Travel reviews by Prof. & Mrs S from Edinburgh

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Botswana 2012

On this trip, I visited Botswana between 3-Nov-2012 and 15-Nov-2012 and I travelled with 1 other person.

Good mix of camps and localities. Staff at all levels generally well-trained, friendly, helpful. Food at dinner generally disappointing (with the exception of Batswana beef), although brunches and teas were usually very good, and wines and other drinks were good. We understand the problem of lighting versus insects, but we do like to see what we're eating; Lagoon seemed to have got it nearly right.

Wildlife varied from disappointing to wonderful. Guides/drivers/spotters usually informative and knowledgeable; vehicles varied in comfort and facilities.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

Given my comments on the individual camps, it would have been helpful to know that it was sometimes a long (hot) walk to the furthest away rooms. Camp staff were helpful when this proved to be a problem.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Shinde Camp, Botswana 3-Nov-2012 review: Leopards at Shinde	Good
Xigera, Botswana 6-Nov-2012 review: Elephants in camp at Xigera	Excellent
Lagoon Camp, Botswana 9-Nov-2012 review: Best safari day ever at Lagoon	Excellent
Savuti Camp, Botswana 12-Nov-2012 review: Elephants everywhere at Savuti	Good

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Zambia - again

On this trip, I visited Zambia between 11-Nov-2011 and 19-Nov-2011 and I travelled with 1 other person.

Good. We found the heat a bit difficult, but this was a function of our travel dates.

Game viewing was mixed - some real highlights and some not very exciting. Bryan at Tafika is excellent, and Sebastian at LRC was very good when we had him to ourselves.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Tafika, Zambia 12-Nov-2011 review: Wild dogs at Tafika	Good
Luangwa River Camp, Zambia 14-Nov-2011 review: Luangwa River Camp	Good
Intercontinental Hotel , Lusaka 17-Nov-2011 review: Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka	Poor

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3 camps in Namibia

On this trip, I visited Namibia between 29-Sep-2011 and 11-Oct-2011 and I travelled with 1 other person.

Good. The 3 camps were chosen to give us three different environments which worked well.

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

It proved almost impossible to re-confirm our return flight with Lufthansa from Frankfurt to Edinburgh. Please bear in mind that not everybody flies through London.

The information we were given about our private charter flights bore little relation to the actuality.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Heinitzburg Hotel, Namibia 30-Sep-2011 review: Heintzburg Hotel, Windhoek	Good
Little Kulala, Namibia 1-Oct-2011 review: Oasis in the desert	Excellent
Little Ongava, Namibia 4-Oct-2011 review: Viewpoint over the waterhole	Excellent
Mushara Outpost, Namibia 7-Oct-2011 review: Mushara Villa - not Outpost	Excellent

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Exploring Zambia

On this trip, I visited Zambia between 16-Jul-2009 and 25-Jul-2009 and I travelled with 1 other person.

The four different camps gave us a wide range of experiences, in accommodation, terrain, wildlife, personnel. We enjoyed the whole thing.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Kaingo Camp, Zambia 16-Jul-2009 review: Nature red in tooth and claw	Good
Mwamba Bushcamp, Zambia 19-Jul-2009 review: Close to nature	Excellent
Old Mondoro Bushcamp, Zambia 21-Jul-2009 review: On the banks of the Zambezi	Excellent
Chiawa Camp, Zambia 23-Jul-2009 review: Living first-class in the bush	Excellent

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First timers in Botswana

On this trip, I visited Botswana between 28-Jul-2008 and 7-Aug-2008 and I travelled with 1 other person.

The trip exceeded our expectations - partly because we did not think our trip to Mala Mala in 1992 could be bettered.

The problem is to combine the reality of searching for wildlife in an uncertain environment with the requirements of people used to very high standards of accommodation etc. It seemed to us that an appropriate balance between the two was achieved. A huge bonus is the friendliness and humour of the Batswana. But the deciding factor for people who are intensely interested in wildlife is the professionalism and knowledge of the guides.

It was a wonderful way to celebrate our Silver wedding anniversary.

I stayed at and have reviewed:

Place	Overall rating
Little Kwara, Botswana 28-Jul-2008 review: Big cats at Little Kwara	Excellent
Kanana, Botswana 31-Jul-2008 review: Storks over Kanana	Good
Lebala Camp, Botswana 2-Aug-2008 review: Wild dogs at Lebala	Good
Linyanti Bush Camp and Linyanti Ebony , Botswana 5-Aug-2008 review: Birding in LInyanti	Excellent