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.

Will Strange

WILDLIFE & WILDERNESS OF BOTSWANA

Written November 2012
The trip was very well put together. It incorporated all the key highlights in an efficient two week schedule, without too many long days of travel. The wildlife was spectacular - we were very lucky to see wonderful views of leopards, lion, elephants, and more! The wild camping was great, the guides were wonderful, and the camp food was very good too! An excellent trip, and I'd highly recommend it!
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The light aircraft flight over the Okavango Delta was incredible - the sort of view you can only otherwise get from a David Attenborough film!
I also loved the Chobe River Cruise - being able to get so close to so many different types of animals and to see them from the water was unique and very special.
Finally, the day to day aspect of wild camping, walking and just being in the wild with the animals was a wonderful experience and a refreshing change from normal life!
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam did a very good job. He organised the trip very well and really knew what he was doing. He tried hard to make it as enjoyable as possible, although perhaps struggled to deal with one or two of the more "challenging" members of our group.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The trip notes were very helpful. I went in late October / early November and it was hot!! No need for fleeces or warm tops, and only a very light sleeping bag was required. Take a paclite for the occasional rare late afternoon downpour though.
It was possible to charge batteries at several points along the route, as well as in the Landcruiser.
Take plenty of dollars to change into local currency.
Highly recommend the flight over the Delta, the longer helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, and the Chobe River Cruise - all amazing experiences!
Mark Sargeant
WILDLIFE & WILDERNESS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2012
A wonderful two weeks exploring the best of Botswana's wildlife and wilderness. Anything but bland, we had some truly memorable experiences with lovely sunsets, but the holiday was best summed up when our group leader asked our group of nine for their favourite moment and received 9 different responses before we came full circle and gave some more.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Too many for a number 1 choice but the following were equally brilliant:

Wild Camping - sleeping in the wild with elephants, hyena, honey badgers and others visiting the camp during day and night. We were well looked after by the crew and there were some very close encounters.
Wildlife galore - the sheer scale of what we saw and some brilliant encounters. Highlights included seeing 3 leopards and spending 25 minutes with 2 of them barely 10 metres away - great tracking from Kenny to get us there and to know the leopards would move towards an extra special photo opportunity location. Seeing a very fearsome pride of 7 lions on several occasions and quite miracously seeing three different packs of wild dogs on 3 separate game drives. A huge number of antelope (some rare) and herbivores too (including a stampede of 60 plus buffalo just 2 minute walk from our Livingstone campsite - just as well we didn't walk).
The River Cruise at Chobe which is the best 200 pula you can spend - a great guide gave us a very different perspective of the wildlife from the water with some close up encounters. This is the best chance to see crocodile and rarer forms of antelope.
Walking safaris - a brilliant time walking amongst the wildlife and opportunities to observe the animals from safe but very close distances. led by a very keen, enthusiastic and knowledgable group of young locals, they kept us safe from an elephant charge when the wind changed direction suddenly. Also provided local entertainment with genuine relish and fun.
Victoria Falls - spectacular viewings from the Zimbabwe side and a great variety of fun activities. The microflight is not for the faint hearted but provides a wondeful bird's eye view of the Falls.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam was excellent, very well organised who kindly took time off his free day to make sure we got through Zimbabwean immigration without any trouble. The trip ran very smoothly, he was an excellent cook (certainly nothing bland with his cooking) and got us through every immigration point easily. Also gave very good advice on seeing the Falls from Zimbabwe. Kenny our tracker was a brilliant wildlife guide who manoeuvered us into position for some truly brillinat sightings and photo opportunity. Joseph and Brude were very friendly and extremely efficient with all of the camp chores.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Just go! This trip has a terrific itiniery with excellent staff and is the best value trip for Botswana I have seen.
October is extremely hot but you just have to rememeber that it is one of the best months for spotting wildlife, particularly big cats.
Take Sam's advice and see the Falls from the Zimbabwean side if going in British autumn.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
A wonderful trip with wildlife encounters that will be extremely difficult to better - a really terrific holiday helped by a lovely group of fellow travellers.

We were unlucky that the cloudy day we had meant we missed the sunset at the Pans. A bit of a shame but the Pans are still a fascinating part of Botswana.
Diane Askew

WILDLIFE & WILDERNESS OF BOTSWANA

Written August 2012
Lots of long dusty journeys, but necessary to get to the game parks. Wildlife quite spectacular when seen. Camping out in the wild great fun, including the back ground noises, followed up with the spoor marks around the camp area the next morning.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Seeing the Leopards. We saw a Warthog up in a tree, & then with difficulty spotted the male Leopard, we then spotted another male Leopard prowling around under this tree hoping a few morsels would drop down.
We had just left Khwai village & heard a racket from a small herd of Impala, my husband looked around to spot a female Leopard, who then "allowed" us to take some photos before leaving as there was now no chance of her hunting down a meal.
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam was always cheerful even when our vehicle came to an abrupt & terminal halt, some 30km from our camp for that night. He & the other guys always looked immaculate, I have no idea how they managed to do so, as I managed to look very dusty just sitting in the truck being driven around.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
The entry fee to Victoria Falls needs to paid in local currency (Kwatcha) not dollars, & this has been so since July 2012. It is difficult to get local currency even in Livingstone the only useable ATM had long queues although the Barclay bank readily changed sterling it closed at 11.30am on our Saturday visit. One of the best ways at get local currency at the campsite was to pay in sterling and then the change willl be in local.
Make sure you have enough Pula for the Chobe river cruise (don't miss out on this well worth going on). When we were there the credit card machine was a bit hit & miss, they wouldn't take Sterling/Dollars
Is there anything else you would like to add?
If the temperatures drop use the rugs from the truck as an addtion to the sleeping bag, I found that this gave when just that extra bit of warmth on a quite cold night.
Dave Stroud

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written June 2012
This is a great trip if you like wildlife and the natural world. Be aware though that game spotting can be quite a challenge due to dense vegetation and tall grass. However, with a good tracker/spotter the rewards can be incredible for when you do spot wildlife. I gave this holiday 4 starts only because of some exceptional trips elsewhere. For example, the scenery in Botswana wasn't quite as spectacular as say Tanzania or Namibia.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
The highlights for me would be the various times spent in the Okavango Delta, which included the game drives and game walks. On our first game walk our local guide took us to a hippo pool, where we found hippo feeding, which was great to see. We were also so close we could hear them munching on the grass.

Camping is also a great way to get the whole wilderness experience, particularly with all the sounds you hear at night, truly amazing!

Victoria Falls also far exceeded my expectations and my only regret is not choosing to do the micro-light flight over the Falls. A reason to return (among many) I suppose!
What did you think of your group leader?
Our group leader, Sam was a very good guide and was always in good spirits. His advice on viewing the Falls from Zimbabwe rather than Zambia was proof of his local knowledge. He really surpassed himself in terms of what I expected from the food on this trip. We all ate incredibly well, from stews, steaks and curries. We even had fish and chips.

Whilst on the game drives Kenny took over as leader, which seemed appropriate to me. His tracking skills were amazing. On a game drive in Moremi he told us he was tracking a leopard. He was always very forthcoming with information and his knowledge of the wildlife. Anyway, back to the leopard tracking; Kenny started to point out signs of its presence. From footprints in the sandy road and the alarm calls of various animals, which suggesting a predator was nearby. We drove on then he suddenly veered through the bush. Warnings of "branches, branches" came from the front of the truck until eventually someone in our group spotted the leopard and there it was, walking parallel to us under the trees. It was a magical experience and one I'll never forget. Moments like that really define a holiday for me and thanks to Kenny I'll treasure it forever. We also saw Lion (and cubs), also leopard cubs. Lots of Elephant (also swimming across the Chobe River), Hippo, Wild Dogs (which Botswana are known for) and numerous birds, to name but a few.

Last but not least the third tour member Bruce, who was always very happy, hardworking and efficient. He certainly deserves a mention.
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
I think the best advice to give would be to go with an open mind. Game viewing can be at times difficult, as mentioned earlier, vegetation is often very dense and the grass grows particularly high. But, with a good tracker and everyone’s eyes peeled you can get rewarded, as my preceding review should testify.

Take US Dollars. Hard currency means everything. You can use ATMs in Maun and a few other larger towns but rest assured you will find your credit cards refused at various stages of the trip. Zimbabwe only takes MasterCard (NOT VISA) and even then the machines "may not" be working. We noticed that getting into the Falls in Zimbabwe take both US Dollars and GB Pounds, which we didn't initially realise. So, my main point would be to TAKE LOTS OF CASH.

Another point would be the time of year to go. I was very happy going in mid to late May, which is the start of their dry season (winter). Be aware that the Delta floods in July and August and the main rains in Botswana come in November and December. Going at various times of the year would have differing advantages for various points of the trip. For example, going in May was good due to no rain and good due to the high level of the Falls, but not so good for the Delta. Later in the dry season would be good for both I guess. July/August would be good for the Delta and perhaps the Falls would still be quite high.

Whatever time of year you choose to go, you're bound to have a great time!
Jane Moir

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2011
From the moment we arrived in Maun, every day brought another highlight - it will be hard to find another holiday which tops this one. Just outstanding from start to finish
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Where do I start?Here are just a few of the many moments - In the delta, sitting round the campfire enjoying the polers singing and dancing whilst a meteorite with a spectacular tail flew overhead. -Flying over the Delta. - Walking with lions in Livingstone, the helicopter flight over Victoria Falls and going into Zimbabwe to view them. - The vastness and isolation of the Salt Pans. - Watching leopards at close range in the Moremi Reserve. The sunset cruise (thank goodness for digital cameras...) Watching and listening to the nearby hippos splashing in the moonlight.
The friendship of my fellow travellers (none of whom I knew beforehand) contributed greatly to the holiday, we all wanted to do the same activities, had the same interests and shared many laughs
What did you think of your group leader?
From the moment we met Sam at the airport, he was absolutely brilliant. Nothing was too much trouble, he was well organised and unflappable and somehow produced really tasty food all cooked on the campfire. He made sure that we could all do our chosen activities including taking us across the border to Zimbabwe when he should have had a relaxing afternoon. Jamie our driver and guide was also excellent - we had some long distances to cover but he stopped when we saw game on the way, and in the reserves, he could spot animals without having to reach for binoculars like the rest of us! Bruce and James were a competent support team
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Take some swimming things to the Delta, we had an opportunity to go for a dip and there was some very hastily improvised swim wear on show. Baby wipes are always useful because it is very dusty (dust coloured clothing helps too. It is possible to do several activities in one day at Livingstone so enjoy!! Binoculars come in handy. There is an inverter in the truck so lot of battery charging was done on route (take a South African adapter). No need to take masses of clothes as there is plenty of opportunity to wash clothes at the camp sites in Maun, Livingstone, Kisane and Savuti. Sturdy sandals and walking shoes are all you need for footwear. You will take a lot more photos than you might think so take high capacity memory cards for the cameras. Most importantly - just relax, let it all happen and enjoy every moment!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Having travelled quite a lot,I can honestly say that this is the best holiday I have ever had, made possible by the surroundings, the range of experiences on offer, our tour leader and my fellow travellers. Don't expect to see too much game in the Delta but the surroundings are intoxicating. Viewing the Falls from the Zimbabwe side was well worth the effort of crossing yet another border for the afternoon. Be prepared for some long journeys, but strangely they seem to pass very quickly. There are some early starts, but some beautiful sunrises to accompany them. I took a journal to write up my experiences on the day, what we did and what we saw - its nice to read again when you get home.
Heather Collins
HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2011
This was a superb holiday in every sense of the word. Stunning scenery, amazing wildlife, some great campsite locations and the usual well-organised and friendly local team catering to our every need. If you are thinking of doing this holiday then stop thinking and start doing.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
Impossible to pick just one. A few specific moments stand out
Walking with lions on the activity day in Zambia
Standing in front of the Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe side
Elephants at sunset on the Chobe river cruise
Seeing a leopard on a fresh kill
Wild camping in Moremi (with hippos in the pool behind the tents!) and in the salt pans (truly the most surreal camping location I have ever been to)
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam is an excellent Group Leader. Nothing was too much trouble and he also took the time to take a group of us over into Zimbabwe on his day off, which I highly recommend doing at low water time as you see the falls much better than from the Zambia side. He is also an excellent cook, even complying with our requests for weird food like eggy bread.!
Jame was our wildlife guide and driver and made a huge difference to the experience on this holiday with the quality and quantity of wildlife spotting. Even on the day when he'd driven all day with no break due to a problem with one of the vehicles he still insisted on taking us for a sunset drive so we didn't miss the hippo pools.
Bruce and James made up the team and both worked tirelessly and cheerfully in the background to ensure that we got the full relaxing experience of "full service camping" which is after all why many people pick this trip!
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
Stick with the Exodus kit list and you can't go far wrong. We were there during the hot dry season but even so I was glad of a three sesaon sleeping bag on the salt pans. The zip-off style of trousers and the lightweight safari shirts are great and you have chances to rinse out clothes on most days so don't overpack! Take plenty of wet wipes and insect repellant. You do get the chance to shower most days and in some places (Audi camp for example) the facilities are excellent. I took walking boots and wished I hadn't as they weren't really necessary, trainers would have been fine. Sandals are a must. You may get the chance to swim while in the Delta so at the very least take shorts and a t-shirt that you can swim in when you pack your "smaller bag" for the Delta.
You get the chance to buy souvenirs on the last day at a shop which is literally right outside the airport so no need to do it early and lug stuff around with you unless you see something really unusual.
Take plenty of US Dollars for Zambia. No-one uses any other currency and if you have enough to pay for your trips in cash then you don't get the 5% credit card surcharge. ATMs out on the road in Botswana are a bit hit and miss so do take advantage of the ones in Maun before you leave!
If you have a DSLR take a decent zoom lens if you can. Mine was 55-250 and I think 300 would have been better though I was quite pleased with some of the photos. Charging is no problem as the vehicle has an inverter and an adaptor box with half a dozen outlets. If you still have the two pin mains lead with the narrow plug shape that comes with most cameras these days then take it as it will fit directly into the adaptor box. Otherwise you need a round pin South African adaptor.
Travelling in the vehicle in the early morning is cold - make sure you have a fleece top and long trousers. Some of the travelling from place to place was hot and dusty so buy sweets and drinks before you set out. Jelly babies don't survive several days of 40 degree heat though!
Is there anything else you would like to add?
The only even slightly negative point on the trip was the age and condition of some of the equipment used, namely the camp beds (which need chucking out!) and the matresses (which would be better if they were replaced with slightly thicker ones and used on their own without the beds). We did also suffer three punctures and two vehicle breakdowns. However despite this the local team worked very hard to make sure that the slight delays suffered did not adversely affect our enjoyment and it's all credit to them that it did not.
There were 11 of us in our group and I thought this was a good number. I'm not sure if it's just something about anyone who'd be mad enough to pick a camping safari in Africa but we all got on well and the overall group dynamic greatly added to the enjoyment of the holiday for me. I'm not sure it would have had the same atmosphere with a small group.
Overall an excellent holiday. My third with Exodus and it certainly won't be my last!
Ruth Richardson

HIGHLIGHTS OF BOTSWANA

Written October 2011
Wilderness and wildlife at it's best without too much of the other stuff thrown in. A fantastic trip with lots of opportunity for wildlife sitings and being at one with nature.
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What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?
This was a question we kept asking ourselves as the trip went on and we never managed to pin point one moment. Some of the moments for me were:
1. watching a young leopard lounge around in a tree - it felt as if he was looking straight at me!
2. watching three lionesses interact with two cubs as the sun started to drop
3. an elephant almost taking a swim - he just about got his shoulders in!
4. spectacular sunsets and a spectacular electric storm!
5. watching the pied kingfisher from a swimming hole in the delta
What did you think of your group leader?
Sam, Jame and Bruce made a good team. Sam wasn't well for the first few days of our trip but he struggled on and came into his own after starting some antibiotics. Sam clearly knows his stuff and the trip ran smoothly from start to finish. Jame is the gentle giant of the three and a true wildlife enthusiast. Even after hours of driving on challenging roads Jame would always stop if an animal was spotted and position the truck to ensure we got the best viewing and pictures possible. Jame never rested unless everything was in order. Bruce always had a smile on his face and was happy to put the kettle on for us at all times (even in the heat of the day!)
Do you have any advice for potential travellers?
A Zambian visa was extremely easy to purchase at the border so don't worry about getting one before.
When heading into Savuti and Moremi ensure you have enough cold drinks (as well as water) to last as there are no shops in between. If you get fed up of drinking water then get some drink powder from Shop Rite (supermarket). This is easy to carry and a little like squash when added to water. The mixed berry flavour is particularly pleasant.
Take your swim kit into the delta as the swimming hole is a great alternative to no shower!
Although we were advised to keep buying 5 litre water bottles, most of the water in Botswana seemed ok to drink - the guides were actually quite excited about the water in savuti and it did indeed taste good
It was very hot in October, between 38-42 most days and above 30 at night. We discovered that wearing a wet T-shirt or havinga wet scarf / towel around our necks helped prevent us from overheating at the hottest points of the day and dried very quickly.
walking boots weren't needed - trainers were sufficient in the delta and sandals everywhere else
A light sleeping bag was totally sufficient and even that was too much at times. A cotton sheet or sheet liner would have been usueful.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
Rain jacket was a waste of space as when it rained it did so fantastically and jacket wouldn't have helped. It was also 'warm rain' so was quite welcome after a hot sticky day!
Visit Vic Falls under your own steam. Get a taxi there - US$10, entry US$20 and then head to the right where you will no doubt bump into a young guide who would like to show you all the best veiweing spots, followed by a safe swimming hole. This will cost you between US$20-35 /person. The guides work as a team so divide up earnings evenly at the end of the day. This option isn't advertised so it's a bit of a gamble but was well worth it.
The 'comfortable' mattresses and camp beds aren't so comfortable, two mattresses on the floor was the better option, but even then it depended which mattresses you got! You also need to ask for this as it means swapping beds for mattresses at HQ in Maun.
If you want a trip T-shirt make sure you buy it in Livingstone as options in Botswana are extremely limited.
Armadillos in Livinsgtone made for a great night out - excellent food and live music
I needed more money than I thought and would have needed even more if doing any of the expensive optional activities in Livingstone. Also remember that tips add up! I proabably spent between £600-700 on food, drinks (alcohol included), visa, extra activities, tips
Chobe River cruise and Zambezi sunset cruise are both worth doing although Zambezi cruise no longer has dinner, but does have free alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages and finger food!
Delta flight was encouraged, but unless you have a burning desire to view the delta from above or particualrly enjoy flights in light aircraft, this was an expensive 45 mins!
If you have any doubts about this trip because of bush toilets, bush showers and remote camping don't -these wern't nearly as bad as you might think and in fact preferable to toilet experiences on other trips!
Lastly - ENJOY!