Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs W from Lichfield
Review Distribution
Total number of trips
1
Countries visited
1
Lodges stayed in
3
Excursions taken
0
We chose - Expert Africa delivered
Botswana between 8 Mar 2010 and 24 Mar 2010
"We were able to select our own itinerary in the Okavango delta, with first Susannah then Lucy Copson taking account of every aspect. Un-anticipated health issues led to on-off-on reservations, which were handled with patience, understanding and efficiency while we negotiated with hospitals and insurers. This provided much re-assurance at a time of some anxiety.
The unexpected closure of Mapula camp (early flood) meant a change of plan, which was handled with exemplary efficiency by Expert Africa and every consideration by Eve at Nxamaseri as we re-scheduled for Kanana. (Eve and Jack at Nxamaseri commented that Expert Africa is the best agency which they deal with.)
We understand that the Botswana government policy of restricting tourist access to the Oakvango delta - which appears to be working - does not exclude Botswana residents from visiting and using less up-market facilities. We could not help being aware of our privileged status, and hope that the country and in particular local communities are able to benefit.
We were impressed with the professional expertise of the three chief guides who cared for us, different personalities as they were. They had excellent English, as well as detailed knowledge to impart on particular species and the ecology of the delta as a whole.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work!"
The unexpected closure of Mapula camp (early flood) meant a change of plan, which was handled with exemplary efficiency by Expert Africa and every consideration by Eve at Nxamaseri as we re-scheduled for Kanana. (Eve and Jack at Nxamaseri commented that Expert Africa is the best agency which they deal with.)
We understand that the Botswana government policy of restricting tourist access to the Oakvango delta - which appears to be working - does not exclude Botswana residents from visiting and using less up-market facilities. We could not help being aware of our privileged status, and hope that the country and in particular local communities are able to benefit.
We were impressed with the professional expertise of the three chief guides who cared for us, different personalities as they were. They had excellent English, as well as detailed knowledge to impart on particular species and the ecology of the delta as a whole.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Keep up the good work!"
Arranged By Lucy Copson
Nxamaseri Lodge
"Glad to have started on the Panhandle"
5 nights
Arrived
9 Mar 2010
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Pom Pom Camp
"Pompom for game and birds"
5 nights
Arrived
14 Mar 2010
"The programme at Pompom turned out to be less rigid than our first impressions: there needed to be a framework to accommodate the number of visitors, and Paul and his colleagues (guides) went out of their way to allow us to follow our particular interests. Paul's ability to locate game was outstanding, and we were unprepared for the animals' familiarity with vehicles as they went about their normal lives: watching a leopard hunt beside the car is an experience which we will not forget. Walking with Paul was fascinating as he shared his bush-craft and -lore.
The camp managers took good care of visitors, and the staff were always helpful.
Our guide who took us fishing was not familiar with the requirements of anglers using fly, but was ready to learn."
The camp managers took good care of visitors, and the staff were always helpful.
Our guide who took us fishing was not familiar with the requirements of anglers using fly, but was ready to learn."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Kanana
"Kanana for landscape, with life"
4 nights
Arrived
19 Mar 2010
"Although Kanana is only two minutes' flight from Pompom (we could have travelled by car and boat), its setting was distinctive: ridges above the flood level gave scope for varied woodland around the open swamps and 'pasture'. This provided more cover for game than at Pompom, though birdlife was equally in evidence, and we observed more plants and trees.
Shakes and his colleagues are excellent guides, able to spot Pels fishing owls in thick foliage and knowledgeable on all aspects of wildlife. They willingly took us by vehicle, foot and boat to a range of sites, without spending a long time photographing sleeping lions.
We had come to expect excellent service from managers and staff, and were not disappointed at Kanana: we were served with humour as well as consideration, which made for a very relaxed stay."
Shakes and his colleagues are excellent guides, able to spot Pels fishing owls in thick foliage and knowledgeable on all aspects of wildlife. They willingly took us by vehicle, foot and boat to a range of sites, without spending a long time photographing sleeping lions.
We had come to expect excellent service from managers and staff, and were not disappointed at Kanana: we were served with humour as well as consideration, which made for a very relaxed stay."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent
Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Maybe because we were the only visitors, this was a less formal camp than the two we stayed in in the delta. The excellent cooking and meals were 'home' rather than hotel-style.
This is not a location to be visited if big game viewing is an objective, as its brochures make clear. But it is an outstanding facility for appreciating the ecology of the delta, with people who have both the expertise and the commitment - and the literature - to explain it.
NB to anglers: for tigerfish, take standard big pike spinners with good quality hooks, and the best traces you can find (at least 20lbs bs.) Lightish rod OK."