra migration which we did - a couple of times witnessing huge numbers which was great. The water in the pans makes for an amazing contrast with our previous winter visit, although we just missed the arrival of the Flamingoes. Plenty of game around, lots of Jackal action, although only one lion encounter despite the prolific number of young game. We witnessed the first minutes of a Zebra foal which was pretty special, and of course visited the Meerkats to see a tiny three week old pup (hats off to the Meerkat guardians who spend so much time habituating these feisty little animals).

Anyone visiting Botswana should add a visit to the pans and this concession into their itinerary - it adds some great variety to the 'standard' safari experience."

"As part of our green season safari we chose to visit the Kwai private concession - a place we had good feedback on - and experience the Delta at a different time. It is worth saying this was not our first choice camp as we had wanted to stay in the simpler Little Sable but had been relocated at short notice as the operator had closed the camp for maintenance.

The camp communal area is modern and stylish and the food was outstanding - the chef KT is a real star! All the staff were friendly and efficient, although we did have a problem in our tent for 36 hours with no hot water. To us, the tents seemed pretty close together and we could clearly hear the only other guest in camp on his phone and watching programs, drowning out the sounds of the African night - the curse of modern technology! For us, this camp just didn't have that 'feel'. Guiding was ok, but seemed more oriented to families / less experienced safari goers, and the friendly approach seemed a little forced.

Animal sightings were hard to come by with the marshes / floodplains pretty full, the grass lush and high, and the mopane woodland in full leaf. Again we knew this would be the case coming in green season. Our 3 night stay was made by a 'three leopard day', a remarkable encounter at any time of the year. A big male, female and sub-adult male cub all offered good viewing opportunities. It is worth knowing that the female is well habituated and resident around the more upmarket Tuludi Camp - we had all our best sightings around this area. Good herds of elephants were also a highlight.

All in all okay, but not a camp we would return to."

"Only used as an overnighter but comfortable and friendly in a nice position on the river.

The driver who looked after us here (whose name I sadly cannot remember) really helped us out re the lost luggage. He drove us around Maun shopping and also helped with a local SIM card purchase."

"This camp may be the least 'glamorous' of the three on the concession but for us it was a perfect balance of comfort and safari experience, with some fantastic wildlife viewing thrown in.
The tents / rooms are well appointed and comfortable, and well spaced out to give you a sense of being in the bush. The lounge and dining tent is a great space to relax or chat, and the food really was excellent.
The staff were amongst the most welcoming and friendly of all our many stays in Africa, and it was they that give it a homely feel whilst hitting consistently high standards of service. We loved the friendly banter that fills the airwaves between the vehicles from the different camps.
The wildlife sightings exceeded our expectations - good game, lion, the fattest jackel I have ever seen and a very special time with the meerkats. Plus we saw Brown Hyena which was a first for us. Lots of nocturnal critters on the night drives. The camp also offers walks and quad biking for a variety of experience.
This really opened our eyes to the possibilities of the Kalahari and Makgadikgadi, so we will look to return one day."

"The tents here are spacious, very comfortable, well appointed and spaced out with views to the surrounding marsh. Passing wildlife give the feeling of a bush stay, even spotting a local male leopard from the balcony of our room. The food is good, and the staff friendly.
Of the three Kwando camps we visited, this camp offers a really interesting mix of terrain and hence wildlife viewing in our opinion. River, water holes, pans, grassland (some flooded in July) and mixed forest areas made for interesting and varied game drives and sightings. Good predator and game, with a honey badger eating a snake a real highlight/ bonus!
Our guide Elvis was excellent and a real model for others- knowledgeable, calm, in tune with the needs of his guests and fun as well. He and our tracker Dredd were great company for our 3 days, tracking down and spotting some great wildlife."

"The third of our Kwando camps and this is the place to finish your stay in the Delta.
Undoubtedly the best appointed camp we have ever stayed in, the rooms are the definition of safari luxury, capacious with superb interiors and with bath, indoor and outdoor showers. Each overlooking the lagoon, the 'tents' are serviced by two swimming pools at either end of the camp. We have never looked forward to going back to our tent so much! The food was amazing - hats off to the chefs - and there was no shortage of eating opportunities.
This luxury is worthless however without superb staff and service, and these guys really do knock it out of the park. From the managers Charles and Tom down through every member of staff they understand the importance of personal, friendly but spot on service. Thanks to everyone of you for making our time in camp so special.
Our guide Shime and tracker Luke are a first class team and worked exceptionally hard to find what we wanted to see and to spend time with it. Their knowledge and skills are fantastic, knowing when tracking needs to be replaced by patience for an unforgettable wildlife experience.
The environment here is stunning, but also offers its own challenges at times of flood. Crossing the marshy areas to switch islands and track game is not always possible, and sightings through the long grass are sometimes a challenge. But we were treated to some very special wildlife sightings that we will never forget so it was absolutely worth the 4 nights we spent here."

"This is a special lodge, set amongst and within the granite boulders of the Matopo landscape, and a good base for exploring the sites of Matopo NP.

The rooms are designed to reflect the surrounding landscape, moulded around boulders and utilizing the crevices of the cliff face against which it sits. But this is no Fred Flintstone experience and the rooms are spacious, well furnished and cleverly designed. We stayed in Room 3 and frankly could have fitted a coach party in there! Its is one of the lower rooms (good if you are a little unsteady on your feet), but I would have chosen a room up above the elevated dining level given a choice.

Billy and the staff were all very friendly and attentive, the food excellent. Bit more choice on the soft drinks would be nice for us non drinkers!

Good guide took us around the local sites and into the park, although wildlife pretty scarce. Come here for the rhino tracking and landscapes."

"Due to a booking error we got upgraded to Somalisa Camp from nearby Somalisa Expeditions so understand this type of luxury camp is not our first choice when reading this feedback.

The facilities are obviously outstanding - luxury tents, copper baths, a wood burner(!) in tent, plus small pool and high quality furnishings in private and public areas. Staff were delightful (a feature of all three African Bush Camps we visited) and guides excellent in quality vehicles. If this is what you like then you will not be disappointed!

What surprised us, however, was how close the sister camp of Somalisa Acacia was i.e right on top of it, enabling it to act as a single entity for large groups. Our tent #7 looked onto the back of Acacia and was certainly less than 100m from it. We dropped the curtains to give us a sense of privacy. This was no intimate Bush experience, and was therefore not for us. Other tents had more privacy but it is still a sizeable complex."

"If you want to stay in a small, traditional safari camp with great food, guides and service then this is the place for you.

A good distance away from the glitz of Somalisa Camp this intimate 6 tent camp is set in amongst trees with simple but delightful facilities. The tents are spacious, the beds are super comfortable and the en-suite outside showers solar powered - a little bracing on a cold evening but refreshing at the end of your game drive.

Food was excellent, served in the main tent where an open fire kept off the chill. A pump fed pond attracts elephants to within feet of the deck.

Our guide David was very knowledgeable and because of the link to the nearby big sister camps had many eyes looking for game on the drives.

We would highly recommend this camp, our favourite in Zimbabwe.More"

"This is a fantastic simple camp on the banks of the Zambezi run by a truly wonderful team.

The tents are not luxurious but are clean and very comfortable, looking out over the Zambezi River to the hills of Zambia beyond. Outside en-suite facilities include perfectly acceptable bucket showers and heated water in the mornings or when you want it. To lie in bed listening to the sound of hippos and other camp visitors at night is the archetypal African experience and this is the place to do it (Africa as it used to be).

Without doubt it is the staff, however, who turn this camp from good to brilliant. It was like staying with friends for 3 nights and we wish we could have stayed longer. Every single person in camp was a delight and a credit to African Bush Camps."