Reviews of Private Mobile
Wildlife sightings and reviews
62 independent comments and wildlife information from our travellers who have visited Private Mobile and kindly agreed to share their thoughts. They do not necessarily represent the views of Expert Africa
98% success
68% success
31% success
61% success
100% success
98% success
93% success
90% success
87% success
85% success
77% success
47% success
36% success
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0% success
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari with Andrew"
Only take this trip if you are prepared for real camping, not “glamping”. There is no running water (although you will have hot water to wash hands and take a shower), toilets (just a latrine type hole) or electricity (although there are lamps). It was very cold for 3 of the nights we were there. The “bush babies” hot water bottles and the ponchos help to stay warm, but you definitely need gloves and a warm hat in the latter part of May.
Andrew was so accommodating of our schedules, and what we wanted to watch and photograph. When we needed to access the internet before our flight back to South Africa to get a QR code to prove vaccination status, he drove us to his house in Maun and then to the airport, going above and beyond!
One morning we were returning to the camp having seen not a lot of unique animals, and, as we were about 200 yards from the camp, Andrew spotted 5 lions lying in the grass. We were able to observe them for quite a while.
At one point we were surrounded by about a thousand zebras on migration. Another time we were in the midst of a breeder herd of elephants, with a curious matriarch who approached our vehicle closely to check us out. We were able to watch a leopard cub in a tree pulling up and then eating an impala. We saw an Egyptian goose pretending to have an injured wing to try to distract us and protect her goslings." See all these reviews: 12n in Botswana; 2n in South Africa
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari review"
The organisation of his mobile Safari was impressive. The staff were lovely and the food was amazing all cooked with an open fire." See all these reviews: 6n in Botswana; 2n in Zimbabwe
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Multiple sightings
Sable antelope
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wild dog
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"AMAZING!"
Even with a pride of lion in our camp deep in the Kalahari, with no one else around, we always felt safe and as though we were getting the very best wildlife experiences. One of the group observed she hadn't felt this safe since before the pandemic!
We saw cheetah, hartebeest, kudu, jackals, bat-eared foxes, 2 African wildcat sightings and many Secretary birds as well as a massive herd of giraffe, and many, many springbok, oryx and wildebeest. With no wifi and hardly another person or vehicle for 6 days, we all felt we had finally encountered wildlife totally unaffected or interfered with by humans. It was phenomenal." See all these reviews: 13n in Botswana
Cheetah
3 sightings
Elephant
1 sighting
Giraffe
10 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Wildebeest
1 sighting
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari review"
Andrew's mobile safari camp was the second of three camps for us and it was the exact adventure we were looking for after starting at a traditional camp. We did 5 nights: 2 at Moremi Game Reserve and 3 at Savuti. It was really cool to see two different landscapes and also drive through a couple villages.
The game viewing was definitely less dense than the other camps we visited as we were in national parks and we couldn't go off road, but Andrew did an amazing job tracking and mixing it up so that it always felt like an adventure. One afternoon we did a little rock scramble to look at old San paintings, another we watched hyena pups pop out of their den. One highlight was the entire day trek we did from one camp to the next — we drove through the Mobabe Depression, napped under two trees, spent a lot of time reading and writing as Andrew drove the land cruiser.
It was different from your usual game drive day, but if you're looking for an adventure and another way to experience Botswana, Andrew's mobile safari is for you. If your entire goal is to have action packed game drives, note that on occasion you may drive for an hour or two without seeing much of interest as the camps are in national parks, and you also have to be back in camp before sunset.
The food was on par with the luxury camps and the staff he brings along — 5 people in our case — were great. Dinner and evening hang outs around the fire were informative and relaxing. Andrew had so many great stories and knew a lot about the constellations (the night sky is unreal). The camp set up itself was very comfortable given the mobile set up, though it did get hot inside the tents during siesta if the day was very hot.
Highly recommend mixing Andrew's mobile safari camp with the traditional camps, you just get to experience Botswana in a different, very intimate way!" See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Roan antelope
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari "
Kennie our hostess was so warm and welcoming. KB looked after our tent which was very comfortable indeed and outfitted with plenty of warm blankets to keep us toasty in the cold winter nights. LB and Julian kept us supplied with warm water for our showers, washed the vehicle daily, and kept the infrastructure of moving and setting up camp perfectly. And Alec the chef prepared absolutely gourmet meals with only an open fire. Out of a metal box came perfect bread twice a day, and perfectly cooked chicken pot pie decorated with little pastry flowers, Bobotie, Indian curry....even the most amazing poached pear dessert .... Each meal was thoughtfully prepared and presented and an absolute treat. Better than most restaurants we have been to.
And finally Andrew was a superb host and guide. For 5 nights we explored Moremi and Khwai areas. We not only spotted lots of game but were able to sit and watch their behavior. He was brilliant at finding us the wild dogs several times. Also a great variety of bird-life. four male elephants fighting with each other in the river.. and a memorable after dinner night drive where we saw 2 bat eared fox, 2 porcupines and a serval. Andrew's enthusiasm and knowledge of the bush made this a very special experience.
Staying in such a comfortable camp in the Botswana wilderness felt more luxurious than the most high end lodges to us." See all these reviews: 11n in Botswana
Buffalo
1 sighting
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Lion
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
Multiple sightings
Wild dog
Multiple sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari review"
Andrew is an outstanding guide who doesn't just know how to spot lions - he possesses an impressive wealth of knowledge about all the animals and birds in the Okavango Delta as well as the natural history of the area and the people and cultural history of Botswana. His passion about the Okavango is clearly evident and it was a privilege to learn from him. He's also just a really great guy and we truly enjoyed just hanging out and talking with him.
Andrew's team is also fantastic. Their professionalism and attention to detail is beyond compare. And the food was outstanding - rivaled any restaurant in Botswana or Namibia! Dining on springbok carpaccio and chocolate mousse at a beautifully set table while listening to hippos in the bush is truly and unforgettable experience.
I hope we'll be able to join them for another safari before we leave Africa!" See all these reviews: 9n in Botswana
Buffalo
10 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Lion
10 sightings
Roan antelope
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
6 sightings
Wild dog
7 sightings
Wildebeest
10 sightings
Zebra
10 sightings
"BOTSWANA PRIVATE MOBILE SAFARI REVIEW"
Unalloyed by superfulous details this was the real thing - a bush experience of Safari in Africa from days gone by. Andrew was a wonderful host and guide that made the experience utterly unforgettable . His team of helpers, who were on hand to make our stay comfortable and enjoyable were superb and made us feel at home in the bush.
The game viewing was great and food quite exceptional ... not sure how the cook managed to produce such good and enjoyable food in his rudimentary kitchen but it was quite exceptional." See all these reviews: 8n in Botswana
Buffalo
3 sightings
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
2 sightings
Hippo
10 sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
1 sighting
Zebra
5 sightings
"Moremi with Andrew Harkness"
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
Multiple sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wild dog
1 sighting
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"really fun and a great experience"
the food was fab - better than the camp by far.
I've rated the facilities as no comment because in the middle of the bush there are few, but the whole experience was great. It was especially fantastic to be right by the river and have elephants and hippos ( as well as baboons) as our almost constant companions - waking to elephants drinking at dawn was a huge privilege." See all these reviews: 7n in Botswana; 3n in Zambia
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Elephant
Multiple sightings
Giraffe
Multiple sightings
Hippo
Multiple sightings
Leopard
1 sighting
Lion
2 sightings
Spotted Hyena
2 sightings
Wild dog
2 sightings
Wildebeest
Multiple sightings
Zebra
Multiple sightings
"Botswana Private Mobile Safari review"
Andrew, a Brit who has lived in Africa for just about half his life, is amiable, a great guide, and a terrific mobile safari manager. His team included, among others, Kene who interacted with us most often, Tiny who performed housekeeping duties including laundry, and Alec, the chef who created wonderful meals on his wood fire stove. Every detail was attended to including breaking down and setting up the camp each time we moved with our having to do nothing more than pack up our stuff and drive to the next location.
We had multiple honey badger sightings (at least 6); 2 leopard cubs 2-3 weeks old which the mom had stashed in a hollow tree for safekeeping; adolescent elephants playing with each other in the water; multiple roan sightings; 5 lion cubs as their mom came back from hunting, rushing to be reunited with her. I could go on, but you get the picture." See all these reviews: 15n in Botswana
Buffalo
Multiple sightings
Cheetah
1 sighting
Elephant
10 sightings
Giraffe
10 sightings
Hippo
3 sightings
Leopard
2 sightings
Lion
8 sightings
Roan antelope
3 sightings
Spotted Hyena
1 sighting
Wildebeest
3 sightings
Zebra
4 sightings
Holiday styles & special interests in Botswana
From birdwatching breaks to walking holidays, find great ideas for your trip in Botswana.
Other lodges in Moremi Game Reserve
For comparison, here are some alternatives in this same area.
Machaba Camp
Overlooking the Khwai River to Moremi Game Reserve beyond, the classic Machaba Camp combines comfort with excellent game viewing.
Xigera Safari Lodge
Located deep in Botswana's Okavango Delta, Xigera Camp normally focuses on mokoro excursions and motorboat trips, with 4WD game drives when water levels permit.
Xakanaxa
Xakanaxa Camp is a well-established traditional camp beside a huge lagoon within the Moremi Game Reserve, with access to some superb game viewing.
Khwai Lediba
Khwai Lediba offers a traditional African safari experience, with very comfortable tented accommodation, in a fantastic game area north of the Moremi Game Reserve.
Sable Alley
Smart, independent and well-run, Sable Alley overlooks a beautiful, hippo-filled lagoon within the diverse Khwai Private Reserve.
Okuti
With an innovative design and good service, Okuti Camp offers game drives and boat trips in a beautiful, game-rich part of Moremi Game Reserve.
Mombo Camp
Mombo is one of Botswana's most exclusive safari camps, set in a beautiful, remote location within the Moremi Game Reserve and with exceptional game densities.
Chief's Camp
Chief's Camp is situated on Chief's Island, within the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve. Experience one of Botswana's top game-viewing areas by 4WD and mokoro.
Little Machaba
Overlooking the Khwai River and Moremi Game Reserve beyond, Little Machaba is a classically designed camp with very comfortable tents in a great game-viewing area.
Skybeds
Situated in a private reserve close to Moremi Game Reserve, Skybeds offers a simple yet wonderful opportunity to sleep under the stars and watch wildlife from your bed.
Hyena Pan
Fairly rustic, and relatively inexpensive, Hyena Pan overlooks a natural waterhole that attracts an almost constant parade of animals.
Camp Moremi
In one of the best locations for game viewing in Botswana, Camp Moremi sits at the tip of the Mopane Tongue, overlooking Xakanaxa Lagoon.
Little Mombo
One of Botswana's top safari camps, Little Mombo stands on the north side of Chief's Island, in the heart of the Okavango Delta's Moremi Game Reserve.
Little Sable
Little Sable camp is located in the Khwai Private Reserve – which borders the Moremi Game Reserve and Chobe
Tuludi
Tuludi is a brand new luxury camp, within the Khwai Private Reserve, built on a site under giant leadwood trees and overlooking the Okavango Delta floodplains.
Sango Safari Camp
Sango offers comfortable tented accommodation, without some of the frills often found in Botswana's camps, with an area that's scenic and gets excellent, consistent game sightings.
Khwai Bush Camp
Kwhai Bush Camp offers great guiding, excellent wildlife watching and simple but comfortable accommodations the productive Khwai community area.
Mokete Camp
New for July 2023, Mokete has 9 luxurious tents, raised on platforms above the surrounding bush and offers an experience of the Kalahari Wilderness.
Khwai River Lodge
Khwai River Lodge is a luxurious and well-equipped safari camp, on the northern edge of Moremi Game Reserve. This area isn't exclusive, but it is beautiful and has excellent game.
Khwai Leadwood
Khwai Leadwood is a luxurious lodge located in the heart of the Khwai Community Concession, offering guests exceptional service, stunning scenery, and unforgettable wildlife experiences.
Tawana
An exclusive new lodge on the banks of the Gomoti River, Tawana has just eight very spacious suites.
