Travel reviews by LetsGoPens from USA
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
2
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
My May 2024 trip
Botswana and 1 other country between 24 May 2024 and 2 Jun 2024
We worked with Tom to plan our trip, and he was nothing short of exceptional. Patient and attentive, he crafted an itinerary that perfectly matched our interests. Tom's knowledge and creativity were evident in every detail, and he organized the trip flawlessly. From suggesting the overall structure of our journey, selecting the perfect places to stay, arranging transportation, and even accommodating our vegetarian dietary needs, everything was executed perfectly. Not a single glitch occurred throughout the trip, even as we crossed multiple borders and transitioned from a mobile safari to a lodge—everything went smoothly. A truly remarkable job.
This once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list journey turned out to be such a marvelous success for our entire group (age range: 25-65 years) that we all returned with the desire to do it all over again.
Thank you, Tom, our wonderful guides and support teams, and the lovely people of Botswana for giving us the opportunity to experience the best possible vacation."
Arranged By Tom Morris
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Ilala Lodge
"Ilala Lodge review"
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Hippo
1 sighting
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Botswana Private Mobile Safari
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari review"
The guide was highly knowledgeable, spotting many animals and eagerly sharing information. The support team did an amazing job preparing (vegetarian) meals, setting up tents, providing hot water for bucket showers, and the little things like a constant supply of cold beverages, board games, local maps, etc.
Dinner under the endless, starry sky with the sounds of animals in the background was an unforgettable treat. Every single day, we observed lions, leopards, elephants, hippos, giraffes, antelopes, wildebeests, kudus, warthogs, zebra, and many other animals and birds.
The mobile safari is a bit rough, but worth every single second!"
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Aardvark
2 sightings
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Buffalo
8 sightings
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Elephant
10+ sightings
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Giraffe
10+ sightings
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Hippo
10+ sightings
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Leopard
6 sightings
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Lion
10+ sightings
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Roan antelope
10+ sightings
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Sable antelope
10+ sightings
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Wildebeest
10+ sightings
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Zebra
10+ sightings
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4 Rivers
"4 Rivers review"
Our guide, Broks, and tracker, JD, did an amazing job identifying a vast variety of animals. We saw lions, leopards, a huge number of elephants, impalas, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wild dogs, kudus, wildebeest, ostriches, warthogs, lechwe, bushbucks, jackals, baboons, crocodiles, mongooses, tsessebes, antelopes, an endless number of birds, and many more. The ability of the guide and tracker to track animals from a distance, using clues from animal behavior, was simply remarkable.
The guide was an endless source of information, and we learned so much from him. They were so comfortable in this remote environment that they could return to a specific tree where, hours earlier, we had spotted a leopard climbing with its prey.
The accommodation was spotless, very comfortable, beautifully decorated, and fully equipped. The balcony overlooks a lagoon where animals come to drink and bathe, right before your eyes. The only downside was the lack of nighttime heating, which made it a bit cold considering the outside temperature of 10°C. The staff was extremely friendly and eager to help in any way they could to enhance the experience.
This was meant to be a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list trip, but we all (age range: 25-65 years) enjoyed it so much that we want to do it all over again. We've traveled almost the entire globe, and this trip was one of the best we've ever had—if not *the* best. What an amazing experience!"
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Aardvark
2 sightings
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Buffalo
8 sightings
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Elephant
10+ sightings
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Giraffe
10+ sightings
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Hippo
10+ sightings
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Leopard
8 sightings
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Lion
10+ sightings
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Roan antelope
10+ sightings
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Sable antelope
10+ sightings
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Wild dog
5 sightings
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Wildebeest
10+ sightings
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Zebra
10+ sightings
The rooms are beautiful, spacious, and very well-maintained. The staff are welcoming and always ready to help with whatever is needed. The food is excellent. And on top of all that, the wildlife visiting your porch is amazing. We saw hippos, impala, monkeys, and a variety of birds.
The staff knew it was our birthday, so a birthday cake was waiting for us in the room upon arrival—a sweet (pun intended) surprise."