Reviews of Footsteps Across the Delta
(100%) From 22 travellersThey do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa.
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Footsteps Across the Delta review
The walking safari experience was definitely the highlight of our entire trip.
Especially after a week of game drives, it was wonderful to explore a very remote and untouched area on foot, without any motor sound, and to take the time to watch the wildlife. Wildlife is abundant in the area. We particularly enjoyed sitting under a tree and watching the game and birds at the many waterholes. Meeting elephants when walking was definitely a highlight! And so were the incredible sunsets, different every day.
Paul Molesend is an extremely knowledgeable guide with a lot of experience and great passion for the bush. He made our experience even more enjoyable and memorable. Thank you!
The camp is, of course, less luxurious than the other camps we stayed at, however, this somewhat rustic character only enhances the bush feeling. We loved the beautiful location of the camp, the hammock in front of our tent, the campfire, bush shower, ... Food was very good, too (particularly the homemade chili sauce!) and the bar well stocked...
When planning our next safari holiday in Africa, we will definitely put a stronger focus on walking safaris, three days were just not enough! In particular, it would have been great to also do the Kanana Mokoro Trail, which is a combination of walking and mokoro trips in an even more remote area of the concession. That's for next time...
Footsteps Across the Delta review
Again just the sort of camp that we love. The staff were very friendly and the camp was very well run by Changu and her team. There was more attention to detail and the tents were better quality than at Saile. it was a nice surprise to have a birthday cake. We would like to thank Ker & Downey for the complimentary bottle of fizz, However it was the work and effort that the staff put in to make a special meal which we had in a romantic setting which will make it a birthday that will not be forgotten.
The guide, OP, and trainee guide, Aaron were delightful and humorous and were for ever setting us quizzes and tests to test our knowledge on dung and tracks!!! (Judging by our results, their jobs are safe!!).
The most memorable highlight was seeing the 4 male lions and hearing them as they passed camp during the night.
Footsteps
This was the top camp for us because it was more basic where we shared the bush with the staff in a very small group. However it was not booked up and I fear that many travellers want the comparative luxury of other camps. The camp is without a booking 15 days in June and I fear for the economics of the operation.
Kwala is apparently mid range and not luxurious compared to many camps but it seemed to have every mod con to us. A walking safari is exciting as one gets close to nature, can breathe and hear the bush and its noises and there is no roar of engines of three vehicles chasing lions or dogs etc
A great experience with an excellent guide and the manager and 4 staff who looked after us. We have one quibble. Presumably to save money we flew to the Shinde airstrip as they own Footsteps. If we had flown to the Kwara airstrip it would have halved the 3 and half hour road journey to Footsteps
Great set up and team
Truly close to nature, with lots of love and respect.
Good wibes, fantastic environment and nice camp.
Will recommend this camp
Footsteps Across the Delta review
Fantastic ! the staff were exceptional.. all of them from Chan Gu , opi and isaac,, water lady, cook and others...
tremendous welcome we felt like family much laughter.. defo want to go back there one day...we walked every day ..no game drives there (except the drive in from Little Kwara airstrip)...memorable three days .
Footsteps review
Though the experience was more rustic, as we expected, we enjoyed our stay, especially as we were the only guests.
We were well looked after by staff and our guides.
Small-camp experience bowled us over
From the first exciting game encounters on the drive back from the neighbouring airstrip (the local one was waterlogged), this delightfully intimate and personal camp never disappointed.
Our chief guide Paul and his assistant Kenny were highly experienced and professional in everything they did. Our two girls built an immediate rapport with the whole camp team, and we always felt perfectly secure when out on walks, mokoro trips or game drives. The Young Explorer Programme was a great introduction to the bush and the kids were kept busy during the mid-day siestas with complementary activities like making bows and arrows, lighting fiires or learning how to shoot an air rifle.
We must make a special mention of the food, which was exceptional given the limited facilities in the kitchen (essentially a tin box heated by coals). By the way, the Kerr & Downey game spotting notebooks that we were all given here were a very useful and fun way of recording all of our sitings throughout our trip - we were very surprised that none of the other camps provided anything similar.
Nichols at Footsteps
We were lucky enough to be staying at Footsteps on our own so all the activities were geared to our interests. Obviously the main attraction at Footsteps is the walking and this did not disappoint. Andrew, the guide, knows his stuff and was able to point out and explain all sorts of things which we would have otherwise missed. The walking is in no way strenuous; it didn't feel much more than a gentle stroll, but being on foot gives an entirely different feel to game viewing. You don't get as close to the animals as in a car but it's an entirely different experience.
Although I was very pleased with the camp and the facilities, it has to be said that they wouldn't be to everyone's taste. They are, deliberately, very simple and basic, so if you don't like having to use a hole in the ground as a toilet, or having to use a bucket shower, this isn't the camp for you. But if you want to feel a bit closer to nature, I would strongly recommend it. The staff do try to make it as comfortable as possible; the food is plentiful and tasty and the cool box is always full of drink.
With Dougie Wright at Footsteps
Having Dougie Wright as our guide, and having him to ourselves (we were the only guests) was the highlight of our trip - he knows the bush and the wildlife better than most, and his enthusiasm about it is very infectious.
Accomodation and facilities are simple, which is part of the point (and the charm) of Footsteps. The meals at Footsteps are prepared over a glorified fireplace - but the food was still every bit as sophisticated and tasty as at the luxury lodges we stayed at before and after.
It was exciting for us (and for Dougie) that we managed to spot a Pel's Fishing Owl family, including a chick, not to mention 100-odd other kinds of birds, lots & lots of elephants, antelopes, warthogs and a couple of lions.
Footsteps review
A great contrast to be in the real wild and on foot. Guide Andrew was exceptionally good.
We had a great time, exceeded expectations. We were particularly impressed by all the camp staff at Shinde and Footsteps.
Our guide Andrew Harkness at Footsteps was exceptional and I now have met a lot of good guides over the years. We were privileged to be the only guests at camp so it was even more special.
Some small criticisms that really are suggestions in possibly advising future guests.
The camp at Footsteps was a little more basic than my wife had expected...the drop loo lacked a certain style compared to other bush thunder-boxes and did not feel particularly safe to visit at night. A battery powered light as on the shower would be a good idea and more carefully secured awnings helpful. The walks were wonderful.
We have always believed that acting responsibly is the only way to approach tourism and we're one of
the few companies to hold AITO's original coveted 5-star status for responsible tourism. It's a lead
that others are now following.
