Reviews of safaris to Okavango Delta Safari Reserves
1031 holiday reviews from our travellers of holidays which include Okavango Delta.
"Take care that you get what you want."
We travelled with Wilderness safaris - our second time - but I feel their objectives and ours were not entirely matched. I would take great care to ensure you get what you want.
A couple of minor gripes first. I know Expert Africa passed on our dietary (veggie) requirements but when we reached our first (not Wilderness) camp these were not quite correct. On passing back through Maun the next day we spoke to Wilderness direct and while these requirements reached the first camp they did not reach camps 2, 3 and 4. Camp 5 had them but I think only through the feedback given at camp 4. The camps mostly got it once told but on one transfer between camps we were given a meat sandwich on leaving and a meat salad on arriving.
As per my Khalahari Plains feedback there were flight problems and once delayed, because they have pre allocated your guide, activities did get very slightly compromised. This leads onto my major concern.
In the 2 years since our last visit the emphasis of Wilderness seems to have changed. They seem more focused on providing luxury rooms and slick appearances than on providing a true wilderness experience. Out of the 100 or so guests we met probably less than 10% were repeat visitors. They seem all out on attracting rich 1st time bucket list guests. The type of guests who are often more into the quality of the rooms and service rather than on the quality of the activities.
During our 15 days we spend 8 days in the company of very nice people who were on their first ever safari and at their first ever camp. This included the 3 days each at Little Vumbura and Chitabe.
The allocation of guests to guides is sorted before you get to camp. It needs to be more flexible. When we checked into Chitabe we had been 10 days on this trip (and 14 days on a previous). The camp management knew this. Yet they still put us with a couple of elderly sisters on their first ever camp. As much as they were very nice people our objectives and requirements were different. This should have been patently obvious (it was to the guide).
We knew, after 3 weeks in total on safari the differences between a Kudo and an Impala and a lapwing and a roller, While the guide did an admirable job of trying to manage the disparate needs of the guests it never quite worked. On our first morning at Chitabe we were half an hour late setting off because the ladies had not brushed their teeth or brought their kit for the morning drive.
After 6 days at LV and Chitabe we were bristling with frustration at the basic mismatching of guests' experiences.
(The day after we left Chitabe we understand their was an incident in our "old" truck where 2 people wanted to leave lions in the process of killing a buffalo whereas 2 wanted to watch the whole process. That should be sorted in the allocation process rather than leave some guests unfulfilled and some gusts traumatised.)
Would I travel with Wilderness again. Possibly but I would look at other companies too. If I were to go again I would be much more demanding and want:
1) A sensible allocation of guests - a sensible matching of experience. I recognise that it might not be possible to avoid first timers but experienced visitors should not be matched with people at their first ever camp.
2) If you want to occasionally go out all day (and not just morning and evening) say so before you go so that this is built in. Repeat what you want when you get to each camp.
3) Clarify whether you want to watch a kill in all its detail - its not likely to happen but if it does its a bit late to sort out conflict.
It just seems to me that Wilderness are becoming more focused on providing a 5 star "hotel" service rather than their core activities." Read full review: 16 nights in Africa; 16 on a Botswana safari
"8 days and 3 Botswana camps"
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Your website gave us the best safari planning information available anywhere ... until we began speaking directly with your staff [Megan, Claire and Nick] who are clearly "expert" on Africa." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
"My May 2013 trip"
We will be going back to Africa and it will be Maruska we will calling to design our trip." Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 11 on a Botswana safari
"The Okehampton 6 trip to Botswana - May 2013"
"Another great trip to Botswana"
Megan and Nick were really helpful throughout the booking process and were very good to alert us early when they heard about building works going on at one of the camps we were visiting. They were able to get the reassurance from Wilderness Safaris that the works would not disrupt guests and this really comforted us.
Overall, a great trip which Mum and I will remember forever (especially sitting in the dark in the landrover at Chitabe looking at the southern sky filled to the brim with stars and listening to the frogs singing all round us). Can't wait to go back." Read full review: 8 nights in Africa; 7 on a Botswana safari
"My Apr 2013 trip"
"My Apr 2013 trip"
Megan at Expert Africa was wonderful to work with and really listened to what I wanted to do and see on my 12 day safari. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again on a future trip. Thank you Megan" Read full review: 13 nights in Africa; 12 on a Botswana safari
"A cliche but definitely a trip of a lifetime."
As the title suggests, the trip of the lifetime is a cliche but nonetheless true in this case. I would love to visit Botswana in future and just hope that this becomes possible.
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The only thing I'd say is that given the timings of our flights which, although we booked them ourselves were the same as those that Expert Africa would have booked for us, it would have been a good idea to stop over for one night in Jo'burg on both outward and return journeys. This would have made the journey far more enjoyable and less tiring.
Clearly we could have made such arrangements but it didn't occur to us until we were waiting for 4 hours plus at Jo'burg airport for our onbound flight to Maun.
So, I suggest that EE might advise their clients that they might like to consider a stop over when flight timings are like this. This is not a major criticism just a suggestion that may make the journeys of other more pleasant. Otherwise we were very happy with the arrangements the EE made for us." Read full review: 12 nights in Africa; 9 on a Botswana safari
"Our Tenth Trip with Expert Africa"
Overall we had yet another magnificent holiday marred only by a guide who has probably been in situ for too long. The pity is that he is the 'best friend' of our guide at Savuti who was first class. Similar seasonal difficulties but very different outcomes.
We have 4 observations that may help future planning:
a. Wilderness red meat. At the prices they charge they simply cannot continue to serve guests meat that cannot be cut let alone chewed. Can expert Africa please ask them what is going on?
b. Approaching 73 I am the last person to make ageist remarks but at Sandibe we were teamed in the vehicle with a Belgian man accompanied by his 88 year old mother. She was remarkable but had severe mobility problems, especially entering and leaving the vehicle. Perhaps camps should make special arrangements for such guests? I hope so, as I might be using them in the future!
c. Newsletters. We like to browse the Wilderness web site before travel to see what is going on in the camps we are to visit and get a flavour of the state of the annual flood etc. This year, up, to the time we left in mid April, there was not a single Savuti their news reports but unless they are recent they are useless.
d. Room Increases. There have been one or two reports of camps increasing the number of rooms. As old Okavango hands we have been willing to pay premium prices as we have been assured of very low guest numbers and the exclusivity that goes with it. If the Delta is to become as crowded as some other safari destinations it will be difficult to maintain exclusive prices. A number of fellow travellers expressed just this sentiment this time.
Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:
Nothing further to add. We will be contacting you for 2014 very soon!" Read full review: 11 nights in Africa; 8 on a Botswana safari
"My Apr 2013 trip"

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