Reviews of Xakanaxa
Wildlife sightings and reviews
31 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Xakanaxa and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
"Our annual visit to Africa 4th leg"
A nice change was that our transfer to the next lodge was by boat instead of by plane. Quite fun dodging the hippos..
Now time to leave Botswana with temperatures in the high 20' to low 30's and get back to Heathrow where it was minus 1" See all these reviews: 16n in Botswana
"Xakanaxa review"
D&DS will be refurbishing some of the chalets and have mentioned 3 items for consideration -
1) the space between the chalets is on the small side and there are existing tall wooden side screens but they don' extend far enough; from your own veranda you can see the decks of your neighbours which is not the case of other camps so the screening needs to be extended.
2) The shower/washing/toilet area has very poor lighting (a small bank of LED's) which is badly positioned (above the entrance door) and totally obscured when the door is closed!
3) Also unlike other camps there is no tea making facility." See all these reviews: 10n in Botswana; 8n in Zambia
"Disappointing"
Accommodation very comfortable and food good. On the last evening we were treated to a private table and had a musical introduction to the meal and a celebration cake. That was a lovely gesture.
We would have rated the camp average to good had it not been for the following:
Our guide Ken drove over a log on the path and it flew up and hit me on the forehead. It bled profusely and thanks to the advice of a fellow Italian guest ice was applied and after cleaning the wound with Betadine liquid the guide put a bandage on it. When we returned to the camp the management team had little idea of how to proceed. The wound had stopped bleeding and they applied some Betadine cream to some gauze which they assured me would prevent the dressing sticking and bandaged it again. The only plasters that were available were finger sized strips which were too small.
In the late afternoon we went back to remove the bandage. The gauze had stuck to the wound and in removing it it bled again. The Italian guest came to help and had a colloidal silver spray which he expertly used to stop the bleeding. Being concerned as it was a head injury we would have liked some medical advice from a trained person but the camp seemed unable/unwilling to provide this.
That evening Bruce contacted Expert Africa by email as we could not contact our insurers for lack of phone signal. Then the next day the camp management were in touch with a doctor who asked them to measure my blood pressure. They were unfamiliar with the equipment and only got a reading with the help of another of the Italian guests! The staff should be better trained in first aid and should have access to better resources." See all these reviews: 15n in Botswana
The camp has assured us that they were in regular radio contact with the company doctor throughout. Clearly, though, this wasn't communicated to the traveller, who at the time didn't have great confidence in the in the team's first aid abilities. The camp are very sorry indeed about this, because they take such situations very seriously. They tell us that after the accident, they offered to fly the traveller to Maun to see a doctor, but the offer was declined. The traveller doesn't recall this offer, so we've made it clear to the camp that this needed to be communicated better. That's also why Expert Africa was pleased that the travellers got in touch with us straight away. We were able to assist with arranging for a medical professional to visit the traveller at their next camp, and make sure everything was ok.
The camp has taken this situation and feedback very seriously. As a direct result, the camp operator has assured us that they have made physical visits to Camp Xakanaxa post the accident. They've done a full stock take on the equipment, liased with their company doctor, acquired full and detailed feedback, and they have carried out a full audit on the first aid qualifications of the camp managers.
"Senior Africa Specialist"
"Xakanaxa review"
Our guide Baams was particularly delightful. We learned about his work to overcome and invasive weed in the water. In these large, sparsely populated areas, the skill of the guide is paramount in your experience.
The "tent" is in fact quite comfortable. There are baboons wandering in the camp which is great fun." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana
"Xakanaxa Camp-Arrived by Boat"
Our guide, Water, was an experienced hand. As we were in a Reserve, he had no tracker. On our first drive he heard an impala give a warning cry and followed that up by finding a lion in the grass. Amazing.
On a boating trip, we were with four very serious photographers. We found ourselves in the way. We don't think they expected joiners. We were also part of their group the following morning. We did cramp their style. I think allowances could be made. Our Guide did the best he could.
Other than that glitch, we did enjoy our experience at Xakanaxa Camp and left with fond memories." See all these reviews: 9n in Namibia; 6n in Botswana; 3n in South Africa; 2n in Zimbabwe
"Xakanaxa Camp"
We loved the addition of water activities on top of the game drives, and particularly found the visit to the roosting spot of the herons and cormorants to be fascinating. Only the marabou storks were nesting since it was early in the year but it was still great to see all the birds flying in for the night.
Our guide Water was amazing. We came upon a group of trucks that had seen two lions go into the tall grass but hadn't seen them come out. While the other trucks were driving around to the other side of the grassy area Water turned off our truck and just listened. He heard the lions in the grass and backed up the truck and...there they were!! I never heard a thing." See all these reviews: 13n in Botswana; 2n in Zambia
"Xakanaxa review"
"Xakanaxa review"
We were very happy with the way our driver handled a large aggressive male elephant blocking our path on the road back to Maun. When the animal came right up to our vehicle the driver turned off the engine. We waited in silence for a few minutes and when he turned it back on again the elephant showed signs of backing off slightly the driver then drove towards him and the elephant then turned around and ran off. Scarey but the driver seemed to know how to handle the situation." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana
"Manager"
"Xakanaxa review"
The food was excellent and plentiful, staff friendly and I loved the communal dinner in the evenings with interesting conversation with people from all over the world.
We were also delighted with the amount of wildlife we encountered." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana
"Xakanaxa review"
However, I felt the staff was not as friendly as in the other camps I stayed in. My first guide Ollie was not very informative. Luckily, I was put with another guide named Water on the second day, as the other four people I was with decided not to go out the next day on a game drive. The food was great.
All in all I would not return to this camp if I ever come back." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana
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