One of our clients recently returned from a safari holiday in Botswana and Victoria Falls. Here’s what they had to say about their time!
Been back for a week now and had a brilliant time in Botswana and Zambia.
All arrangements went like clockwork.
Agree Meet and Greet at Jo’burg was invaluable on the way out. We could not check the luggage straight through either way so had to enter and exit SA twice.
BA flights were extremely cramped and hot, and their service only average. By contrast, the Air Botswana cabin crew were delightful!
On arriving at Maun, we had to wait for the President of Botswana’s plane to land before we could take off.
Okovango Delta is flooding early this year, deep water to drive through to reach Baines Camp.
We were the only visitors, what luxury having an entire camp to ourselves. It might have been the rainy season, but apart from one thunderstorm, it was warm and sunny throughout. Apparently in the winter it gets as cold as 8 degrees. At Baines, all the staff were outside to greet us with a song! Activities included a fishing trip and 3 game drives. We saw a pack of 12 wild dogs two days running, and also two lionesses with six cubs.
The staff were lovely, and on our last (second) night prepared a table for a candlelit dinner for two by the pool.
Chief’s Camp was being run by two young South Africans.
It had less of a local feel, but again was very welcoming and for the first night we were the only guests. We were there for Valentine’s Day. We were both given special gifts by the staff. In the afternoon they arranged a surprise afternoon tea in the bush, the chef came too and we had sparkling wine and strawberries in the middle of nowhere, then we had a mokoro trip back to camp, one mokoro each!
At Chobe Chilwero there are an amazing number of elephants and hippos. Again we had 3 game drives and a boat trip. The lodge didn’t quite have the atmosphere of the others but there was a local dance display one evening and a chance to make our own pizza. Our guide was perhaps the weakest here.
We then took a private ferry across the Zambezi to Zambia. Sussi and Chuma was my favourite I think, the staff were absolutely charming and the treehouse was amazing, looking out over the river. Highlights there included a sunset cruise, Victoria Falls (in full flow at present, we got soaked), a local village, very humbling, and the a game drive and a walk on foot to within 10 yards of a white rhino. On the last morning before our flight, we went “walking with lions” – there is a project almost next door, we took two 15 month old lions for an hour’s walk stroked them and one licked my hand. This was an extra, but very special.
Thank you for all your hard work and do recommend this trip!
