Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs S - Massachusetts

Trip of a lifetime

On this trip, I visited Botswana & Zambia between 26-Aug-2008 and 14-Sep-2008 and I travelled with 1 other person.

If you are interested in birds or anything other than just large game animals, consider arranging a private guide. With a group, the guide does not tend to devote much time to small birds.

Late August/early September daytime weather was perfect, but night game drives were much cooler than we expected: bring warm clothing!

We never saw a single mosquito (or any other insect).
Although not covered in this questionnaire, we also enjoyed our stay at !Xaus Lodge in Kgalagadi TransFrontier Park in South Africa. Less game-intensive than the Botswana camps, and slightly more modest accommodations, but still a great nature experience of the Kalahari desert---plants, wildlife, start, and native people (Bushmen & Meir). Even a nature walk (impossible in Botswana camps). Wonderful managers Arne & Pieter, both 10th generation South Africans. Food surprisingly good. More European guests, fewer Americans. Less expensive than Botswana camps.

Also highly recommended for a late August/early September visit are Goegap Nature Reserve and Namaqua National Park (Skilpad), both near Springbok, S.A. for fantastic wildflower displays.

Northern & Western suburbs of Johannesburg were much nicer than we had been led to believe. We had no problems driving our rented car.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Royal Livingstone Hotel, Zambia 4-Sep-2008 review: Royal Livingstone Hotel review	Excellent
Little Kwara, Botswana 5-Sep-2008 review: Little Kwara review	Excellent
DumaTau, Botswana 8-Sep-2008 review: DumaTau review	Excellent
Chitabe Camp, Botswana 11-Sep-2008 review: Chitabe Lediba	Excellent