Travel reviews by Mr & Mrs H from Prestbury

"This was our second visit to Sausage Tree (first in 2019) and found the camp as delightful as before.

The location on the banks of the Zambezi is ideal and probably the best place to watch an abundance of Hippos. The accommodations were excellent and this year they assigned a 'butler' to each couple to insure all your needs and interests were met. It was probably the most genuinely friendly camp of the five we visited. Their 'bush diner' and their lunch in the river on a sandbar in a couple feet of water under a marquee were delightful and unique experiences.

The terrain of the Lower Zambezi NP is more interesting than most of the Botswana camps. The plentiful rains this year meant the grass was exceptionally high. For this reason and because our guide had a trainee in tow which kept him from concentrating on tracking much of the time, we saw less game than at any of the other camps and less than three years ago (yet we know there is a good balance and number of animals in the area). It is still one of our favourite camps/location."

"Ngoma Lodge was a wonderful lodge with an outstanding elevated view over the Chobe River and its flood plain --- a view you enjoyed from you room as well as the public and dining areas. The food was superb with probably the best chef of all the lodges we visited. The schedule was quite flexible and the guests interests were the primary concerns. The lodge had a small, cosy feeling.

Being very close to the Western entrance to Chobe NP it was less than 10 minutes to get to the Park. The wild life in Chobe is absolutely abundant --- after a few minutes drive into the Park animals (including large herds of Buffalo, Elephants, Impala, Baboons) appear at almost every turn. The variety of animals and birds in the Park, and especially close to the River, was greater than any other area we visited. It would be the first place to visit for a first time visitor on safari.

Being the least expensive of all five lodges, it is clearly offers the best value and we would rate Ngoma Lodge second only to the much more expensive Sandibe Lodge."

"We found Lagoon Camp the most disappointing (and we had visited the Camp in 2013). Unlike the write-up in Brandt's edition 5 of Botswana Safari Guide, we thought the facilities were dated and in need of maintenance and upgrading and the food average at best. The feel of the camp was very much a corporate managed operation with accountants having a significant influence. The staff, although very friendly, it was a friendliness required by the rules and less genuine than experienced at the other camps. Our sense was the staff performed to the corporate rules rather than to the guests interests.

The design of the spacious chalets was very good, but the lighting inside was totally inadequate (there was adequate lighting to read by except in bed), there wasn't any mosquito netting around the bed and the building settling had made the doors hard to open. Fencing around the propane tank was falling down. Lagoon Camp was the only one that did not have WiFi. In essence, only two and a half means a day were served. Before the early morning game drive, coffee/tea and porridge (actually a soupy maize one notch above gruel) was offered around a fire, then a lunch buffet of one item plus eggs to order and an evening meal with only one main and a vegetarian dish on offer. All the dishes were of inexpensive ingredients and the choices were very limited and it was all buffet style not requiring any service.

In contrast to the Camp, the wildlife was abundant and quite varied. For example we saw a Pangolin that we had never seen at any camp on any trip. The guiding was excellent and the only limitation to finding animals was the tall grass. It would be have excellent game viewing in the dry season as it was when we visited at that time in 2013. It is just a shame the camp's operating philosophy is to cut costs as much as possible even though its pricing remains high."

"Sandibe was the most outstanding of all the camps, but also the most expensive by twice. The facility itself is something to behold; sort of Sidney Opera House of the bush. The main building replicates a Pangolin and is truly amazining inside and out. There are very large areas for lounging as well a big bar area and two dining areas. The staff were plentiful; you have your own didicated 'butler' and there isn't anything they wouldn't do to make you visit as enjoyable and easy as possible. The meals are restaurant style with an extensive menu and high quality ingredients and cooking served almost anytime you would like. The individual chalets are all that you could wish for with pool, large deck, sitting area, etc and an individually tailor bar in your room.

Equally surprising to us was the amount and variety of wildlife in the area. Packs of Hyaena, Wild Dogs, Lions, Lepoards, Antelop, Elephants, Waterbuck, Buffalo, etc. The only one we missed out on was the Cheetah (but was seen the day we left). The guiding was excellent.

Our experience at Sandibe was truly outstanding and the best of all camps, but it was also the most expensive (however value for money in our view)."

"We booked Thorntree River Lodge as a transition back to normal living and it served this purpose exceedingly well.

It has a fabulous position right on the bank of the Zambezi River. Your dining table was either on the river (on a pontoon deck) or at the very edge in the dining area. They had excellent relaxation lounges in the public area and a good library.

The chalet was newly built, well designed, spacious and with a plunge pool and deck at the very edge of the river. The food was excellent and served very much at your convenience. Although we were not visiting for any game viewing, we did one trip less than 30 minutes away to see a herd of White Rhinos were the wardens accompanied us to within a few metres of the animals (a real treat).

Setting alongside the mighty Zambezi at sunset well fed and G&T in hand and gazing at one of nature's grandest sights is definitely the way to end two weeks in the bush searching out the magnificant wildlife --- a pinch-me moment!"

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"Best managed, most enthusiastic, most activities, great facilities, most friendly of the three camps we visited.

Even though we were the only two guests the four nights we were there, no effort was spared in making us welcome and we had the added advantage of getting some of the staff to join us at meal time --- it made it feel more like a family gathering than a guest/host relationship."

"Camp facilities are looking a little tired and vehicles a bit old.

The new guide was very knowledgeable about all wildlife but had not yet developed the art of tracking and locating them.

Food was excellent."

"An excellent camp with an outstanding guide, but a bit overpriced.

The bar prices for premium brands is totally over the top and unjustified.

If cost is not a factor, a marvellous camp to visit."