Botswana Wildlife Safari

The whole experience was absolutely amazing. Accommodation was well thought out and the wild camping was well equipped with en-suite facilities. The itinerary was superb and we were surprised at how many of the animals we saw and at close quarter. Our tour leader was excellent his knowledge of the animal’s behaviour added to our experience. Our first safari but not our last would highly recommend.

Botswana Wildlife Safari trip was for me a life experience that I will never forget. Don't tell too many people as presently its quiet and a raw experience to be able to see wildlife in the wild, too many visitors would spoil that. Camping is not my thing but well worth the experience. The wildlife is so plentiful you cannot help but be amazed, the sunsets and sunrises so special and above all we were able to view the animals close by and not interrupt the way they lived/survived. You will return with many stories to retell.

As Explore state, this is a FULL-ON safari, lots of time in the jeep but you don't really notice it as there is always something to see/experience. The wildlife density far exceeded expectations and the knowledge of our guide Joe was exceptional, as was his ability to anticipate where to position us for the best viewing experience. Wild dogs, leopards, lions, giraffes, elephants, buffalos, hippos, cheetahs, jackals, zebras, a whole mix of antelope and myriad of bird life that kept our 'twitcher' group members very happy indeed! You will not be disappointed, this is a great trip! Tips: - In the dry season, it is cold in the mornings/nights, pack LAYERS, and include a pair of gloves, a beanie, some thermals, warm fleece/jacket and something windproof. Use packing cubes in your bag, helps when moving around so much. - Ladies: Take loo roll/tissues with you for the 'bush wee' stops...and don't forget some eco friendly dog poo bags for putting your loo paper/tissue in after a 'bush wee' so you can dispose of it in camp properly later! It's evident some tourists are not so thoughtful or litter conscious...don't be one of them! - Namibia Visa: ENSURE you get one online beforehand! Yes - The Namibian government website for online applications is a nightmare, BUT keep trying and do so well before your departure. Alternatively use a third party and just ****-up the extra they charge, as VISA ON ARRIVAL is a lottery!! Five out of eight of our group had not got visas beforehand, having given up with the online application process, and the solo border guard would not process Visas on Arrival for them. Just said his colleague was off and he couldn't do it. This left us sat at the border for 2 hours whilst alternatives were explored of how to get the five back to Victoria Falls. Then suddenly another border supervisor appeared and they got their visas processed but not without a lot of upset and stress. Some things that could be improved: - It seemed a lot of driving for our single driver/guide to do alone. With 4 days between 250-350km and the last day over 500km, and that without game drives added in. - The houseboat was a bit of an anticlimax, somewhat tired and could do with some TLC. It only moved about a kilometre upstream and then moored-up, but the launch trips from it were excellent, particularly for bird spotting. - Explore: Link with a third party to sort the Namibia visas out for your clients. Or at least, DO NOT ADVISE that Visa on Arrival is an option, it may be in theory, but in reality it is a lottery at best! We came very close to having to re-route five members back through Botswana, with discussions of flights from Maun to Vic Falls being considered.

Trip of a life time made so enjoyable by our Explore guide - Phenyo. He just knew where to take us to see the most awesome wildlife. We were lucky to witness a lion couple on their honeymoon. We were so close to a pride of lions I could have put my hand out and touched one. We had a mix of accommodation from wild camping to premium lodge and houseboat. We saw the big four as the rhino is protected on an island as part of a breeding programme.

The Botswana wildlife was a wonderful experience! We saw lions, leopards, cheetahs, wild dogs, hyenas, jackals, elephants, hippos, zebras, giraffes and a vast array of birds. Our guide Phenyo was a superb animal spotter and we had a great group of people. Being able to get so close to the animals was just amazing. Our itinerary was re-routed in places due to heavy rainfall in previous weeks. The highlight was the wild camping which was more comfortable than we had imagined. The back up crew, William, Charles and B-man did an incredible job setting up the camp for us and cooking a 3 course meal for us every night as well as baking cakes and fresh rolls every day. A few small tweaks would make the trip even more enjoyable. The boat trip in Chobe on the second day should absolutely be included in the trip, it was a highlight. Lunch and dinner at Thamo Telele should also be included. The prices were reasonable and no viable alternative for food anyway. On the houseboat the captain forgot to switch on the generator for two days so we only had cold showers. Instructions around activities could be better at times. That said, it was an unforgettable holiday. Great group of travellers and amazing sights. Please note that in the winter (we went in June) it is very cold in the morning and evening, but very hot in the middle of the day. You will be in an open safari vehicle for 8-10 hours a day and fleece, jacket, hat and gloves were all required.