Travel reviews by Mr and Mrs B from Herts
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
4
Excursions taken
0
My September 2023 trip
Botswana between 31 Aug 2023 and 13 Sep 2023
"Probably the best safari experience we have had.
We particularly enjoyed the tracking off-road, the stunning game viewing and the very knowledgeable guides and trackers on the 3 concessions we visited. The camps were super, the staff were lovely and the connections by air were seamless.
We got to see our number one priority which was wild dogs and so much more besides. Notable was the number of leopard, elephants, lions and cheetah. Botswana is not the place to see rhino (having been poached heavily in recent years) or crocodiles (of which we saw surprisingly few), but otherwise the game is extensive.
The comparatively high cost of Botswana as a safari destination certainly paid off in terms of a truly memorable trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do.
We found it very useful to be able to look at what sightings had been recorded from various locations, although we have been told some other agencies do not publish this information in case it helps inform poachers. How much truth there is in this, we do not know. But it may be worth looking into what evidence, if any, there is that it poses a risk."
We particularly enjoyed the tracking off-road, the stunning game viewing and the very knowledgeable guides and trackers on the 3 concessions we visited. The camps were super, the staff were lovely and the connections by air were seamless.
We got to see our number one priority which was wild dogs and so much more besides. Notable was the number of leopard, elephants, lions and cheetah. Botswana is not the place to see rhino (having been poached heavily in recent years) or crocodiles (of which we saw surprisingly few), but otherwise the game is extensive.
The comparatively high cost of Botswana as a safari destination certainly paid off in terms of a truly memorable trip.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep doing what you do.
We found it very useful to be able to look at what sightings had been recorded from various locations, although we have been told some other agencies do not publish this information in case it helps inform poachers. How much truth there is in this, we do not know. But it may be worth looking into what evidence, if any, there is that it poses a risk."
Arranged By Lucy Copson
Lagoon Camp
"Lagoon Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
2 Sep 2023
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Lebala Camp
"Lebala Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
5 Sep 2023
"Because of the re-scheduling of our visit to Lagoon, our first camp was Lebala. This is in a dry region of the delta (at the time of our visit in early September) The camp is pleasant, but fairly basic; we understand it is one of the oldest camps in the group.
The staff were great, the food was generally very good, and the guide and tracker were a delight. We were very keen to see wild dogs, but we were told there had been no sightings for a fortnight. And despite the efforts of our guide, we failed to find them. But this was more than made up for by the wildlife we did see.
There is no doubt, these guys were skilled trackers and the off-road experience was truly amazing."
The staff were great, the food was generally very good, and the guide and tracker were a delight. We were very keen to see wild dogs, but we were told there had been no sightings for a fortnight. And despite the efforts of our guide, we failed to find them. But this was more than made up for by the wildlife we did see.
There is no doubt, these guys were skilled trackers and the off-road experience was truly amazing."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Good
Facilities
Good
Sightings report
Kwara Camp
"Kwara Camp review"
3 nights
Arrived
8 Sep 2023
"Due to rescheduling of our trip, we spent 4 nights in Kwara instead of 3. This turned out to be a very good thing. The camp was the smartest of the 4 on our trip and was really excellent.
The staff were brilliant, the guide and tracker were not only excellent but great fun too and the food was super. The staff even treated us to singing and dancing, and sundowners each evening.
But best of all was the game viewing; the most exciting we have seen anywhere in Africa (and we have been on safari in various places over the years). We saw wild dogs hunting and making a kill (fascinating, if gruesome), a group of wild dog puppies seeing off two hyenas that were stalking them, leopards and leopard cubs, cheetahs (inclusing one that had just made a kill), lions galore (including a tree-climbing pride), Sable antelopes, Roan antelopes, large herds of buffalo..... Even the night viewing was productive with sightings of Serval, Genet, Wild cat, Spring hares, leopard, lion and more. Quite exceptional.
The tracking was very impressive and quite often productive which added to the experience enormously."
The staff were brilliant, the guide and tracker were not only excellent but great fun too and the food was super. The staff even treated us to singing and dancing, and sundowners each evening.
But best of all was the game viewing; the most exciting we have seen anywhere in Africa (and we have been on safari in various places over the years). We saw wild dogs hunting and making a kill (fascinating, if gruesome), a group of wild dog puppies seeing off two hyenas that were stalking them, leopards and leopard cubs, cheetahs (inclusing one that had just made a kill), lions galore (including a tree-climbing pride), Sable antelopes, Roan antelopes, large herds of buffalo..... Even the night viewing was productive with sightings of Serval, Genet, Wild cat, Spring hares, leopard, lion and more. Quite exceptional.
The tracking was very impressive and quite often productive which added to the experience enormously."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
Sable Alley
"Sable Alley review"
2 nights
Arrived
11 Sep 2023
"Sable Alley is a private reserve rather than a concession. This meant one could not go off-road to the same extent as on the concessions. And there was only a guide rather than guide plus tracker.
The camp was very pleasant, the staff were friendly and the food was very good. Our guide was alright, but no more than that. He did not seem to be as enthusiastic as guides at the other camps we visited and not as competent.
Altogether, the experience felt more commercial and stripped down.
The game viewing was good, but not stunning so we neither had complaints, nor felt it was a highlight of the trip."
The camp was very pleasant, the staff were friendly and the food was very good. Our guide was alright, but no more than that. He did not seem to be as enthusiastic as guides at the other camps we visited and not as competent.
Altogether, the experience felt more commercial and stripped down.
The game viewing was good, but not stunning so we neither had complaints, nor felt it was a highlight of the trip."
Good
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Good
Location
Good
Service
Average
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Sightings report
It was a very pleasant camp, lovely staff a super guide and tracker. The game viewing was terrific. We saw lots of leopards, lion and elephant.
A highlight was seeing a pack of wild dogs for the first time."