Travel reviews by Ms F & Mr S from Virginia

"Despite some difficulties, this was our favorite camp. The housing was fine; the meals were good (although meat tended to be overcooked and vegetables undercooked).The administrative (Nelson) and guiding and spotting staff (Matt, Carl, and G) were superb--the best we have ever had. They did their very best under difficult conditions.

The owner seems reluctant to put money in where it is needed. During the rainy season (the camp stays open), the drivers must drive through many ponds, which is hard on their vehicle starters. The owner doles out new starters one at a time, leaving many vehicles at the camp out of service and some visitors stranded in mid game drive.. Also the wooden bridge near the entrance to the lodge is well underwater. Not only is it bone rattling to drive over, but it is sure to rot, causing a serious accident to the unlucky vehicle that happens to be driving over it at that time.

Staff appears to be disgruntled--the last remaining cook quit, leaving the camp on the same plane as us. Why was the camp our favorite despite these problems? We saw the most game here. Our fellow guests were the most congenial of the three camps we stayed in. We had the most interesting conversations with fellow guests and staff. The atmosphere of the camp is more informal than the other two camps."

"The rooms are certainly luxurious at this camp; more luxurious than we needed actually. The staff, especially Lizzie and DT, were friendly and helpful.

Our main reason for disgruntlement at this camp has to do with our guide, Rex, who was a new employee and whose book knowledge was more extensive than his knowledge of the location of the animals at this concession. Also he was not very personable, which meant that the atmosphere in our vehicle (we were the only guests in that vehicle) was less convivial than it might have been.

Whether it was owing to his lack of skill or to simple bad luck, we saw fewer animals at this camp than did our fellow guests who had other guides. Lizzie, the manager, was responsive to our concerns and acted on them promptly."

"Here again, the camp facilities were unnecessarily luxurious. We certainly did not need as much space as our unit provided. We would gladly have traded fancy facilities for better guiding.

Thabo seemed knowledgeable enough, but we and the other couple in our vehicle (experienced safari go-ers) agreed on our first full day out that we had never been on a game drive on which we saw so little in the way of game. We joked that Thabo must be afraid of elephants given his skill in avoiding any sightings of them. We did have better sightings of variety of animals on the game drive on the morning of our departure.

The highlight of the camp for us was the river cruise. It was not that game was so visible from the boat (save for many hippos and quite a few birds), but just that the scenery was entrancing and the trip (with our very congenial vehicle-sharers) very relaxing."