Travel reviews by Miss R from Kent

"This is the second time that I have stayed at the new Splash Camp. Last time in the Enclave, this time in the main camp.

For game viewing and stunning variety of landscape there are few to compare with the Kwara concession. We virtually fell over predators every day. We also had a sighting of three lesser seen of the antelope (Sable, Roan, and Eland) all in a line at the edge of a flood area.

The staff are delightful, especially the new manager Rene. He is full of energy and enthusiasm, and a great addition to the team. He has taken over from Charles, who is moving to the renovated Kwara Camp. The guides and trackers are polite, considerate and knowledgable.

My one caveat is that it can be a long walk to your room. The camp is in a crescent. The main area is in the middle. We were in room 12, which was a brisk 5 minute walk along a winding sandy path."

"This was my third stay at Lagoon. It has a beautiful location on the riverbank. Plenty of predators, but due to the dry terrain you have to work harder to find them. Personally, I don’t mind lengthy periods of tracking but first time travellers may wonder if the guide and tracker have gone off on foot to chat about the football results. All I would say is stick with it because it generally pays off.

We had some amazing lion sightings. It was only six months since I was last in the area and so many changes in lion politics!

Some nights you don’t see much on the drive back to camp, but on our last night we saw a leopard up a tree, a porcupine and a Serval all in the space of five minutes.

The staff are lovely. We were with the guide G (who is a complete legend) and the tracker Kern who is charming and has the makings of a great guide."

"This is my sixth stay at Lebala which probably tells you that they are doing something right. The camp is at the southern end of the concession, close to the river system. It was good to see that the water levels are coming up again after several years of drought. There is a good range of terrain. Marsh, riverine, good open areas together with mopane and apple leaf woodland. Great sightings of the resident lion prides plus the bonus of several hours with Jane’s (the resident female leopard) small cubs. The guides and trackers are all very knowledgeable and happy to discuss what the plans for the day should be. The camp staff are delightful and nothing is too much trouble. I am already booking up for next year!"

"I love LK. It's small with excellent guides and trackers and the camp staff under Charles’ and Okie’s management are delightful. I have stayed at LK five times and will be returning. The game at Kwara is plentiful and varied. This year we spent a day and a half on the track of a peripatetic rhino. An amazing sighting if we had found more than its tracks. Rhinos were only re-introduced to Botswana a few years back and sightings are rare. The foray north was not entirely unproductive. The scenery was beautiful and we found a male cheetah that was thought to have died, it was so long since he had been seen. Finally, a specal mention for the lady chef who led the singing!"

"This is my sixth visit to this camp and it will certainly not be my last.

Standards continue to be very high and the new manager has made some changes. No details because it will spoil the surprise. I elected for a private vehicle and I was looked after solicitously by Jacko and GT.

We discussed each day what we would do, and we had some excellent game sightings."

"Little Kwara was recommended by a friend and it did not disappoint. A very high standard all round.

Our guide Dutch and tracker Kenny were informative and enthusiastic. You think you have seen most of what you are going to then in 20 minutes you see a Boomslang, a Honey Badger and a Bush Baby that thinks it's a flying squirrel! Game in the camp, during the day and the night. The varied terrain was a pleasure and I will definitely be going back."

"After having such a fantastic experience i was concerned that Lebala would not be as good. However, it was every bit as good.

Guide Alex and tracker Julius showed enormous forbearance in the face of a well meaning American who insisted we went back to look at some tracks she had seen, as she thought they were Wild Dog. Alex identified them as avian, and she asked him if he was sure! We did find the dogs though; the highlight of the trip. Both guiding and tracking were of a high standard.

Lying in bed in the middle of the night, listening to an elephant chomping on something just outside, is a real priviledge."

"You probably know that Zib is due to relocate next year, nearer to the lagoon, so comments on the accommodation are probably superfluous. However, I do have to comment on the level of hospitality from Tess and Stew (who are going to mamage the new lodge) and the food, both of which were the best on the trip.

The chef's baking is particularly good - home made snacks for coffee and sundowners and the Chelsea Bunss were out of this world. Five stars and a plus for them."

"The tents were the highest standard on the trip and the position of teh lodge was fab. A really friendly welcome."

"Again a really frienly welcome to the drowned rat that arrived. Very heavy rainfall at Sandibe that day!

Food could have been better and was a bit hit and miss. guides were excellent."