Wildlife & Wilderness of Botswana Safari Holiday (formerly Highlights of Botswana)

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

Average Review Rating: from 16 reviews.

Rick Turton

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2011
Great trip with lots of wildlife viewing opportunities - and Victoria Falls!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Victoria Falls was amazing - even though it was low water (October). Well worth doing the helicopter trip over the falls. And you do need to do the optional trip to the Zimbabwe side of the falls. (When we visited there was almost no water coming over the Zambian side!) You can book an organised trip to the Zimbabwe side - but our guide was kind enough to take us (onhis day off!) - so all it cost us was the entry fee to the falls and the Zimbabwe visa.
And the Chobe River cruise was also incredible. The word 'cruise' gives the wrong impression - we were in small boat (holds about 16 people), close to the water level - but this makes it far more special because you get so close to the animals. Seeing the elephant family come down to the river to drink was perhaps the highlight.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our guide (Sam) and driver (Jame) were both very friendly and helpful. Couldn't have asked for more!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Make the most of the optional trips. Chobe River Cruise has to be the best value for money.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Expected to come back covered in insect bites - but we didn't get one! (Maybe we were just lucky - or perhaps October is a good time to avoid the mosquitoes.)
There were 2 very long - and rather boring - days of driving from Maun to Kasane via the salt pans - and the salt pans were not as impressive as I expected. But other than that, the rest of the trip was superb.
Jo Goss

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written July 2011
This holiday is an absolute 'must' for anybody who enjoys plenty of variety. It really does offer something for everyone. I would rank this as one of the best holidays I have had - and that is saying a lot!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The sunset cruise on the Chobe River. I have never seen so much wildlife in one place at the same time anywhere.
Bush camping on the Okavango Delta and the mokoro rides to view the sunset.
The various game drives in Moremi and Savuti. Again, wildlife was abundant, and we were lucky enough to have several sightings of leopards and cubs at very close range.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam was an excellent leader, and also great fun. He was also a very good cook.
Our local guide, Jamie, was also first rate. He was an excellent tracker, and as a result we saw much that was unusual as well as all the more common species. He was extremely knowledgable about wild life and went to a lot of trouble to answer our questions in great detail
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I travelled in July, and the nights were bitterly cold. If you have a metal water bottle I recommend filling it with hot water last thing at night. Not only do you then have a lovely warm hot water bottle (do wrap it in something to avoid burns!), but you have an extra supply of drinking water to use the following day. Bed socks are a great idea too, and I found those supplied by the airline on the flight out to be perfectly adequate.
Dry shampoo is a good idea, although there are plenty of opportunities to wash your hair in most places. I was delighted to discover that it could also be used to great effect to de-pong training shoes!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Just go! You won't regret it.
Derek Morgan

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written June 2011
The trip name is certainly appropriate - you definitely get the highlights of Botswana, and it didn't feel rushed at all, as some highlight trips might suggest. The distances travelled were quite long on some days to get between camps, but the scenery and wait was always worth it. Compared to other safaris that I've been on, this one was very difficult to spot animals due to the length of the grass and density of the trees. It might be better later on the dry season (July / August).
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing Victoria Falls from the Zimbabwe side - which is certainly the best side to see it from. It's not mentioned anywhere in the trip notes, so might be subject to your tour leader.
If I'm allowed a second inspirational moment, I'd say the optional river cruise on the Chobe river - don't miss it under any circumstances - we saw more wildlife in those three hours than on any game drive in the parks.
Can I have a third? I'd say the trip into the Okavango Delta - a great introduction to wild camping, with the opportunity to do a bush walk - it might sound dangerous, but I felt safe with the very experienced guide.
What did you think of your group leader?
Our leader Sam, was very knowledgable, organised, and had good cooking skills. He was always helpful, and was flexible enough to amend the itinerary in places where the group wanted to see something or take a detour. Communication could have been a little better on occassions where we came across unexpected problems, but overall was very good.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
1. Take an iPod or something similar to listen to on the long journey, and a book to read during the afternoons when it's too hot to do anything.
2. Take a South African and European style plug adaptor (covers you for the vehicle and lodges where electricity is available for charging.
3. Take at least one spare battery for your camera.
4. UK travellers - Buy your Visa for Zambia on entry to Zambia (rather than via the consulate in London) -it's very easy indeed, and gives you the option for a single or double-entry visa (useful if you cross from Zambia to Zimbabwe to see Victoria Falls from the other side)
5. Don't do the 15-minute flight over Victoria Falls, opt for the 30 min flight, or microlight, or give it a miss entirely. Very disappointing.
6. The camp beds were old and uncomfortable - I'd recommend that you ask for two matresses and sleep on the floor if you can't get on with them.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I think I've been spoiled by my experiences on some other Exodus trips. Had this trip been my first, I might have given a higher rating (probably 4 stars), but when comparing it to similar trips, I was a little disappointed by the lack of animals on a couple of our game drives, and the poor comfort of the camp beds.
If you can't decide between Namibia and Botswana, then opt for Exodus' Namibia trip. If you want to see Victoria Falls, and the Okovango Delta, then this is definitely for you.
It was great to have such a small group (there were only five of us), so no problems when taking pictures of animals from the vehicle - I think if there were many more than 8 then it might be a bit crowded.
Margaret Heath

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written April 2011
A very well organised, enjoyable holiday. Friendly, helpful staff and good companions. Far less wildlife than anticipated. Double tents very cramped.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The sunset Chobe River cruise - wonderful views and a good selection of wildlife.
Very close encounter with wild dogs - brilliant!
What did you think of your group leader?
Very helpful, a super cook and good organiser.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
If you are travelling as a couple, book two tents - single supplement is only 65 GBP and is well worth it for the extra space.
We took but didn't need water purification tablets - bottled drinking water was available to buy.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A good value for money holiday, despite lack of numbers of animals on our trip.
Keith Pattenden

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written April 2011
A little early in the dry season to rate a 'classic' trip for me personally, June/ July / August should be much better, but still saw Lions, Wild Dogs,Buffalo, Crocs, Hippos, hundreds of Ellies, Giraffe and Wild Dogs... a great tour Leader with a good sense of humour (allways helps) and driver who managed to spot anything that moved whilst still keeping an eye on the tracks.... overall a great trip, and did I say we saw Wild Dogs?....
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Wild dogs and the total tranquility of the Delta in the Mekoros.....
What did you think of your group leader?
Superb... Andrew was fantastic and a great cook.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
one thing, the truck is open to the elements, great for game viewing, but not so when travelling long distances at speed, so a light scarfe is a must, desert rats style. and also there's no lockable safes on the truck either so looking after your valuables can be tricky at times, like keeping everything dry at victoria falls for example....
Gary Baxter

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written December 2010
There were some brilliant moments on this trip; however, our experiences may be very different to those on future trips simply because of numbers of travellers.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
1) "The sound of silence" at the salt pans.
1) Finally getting an image of a hippo in classic "yawn mode"
3) Leopard sighting!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader was in no small part responsible for the overall success of the trip. He had a wealth of local knowledge, a good sense of humour, and the ability to gel with all of our group. Not only that but he can cook up a mean BBQ
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
This trip caters for up to twelve travellers. However, in my opinion the one vehicle that is used regardless of tour size would make this a less than enjoyable trip, compromising that all important "window seat" for animal spotting. I also think that the basic conditions in camp would have been a lot more difficult for us personally to handle with a full compliment of travellers. A tour with only five people meant no queues for the bush loo and enough water for showers all round.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A winch, to the front of the land-cruiser perhaps. We got stuck, (inevitably) a couple of times and although other vehicles came to our rescue after a few hours once and we dug ourselves out with branches another time; this would have been quicker and safer with the vehicle being suitably equipped from the start. Don't get me wrong, the crew did a sterling job and worked incredibly hard. I just feel that their job would have been much simpler if the right equipment had been to hand.
Lots of people had told me before travelling that the game is more bountiful in Botswana than in the Masai; our experience of this trip was that this was not the case. However, when we did have good sightings, we were the only vehicle around and the wild-life did not feel the need to put on sun glasses to protect them from the array of DSLR flash guns which would have accompanied them in the masai!
Debbie Hudson

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2010
When can I go again?! The best holiday I have ever had. The camping was great fun, our leader fantastic and the wildlife lived up to our expectations. So many memories that will last a life time. I can't recommend this trip enough. Oh, and we got to stroke 10 month old lion cubs......
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Hmmm, most inspirational moment? Too many to choose from so here's the top 5:
1. We came across two elephants in Savuti who seemed quite agitated. As we got closer we saw that there was a third elephant - a young calf lying down. We soon realised that the calf was dead which explained the other elephants behaviour, particularly the mother. Her grief was evident to see and suddenly the atmosphere in the vehicle changed, no-one wanted to take photos, it was as if we were encroaching on her pain. As we drove off the mother reared onto her back legs and trumpeted at us. A pretty scary moment but quite frankly we didn't blame her and we left her to grieve.
2. About 20 minutes after the first elephant sighting in Savuti we came across another dead elephant . This time though the culprits were there, snoozing in the shade - a pride of lions consisting of a male, 3 lionesses and 3 cubs. For half an hour we were the only vehicle with them and watched them scare off vultures, drink from a watering hole and generally interact with one another. The cubs in particular were mesmerising.
3. Watching giraffes drink probably won't strike most people as a highlight but it was. Giraffe can take hours to decide to drink once at a watering hole (they are somewhat vulnerable due to their drinking position) but we saw two giraffe approach a watering hole and decide immediately to take a drink. They stood next to each other and when finished jumped up in unison. The way they do it is so funny it has to be seen to be appreciated!
4. In Zambia we had initially planned to do the elephant back safari. As soon as our leader mentioned walking with lions though our choice immediately changed and we spent an hour or so walking with two 10 month old lion cubs. Just seeing them that close was amazing but to be able to stroke them was fantastic. If you're going on this trip then this extra is well worth the money. The lions aren't tame and the aim is that they will eventually be released as a pride back into the wild.
5. Most days we had lunch back at camp or on the road. In Savuti we had lunch in the bush. It was surreal sitting down eating french toast and bacon in the middle of nowhere watching giraffe and elephant walk past in the distance. Picnics will never be the same again!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader Andrew was fantastic as were our driver Jamie and support staff James and Doctor. Andrew was great at explaining exactly what was going to happen each day and all the safety requirements - we never felt as if camping in the middle of nowhere was a bad idea! Andrew was also a dab hand in the kitchen cooking great meals every day. He also made sure that everyone was happy and even joined in in our "Lions Den" sketch despite not having a clue about what it was we were doing!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Don't be put off by the camping. It's safe, comfortable and above all enjoyable. It wasn't long before we were all mucking in with putting the tents up.
Be prepared for long car journeys, the trip to Zambia is long but worth it when you get there and bizarrely seemed to pass by quite quickly.
You have to buy your own water. Buy more than you think you'll need. We were easily getting through 3 litres of water some days and there's nothing worse than realising you haven't got enough to last. Also, water gets boring after a while so we bought some small bottles of juice concentrate out there and each day made a small bottle of juice for variety.
Take a good camera and lens, the bigger the better.
Pack plenty of baby wipes - best things for cleaning your feet and hands each night!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Don't expect to see everything that you hope to see. We were lucky with the lions and cheetah but didn't see any leopards other than their footprints. What we did see though made up for this.
Just enjoy yourself. There are lots of optional extras in Zambia which are all worth doing. If you're offered the chance to fly over the delta as well then do that, seeing the elephants, hippos and giraffe makes you realise that you only see a fraction when on game drives.