Travel reviews by Mrs & Mr D from California

"Lebala was a perfect place to start our Botswana experience. Staff met us at the entry bridge with a refreshing drink, described how each day would flow, and escorted us to our tent for a several-hour siesta -- much welcomed after 2 nights on an airplane.

Their food was delicious and drinks were self-serve whenever we wanted. The gift shop features very nice motswana-made items. Game driver and outrider (perched on a seat just over the front left tire) made a superb team. These guys must be part eagle; their eyesight is quite amazing. Each tent includes bug spray both for body and for room space, and the outdoor shower was a delight. All the staff deserve a good review. They even invited me to radio them from our next camp so they could sing Happy Birthday to me over the radio!

Nights were full of animal noises, notably hippo grazing our lawn, glistening in the moonlight. For this I am happy to wake up and then look up to be awed by the vast richness of the African night sky.

We found the afternoon game drive lasting up to about 8pm followed by supper at 8:15/8:30 was a bit late and unproductive in terms of game spotting or viewing though being out in the fresh delta air is a wonderful thing. While our fellow camp guests provided very free and stimulating conversation during and after meals, we found ourselves heading down the path to bed right after eating because we were tired, thus going to bed with full tummies instead of having time for food to digest a bit. However, I understand that sometimes we had to be out late just to return from the far-flung corners of the Lebala concession where the guys had spotted big cats.

If it were up to Jim and me, we'd be heading out on game drives by 3:30, back in camp by 7 pm, eating by 7:30, and having time around the 'bush TV' (fire pit) for an hour before going off to tents. Other than this small schedule suggestion we absolutely loved Lebala and would certainly go back."

"We went to Little Kwara after starting in Lebala and are glad the trip was arranged this way. LK's more Teddy Roosevelt-style accommodations were perfectly placed on stilts under big trees. They provided all we needed though they are a bit dark. Perhaps next time they refresh the tent material they can stitch in some panels of waterproof transparent material to make skylights. We eventually figured out that we could make our windows a bit more private by raising the internal window-cover panels though in the very still air this made things a little stuffy. Excellent outdoor shower and double sinks and a good kerosene lantern at night for the toilet room lent a luxury camping feel.

The staff were lovely and very willing to share information about their traditions; we learned a lot of history and culture here. Being somewhat smaller than Lebala where we started, this camp's intimacy allowed us to get to know our hosts and fellow guests. I celebrated a birthday in this camp and much to my surprise over supper that night the staff delivered a candle-lit cake, bottle of champagne, and a lovely gift while offering a traditional song and dance. I will always remember this birthday.

As with Lebala, we would have preferred to start our afternoon game drive a bit earlier and be back in camp by 7 pm for an earlier supper so we could sit around the 'bush TV' (campfire) to chat in the beautiful evening air rather than coming in later, eating later, and going to bed tired with full tummies. On our night drives we did see lions and have a humorously memorable adventure with a failed vehicle (which camp staff immediately remedied). A boat trip on the delta to visit the heronry in a gentle drizzly rain will remain a mental highlight; I would swear that Walt Disney's staff a half-century ago got their idea for The Jungle Cruise from this very ride.

We'd go back. It was wonderful."

"The Airport Grand was just fine for what we needed: a safe, affordable and comfortable place near the airport. Their free internet service allowed us to catch up on emails half-way through our entire trip, so I give them high marks for that.

We arranged a private guide/driver to take us from this hotel around Jozi for a half-day cultural tour though the hotel's concierge desk could have also arranged this for us.

Lovely people, bounteous breakfast included in the room rate."