A wonderful review by a special client...

This is a review written by a special client of mine from America, who planned his safari with me over many months, for travel in November, 2018. Mike had gone through a rough time and this adventure with three of his friends meant so much to him. A huge thankyou Mike and I’m so glad you had a fantastic time!

Tania, 

I am writing to let you know that my colleagues and I had an awesome trip and want to thank you for organizing such a thoughtful schedule. First of all, the preparation you put into our Safari was perfect. Your description of each of the four camps we visited was very informative and prepared us well for what we were about to experience as well as how  to spend our time at each locale. The succession of camps was in  a perfect order as we ascended into the wild. At Elephant Camp, in Zimbabwe, we had a superb tour of Victoria Falls and our guide’s knowledge of both the Country’s  history and the geology was superb. The camp, beside an array of wildlife, also offers a fantastic opportunity to individually interact with a herd of Elephants and a 5 year old cheetah.

This prepared us for our first stop in Botswana and the county’s abundance of untamed wildlife. We first went to the Chobe Game Lodge which was a 5 star facility. While the accommodations pampered us, the excursions into the bush were  packed with wildlife.

From Chobe, we took a single engine flight further into the bush to Savute Safari Lodge. Savute was loaded with wildlife. We saw everything we could hope for with the exception of Rhinos which simply were not in our segment of the park. The accommodations here too were excellent although a bit more rustic than Chobe.

What we didn’t see at Savute we saw at our fourth camp in Moremi Game Reserve. We reached Camp Moremi again by single engine aircraft. The guides at Savute and Moremi were not only able to locate an extraordinary number of species but also were very knowledgeable about the individual species family, hunting and other practices. They brought the wondrous sightings to life for us and made us feel a part of the surroundings. The food was very good and the various sets of staff were not only professional, service oriented and polite but they were all so friendly and welcoming.

We have assembled a little book of photos documenting our trip and are sending you a copy. As I said above, we saw everything, learned so much and were treated so well it was more than we could have hoped for. I would recommend your firm, Everywhere Botswana, and your services to anyone considering an African experience. 

We finished the trip with a two day stay in Cape Town which was beautiful and full of fun.

Tania, the four I us cannot thank you enough for bringing your professional skills to bear on our trip and for providing us with the experience of a lifetime. The African wildlife is a precious resource which everyone should come to appreciate.

Thanks again,

Mike Stark

An afternoon sundowner with Ken, Mike, Bob and Dan at Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. (Being guided by - the one and only - Ishmael, in the centre!)

An afternoon sundowner with Ken, Mike, Bob and Dan at Moremi Game Reserve in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. (Being guided by - the one and only - Ishmael, in the centre!)

Birding in Moremi Game Reserve

I really didn't think it would happen to me but it did this year: I have turned into one of them, I've become a twitcher, just like my Dad. This last weekend I went to Moremi Game Reserve and stayed at Camp Moremi, in the Xakanaxa region. It was beautiful and we had a fantastic time but I could not help myself and all of a sudden I have a paper and pen in my hands and I'm counting bird species: i'd like to know how many bird species can you count in two days in Moremi Game Reserve.

I can feel that my traveling companions are not impressed as I am asking our guide, Mod to stop every few minutes to confirm bird IDs as we have not arrived at the lodge plus we are late for brunch.

2 hours: 39 birds.

My fellow group of travellers trundle off to digest the delicious impala pies we have just eaten and for a lay down in the canvas, tented rooms with the beautifully decorated beds. It's hot though and the Camp Moremi pool looks cool and inviting, set in stunning natural swamp vegetation. I'll have a swim, drink a glass of Rose and see if anything flies past.

5 hours: 47 birds.

It's time for afternoon tea and we enjoy delicious hand-made bread sandwiches and a lovely banana cake. We discuss where we will be taking the boat on our afternoon activity and what we would like for our sundowners- Gin and Tonic of course! What a treat, we spend the afternoon on the water and wash the day down with our drinks and chew on some biltong.

7 hours: 58 birds. 

Dinner time brings a special treat for us as the staff have arranged for our group to have a private dinner on the deck and the table is glowing in warm light from beautiful lanterns. We finish the night with a Amaula on crushed ice and head to bed early, to be ready for the mornings game drive. 

5am wake up and we are off at 6. I'm excited to learn that there are Carmine Bee Eaters still nesting in the ground on Marula Island, an hours drive away (for non-birders) and also that they have sighted lions there so it is easy to encourage the journey down there. We see so much on the way and drive through stunning landscapes such as mopani forests as well as forests of dead trees, drowned by encroaching swamps. Unfortunately for everyone else, the lions have disappeared but we all see the Carmines and what a sight it is. They are as beautiful as I imagined. We have tea close by and set off back to the lodge, we are late for brunch again!

24 hours: 117 birds

The afternoon brings with it storm clouds and rain. Everyone is excited because it is the first storm of the season. Pula! We set off in our ponchos in the rain and drive to Paradise Pools, it looks a bit bleek for birding and we only see a few in-between the herds of Red Letchwe before we decide to go back.

31 hours: 125 birds

Our group decides to have a sleep in, we have a delicious lunch all together then set off for slow trip to the airstrip. 

48 hours: 140 birds

 

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