What our clients say about us.
Updated November '04
Botswana/Zimbabwe/Namibia/South Africa lodge & fly-in safaris
BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI: OCT 2002
"Bert, What can I say? The trip surpassed even our best expectations. Wendy and I most certainly were not ready to come home. The trip was spectacular from beginning to end. Each camp was special in its own right, and the combination of the experience we had at all 3 made for a truly unbelievable experience. Duma Tau was fantastic. The guides, camp, and diversity of activities was wonderful. We had a great experience on the Linyanti River, as a heard of elephants decided to cross no more than 30 yards in front of our boat. Awesome. We were also fortunate enough to spend some time with a large pack of wild dogs, as they made their 1st appearance in 3 months! The accommodations were great, with elephants through camp almost every day and night. Tubu Tree is a special place. Wendy and I were fortunate enough to be the only guests at the camp for our 1st 2 nights. The rooms are spectacular, being elevated at least 10-15 feet off the ground. I had a giraffe come and visit me 1 afternoon as I showered on the outdoor deck. The camp bar and pool are remarkable, with a great view over a vast floodplain. We really didn't see the difference between this "vintage" camp, and the "classic" camps we stayed at. You must see it for yourself, it's beautiful. The diversity of game around Tubu is also great. There are vast herds of plains game that roam the area around the camp. There is nothing like the sight of watching the sun go down with hundreds of animals in view. There are also tons of giraffe in the area, we saw them every day. One morning, our guide (Alson) awoke us early as there had been some activity not far from camp. We could hear the hyenas howling from our room. We arrived to find a group of young male lions that had taken a giraffe, and who were trying to guard it from the aggressive hyenas. As we were watching, the young males suddenly abandoned their meal as 2 huge males appeared from the bush. The males roared into the bush for about 5 minutes as they wanted to let everyone know that this was their turf. Just another day at Tubu...(I won't even mention that we saw a Pangolin on a night drive). You must check it out on your next trip. Duba Plains was an awesome last stop. I know you have been there before, but the experience offered there is special. The struggle for power between the prides of lions, and listening to the guides talk about the lives of every lion we came across is amazing. We also had the opportunity to get involved with a group of lions (Tsaro pride) as they awoke and hunted a buffalo. An awe-inspiring experience. James, our guide, literally had us right in the middle of the action. I'm sure you know by now that Wilderness runs an unbelievable operation. The logistics of everything couldn't have run any smoother, and the camps really could not have been any better. I have no doubt that Wendy and I will again travel to the Delta. It's just a question of when! Thanks for all your help, and let me know what other info I can provide."
Cary Sawyer
BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI & IMPALILA FISHING LODGE - JULY 2002
IMPALILA: The lodge has not changed, comfortable and very much what one expects in these parts. The food was OK, nothing like last year, but again one does not come to Impalila for a culinary experience. The Staff, Simon especially and Connie, were very helpful and wonderfully attentive. Thus the main point, fishing, spectacular as ever and even more. Christian in the 3 1/2 days fishing caught, 20 plus breams, one pink happy one humpback (apparently rare and difficult to catch) and tiger fish galore, lots under 3 Kg, two 3 Kg, one 5 Kg, three 6.2 Kg, three 7.2 kg and one 8.2 Kg. I don't know if Victor's scale works in implements of 0.2 kg, but these are the weights. As for improvements, if you can pass on the message, they need top work on the curio shop. Need more artifacts, curios, pewter, etc, as they have only clothing and not much else. We did have a great time and Christian had lots of fun fishing. (not counting the big ones which always escape!!!).
MOMBO : What can we say?? Mombo is a class apart. Where can you see 35 lions, one fleeting cheetah (very unusual), three leopard, dozens and dozens of elephants, buffalos, zebras, giraffes, impalas, warthogs, three rhinos, hippos by night by the cabin etc. The cabins are their normal luxurious self, wonderful, BK is a great guide with many insights. Sha the new manager is good not Corli class, but no one is, too bad for Little Mombo that Corli has been moved to Mombo. The personal touch, the warmth the making you feels part of the family (it was our fourth visit after all ) are gone. Sha does a good job, but no touch, not like Corli. Too bad little Mombo has lost its soul, it a still a wonderful camp but not the very special place it was. Many many thanks to Wilderness Safari for flying our friend Grant Atkinson ( as he was about to start his leave) to meet us in Mombo and spend two days with us. Grant as a guide is in a class by himself. He is not only a walking encyclopedia of all matters as related to the bush, the animals, insects, plants, birds, soil, geology, history, sky and more, but he has a wonderful sense of humor, has fascinating conversation and is a wonderful friend. That was the best possible returning gift to receive, two days in paradise with Grant.
LITTLE VUMBURA: Upon landing we saw two cheetahs, one magnificent male sable antelope, one elephant, then that evening one great male leopard on a tree, eating a young sable, elephants, dozens of sables, thirteen lions, not to mention the usual red lechwes, impalas, zebras, buffalos etc etc. The guide Obonye a little shy at first warmed up (he is only 26) and became quite interesting full of educational comments. He knows the bush and is a wonderful tracker. The camps managers are great; very ""couleur locale"" just right. The camp is old and needs upgrading ( like Duma Tau). Needs a little luxury, not like Mombo more like Duma Tau or Kwetsani. Fishing was interesting but very amateurish, no special lures, just one kind, no fishing nets, despite Oboney great help and expert knowledge of the waters. The animal viewing was spectacular, not Mombo, but very close. Five Cheetahs the last morning, alone!!!! The managers could not be more helpful, gracious or hospitable. We had a great time and enjoyed every minutes. Just have the camp updated and freshened.
NXAMASERI: A true fishing camp with all the "camp limitation"" Really roughing it !!!! The camp has just been bought by a new owner, and has to be completely upgraded. The camp has been closed for a few weeks, new manager who arrived two days before us, we being the only guests!!! No shampoos in the rooms, no food for sundowner, no juice for breakfast, it is what it is, a camp which has not been opened for a while, with a new manager who has never managed a camp before. It is fun and very, very basic.
The fishing is good, not great, it is not Impalila, but good. One great excitement is to hand feed (my son not me!!!) the fish eagles with the daily catch. Quite an experience!!! Adrian the manager is a great guy, well-meaning and full of enthusiasm. He knows the field well and has a job ahead of him to bring the club to par. The guide Preke was excellent, patient and knowledgeable of the river. There are the ingredients for a great camp, once the accommodations have been updated, the food improved, the entire camp spruced up. The fishing is not Impalila but very challenging and exciting. We had a good time.
SUSSI AND CHUMA:. Excellent choice to end the vacation. Very well appointed, with all luxuries, like full time electricity, heated blankets, working cell phones, decent food (unimaginative) good atmosphere and very little to do. Fishing was extra!!! No real activities except visiting the Falls, BUT a great relaxing two days finishing a wonderful vacation.
Thanks again it was a great vacation. we enjoyed it.
C. Garelli, Connecticut
BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI & SOUTH AFRICA SELF-DRIVE - JUNE 2002
"Now I know that du Plessis is a popular name in South Africa! We saw it quite a few places so you must have a large family (just kidding).
We had a wonderful time, and I wanted to commend you on all the bookings. Wilderness Safaris was topnotch, totally professional, always prompt and waiting for us, extremely courteous, and had excellent staff. We really liked the honeymoon suite accommodations at Pom Pom, especially my bathtub in the tree from which I could soak, sip champagne and watch hippos and birds through the binoculars. A one-time, one-stop piece of heaven. Duba Plains was also quite interesting, but Pom Pom just appealed to me more--maybe it was the leopards strolling through camp, or the fact that there was more water while we were there.
Our only criticism of Wilderness was that they do not have the staff to do walking. The guides have to be licensed for that, and not all of them are. In fact all the guiding staff in the camps seemed to be going on their one-month leave when we arrived, so we were lucky to get in two walks. I saw a lot of wonderful animals from the landrovers, but I would trade those days for even a few hours of walking--there is just no comparing the quality of the time. That said, we had a really wonderful time and I highly recommend the camps. (We could have had one day less at Duba).
The Grace hotels were wonderful, and we were quite "honeymooned" at both hotels, complete with gifts of champagne, rose petals, etc.
The Dolphin trail was really interesting. The Fernery is the first overnight, and the accommodations were new chalets right on a gorge with a beautiful view, stunning landscaping. They served dinner in their "fernery" and as usual, we were the only guests! Very interesting place and a good start. The hike varies from crossing pasture to trail walking in the forest to steep stepping (natural steps) down to the rock at the shoreline and then steep climbing back up on the first day to the second overnight. The accommodations at Misty Mountain, the next stop, were more quotidian, but with the beautiful ocean view right outside the door and the need to soak one's feet, expectations are more easily met. The second day of walking was less steep, and involved switchbacks up and over to Storms River. The accommodations at Tsitsikamma park were a let down though, and the food is really ordinary. On the plus side, it's a good place to do all the laundry before moving on to the next adventure. I think I would have traveled to Nature's Valley and stayed there if we were spending more than one night after the hike. Our guides were young and enthusiastic, and getting the hang of teaching old people like us about the fynbos, which we thoroughly enjoyed. I think anyone that's reasonably fit could do the hike, as it is not long, but has some strenuous pitches. I was happy I had previously worked out on the gym stair stepper and hiked occasionally for recreation, although some of that preparation faded due to sitting in landrovers for 8 days (plus the Blue Train!) and spending several days in the car before going on the hike. I think the Dolphin is a good alternative to the 4-day Otter Trail: shorter, more amenities, especially the Fernery, and you don't have to carry a pack.
We were also solitary travelers at the B&B's on the eastern cape--we were the only ones at Klippe Rivier (a wonderful honeymoon cottage which we really enjoyed) and Riverbend at Addo Park, which we also really enjoyed. We hiked in the Zuurberg reserve, and were served dinner by the fireplace. Saw giraffes nibbling on the hillside at sunset, and enjoyed tromping around in general. The only place we didn't really enjoy was in Knysna, Belvedere Manor. First, it was really cold when we were there and there was no heat other than the small fire in the living room! Although it was quite the large suite, we spent the night at the Oyster festival and later found out about other B&B's in the area that might be good. Compared to the other places we stayed it was more of a family resort, the staff was pretty impersonal. For couples w/o children I recommend finding someplace else in that area unless the client wants to stay for a few days in warm weather and take advantage of water sports.
We spent the last ten days on the coast near Kenton on Sea, then near Grahamstown, then near Tarkastad and hiked a lot of mountains, including Mt Mary and Mt Martha. Oh, and we ate at Bukhara in Capetown--a wonderful Indian restaurant (the hotel driver took us there in a swank black Mercedes).
We met lots of wonderful people and really, really enjoyed our trip. I took the itinerary with me, and several guides/outfitters were quite impressed with it, so I thought I would pass that on. The information was also really helpful to have handy. One thing you might want to tell clients is that it is very easy to get a cell phone in SA--it was no cost with the car, just pay for the phone service (we never had to use it but it was good to have for emergency). Also, we bought phone cards to call to the US and that worked fine. If you have any other questions, give me a call. I'll email some photos after I figure out how to download them.
J. Kelsey, OR.
BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA: JUNE 2002
"Thought you might like a review of our trip. Terrific! In chronological order:
Flight from Atlanta to Cape Town: I, my son Rob and daughter-in-law Margaret flew coach. We all felt it was one of the most uncomfortable flights we had been on. The plane was jam packed and the leg room was minimal. You could hardly move when the person in front put the seat back. I did not find the service especially gracious. My daughter Jeremy flew from London on BA. She said the seats were comfortable. If I went again, I would try going via London and avoid SAA.
Cape Town: We cannot rave enough about Jill de Kock, our guide, driver, companion-- whatever! She picked us up at the airport on Sunday, guided us Monday and Tuesday and sent us on our way Wednesday. She was terrific and can guide us any time or just accompany us on a trip. Knowledgeable, but even more so, had a great sense of humor and could put up with us wry New Yorkers. She also was quite flexible concerning our wishes which made everything work out quite well. We liked the Victoria and Alfred Hotel-the service was excellent -- and actually preferred it to the other two 4/5 star hotels in the wharf area.
The others were quite nice, but a little too stuffy for us. Also, we liked the location, being near the shopping in case we needed something.
The Cape Peninsula trip and the winelands trip were fine. The bad news for South Africans and the good news for us was that the Rand was so cheap. We had a wonderful dinner at Rozenhof and couldn't believe the total cost for 5 of us was $55.00 (include $1.50 corkage as I had bought wine at Rustenberg).
Victoria Falls: We all loved the Victoria Falls Hotel-a bit of Empire--and were pleased we stayed there rather than elsewhere. The hotel must be hurting as we did not see too many other guests. Obviously, the falls were impressive. We ended up with a 15 minute helicopter ride instead of the 30 minute one as Wilderness switched our departure time to Kasane and the helicopter was delayed due to service. 15 minutes was more than adequate. One night was also perfect.
The Tented Camps: All three were great. And I preferred the order in which you set it up. In meeting other guests who had been at Mombo or Jao, I'm pleased we stayed where we did. Their comments basically were that the rooms were larger-although they didn't spend a lot of time in them-and the food may have been more elegantly presented, but was not better than we had. Certainly didn't appear to justify the extra cost.
Duma Tau: The variety of game was the most diverse of any of the camps and we got lucky the first day to have Cheetahs included. We followed them for a while, but they were not successful in their hunt. Our big disappointment here and at the other camps was that we never saw a Leopard. However, lots of other mammals made up for it including Norman.
While we are not bird people (as I gather you are), my daughter kept track of all the birds and mammals in the Wilderness book. By the end of the trip, she had marked in over 100 species of birds that were actually pointed out. Some were so beautiful that we almost could become bird watchers. The drive we took up the Linyanti was wonderful.
Brandon and Deborah, the camp hosts, were very nice and they ran a good show. The food was fine and included Bobotie. I mention this as I had made it for years in the states and Jill also made it. We are exchanging recipes.
Duba Plains: We became good friends with the Duba Boys, the two male lions who were kings of the closest pride. There are four prides in the area and we had time for two of them. One can't get enough lion pictures including one we have of nine cubs left alone by their parents. We only saw one kill in person, a female lion taking down a red Lechwe, but for some of us that was enough. We did see a number of kills after the event with the lions, hyenas or vultures feasting. It is also amazing to watch the pride organize and start their prowl for a kill. Unlike Duma Tau, there were less variety of species, but lots of lions, cape buffalo, red lechwe, tsessebes, and hyenas. Plenty for the lions to feed on.
There was a change of hosts while we were there, but both sets, Julie & James, Liza & Graham treated us very nicely.
Kwetsani: This was the smallest of the camps, also the newest, and if we had to pick one camp we liked the best, it was here. The hosts were terrific-Sarah and Lee-and because of the smaller size of the camp had more time to be involved with us. I also like the room layout the best.
The first night we were there was my 70th birthday. There was a surprise party for me (and the other two couples at the camp) - requested by Linda as I think you know. They had set up dinner out in the bush. A lovely candle lit table, the bar, the grills and the birthday cake. It was really quite nice and they completely faked me out. Thanks for your help in arranging it.
This camp had more water than the other two and we made the most of it. Our arrival from the plane to the camp was by a 45 minute boat ride which we thoroughly enjoyed. We did the Mokoro thing, went fishing and took the boat ride to a large island which had lots of game and more lions. Luckily, the hippo that prevented some of the Jao staff from getting back to their camp by boat was not around for us.
There were two other particular things that Lee did that were great. The first was our only nature walk. We were getting a bit Land Rover crazy, but obviously, we were not allowed to walk around except at camp due to the risk. [I forgot to mention that at both Duma Tau and Duba Plains, we had to delay going to our rooms on occasion because the elephants were feeding and blocking our way.] Lee is authorized to carry a rifle and was enthusiastic about our request. He really widened our understanding of the ecology as he was so knowledgeable about the flora and fauna. For example, what we would have just walked by, he stopped, pulled out three blades of grass and explained the differences in the species and which were eaten.. We examined the bones remaining from kills and actually ate something from the elephant dung-obviously from inside a seed.
The second was another dinner. When the other two couples left and a new feisty couple arrived, Lee decided he had the right mix for a special dinner. It was on the plain by the pool. An outdoor native dinner with a big fire where we baked our own bread and ate with our fingers. We had a great time.
On arriving in Johannesburg, Linda and I were able to change our SAA flight to go directly to NYC. We were lucky as we had four seats for the two of us as did the people in the row in front. Therefore, we had plenty of room and didn't have to worry about the forward seat coming back. Robs and Margaret, unfortunately, had another cattle car to Atlanta.
That's it. All in all, a great trip. Thanks! If any questions or a need for more detail, let me know.
Martin Smith, New York
Thanks for inquiring about our trip, which was wonderful! Everything went very smoothly, and the people from Wilderness Safaris were terrific about meeting us, escorting us through customs and the airports, and generally easing our way through South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
We especially enjoyed PomPom and Duma Tau, where the people, service, trackers, and accommodations were first-rate. I think that we would have enjoyed Mashatu more if we had been there first instead of last because of the standards of the other two, but we wouldn't have wished that we hadn't gone there either. Yes, there were a few days when we had second thoughts about getting out of our warm beds into the cold and dark, but it was all well worth it. Do you think that October is generally a good time to go back to Duma Tau - perhaps in conjunction with a trip to the Serengeti and/or Masai Mara? We wouldn't be looking at this year, certainly, but perhaps 2003 or 2004 with a group of friends. We very much appreciate all of your efforts to coordinate our trip, especially on such short notice. And by the way, the Grace is an absolutely marvelous way to end the trip!
L. MacIntosh, MI
BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 2002
Thanks for helping me plan a wonderful trip. Best trip, wildlife viewing was better than anticipated. More action! I had an amazing time and look forward to returning in the near future (within 2 years). Please keep me notified of any specials Wilderness is running, especially ones that include Duba Plains. I had a great time at all the camps, but would rank them in this order: Duba, DumaTau, Kirkman's and Ngala (Tented Camp).
Duba's game viewing was unbelievable, I saw 41 different lions during my 3 night stay. The interaction between lion and buffalo was intense. The only drawback to Duba was the midday flies which were only at that camp. All the other camps were pretty much bug free. James, Jules and Ike were the best hosts out of the 4 camps. All were nice.
Highlights at Duba:
DumaTau was a nice change from Duba and quite a different wildlife experience. DumaTau has lots of Elephants, Giraffes, Zebras, Impalas and lots of good night viewing of different animals such as: Bat-eared fox, serval and genet. Of course I saw some lions and 2 wild dogs as well. The accommodations were probably a little nicer than Duba, but not much.
Highlights at DumaTau:
Kirkman's accommodations weren't as nice as the tented camps, but my wife liked it probably the most due to the heater in the room. The game viewing was fantastic and our guide Jaco was real nice. We got the big 7 certificate.
Highlights at Kirkman's:
Ngala's accommodations were the most luxurious of the 4 camps and the service was outstanding. The game viewing was ok, but not as good as the other 3. If this was my first camp I would have been a little more excited, but with the luck I had at the other 3 camps, the game viewing was good, but not fantastic. There were periods of 30 minutes with no animals. Overall we saw quite a few different animals, but not a lot of interaction between the animals. Our last game drive of our safari we lucked out and stumbled across a den which we thought had 5 month old lion cubs, but it also had 3 one week old baby lion cubs. What a treat and what a way to end a trip.
Highlights at Ngala Tented Camp:
Summary: The game viewing was great. I saw over 70 different lions. Botswana I enjoyed a little more than South Africa. South Africa was a little more commercialized, while at the Botswana camps quite frequently we were the only vehicle at the sightings. I saw pretty much everything I wanted to see (not enough). I would have liked to see more leopards and spend more time with them, but at least I saw 6. I didn't get to see the Black Rhino, caracal or ocelot. I saw lots of birds. I really enjoyed the African fish eagle, lilac breasted rollers, giant hawk eagle, go-away bird, Franklin's, cranes, and the little bee-eater. I saw lots more and have the checklist at home. Also saw, ostrich, nyala, kudu, baboons, vervet monkey, crocodile, wildebeest, zebra, impala, side-striped jackal, waterbuck, bushbuck and more...
Note: One of the families we met at DumaTau saw a Pel's Fishing Owl at Pom Pom
Thanks again,
S. Smith, IL
NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA & THE CAPE - MAY 2002
"Dear Bert, Asa and I wish to thank you for arranging our recent trip. It had to be a 9 or 10 out of 10. We personally wished we had booked more days, but felt obligated to accommodate the wishes of our traveling companions before the trip. Our impressions were as follows:
Botswana was super and the temperature especially good for us this time of year. The staff at Linyanti was the best group we have experienced to date. They had Bonang from the Kings Pool temporarily overseeing the operation and she was wonderful. We were lucky to see a most beautiful, very innocent, young leopard during one of our drives. The elephants were "very naughty" as the guide expressed it. To Asa, it was to the point of becoming scary since so many of the males seemed to be in musth or stressed to judge from the flowing glands. However, it was exciting to have the adrenalin flow! The water was just coming into Pom Pom and we saw it rise every day. This camp is more laid back than the others but is every bit as enjoyable. One of the most fantastic sights there was about 100 wattled cranes feeding along the incoming water. Brian Rode the camp director/guide was top notch and a step above the other guides we have had during the years. An early morning walk with him is a nice experience.
Duba Plains was also pleasant and the tents improved since the time before we were there. The eight little lion cubs we saw two and a half years ago were now hunting buffalo!
We truly enjoyed all the camps and some day hope to visit one or more to finally get a glimpse of the sitatunga "we almost saw" during a boat trip in Linyanti, the cheetah and wild dogs "we almost saw" at Duba and the Pel's Fishing Owl that we "almost saw" at Pom Pom.
The Kleins, FL
BOTSWANA GREEN SEASON SAFARI 2002 - APRIL 2002
"Bert: If we did it again, we would do exactly the same thing, only add another camp. At Duba, of course we immediately saw a lion hunt to the finish; Michael met some birders, and we were "bonded" with our knowledgeable guide. The hosts were particularly intelligent, educated, gracious. I love the tents. Definitely we would do Duba again, even especially "out of season."
We happened to have been the only guests at Jacana, which was a wholly different personalized experience. We would do Jacana again, too. Just as we drove in, we saw two huge black mambas, mating, and from the mokoros we saw the Sitatunga. We had, of course, a great number of assistant guides - one who climbed barefoot around the island trees until he found and led us to a Pel's Fishing Owl. I actually couldn't say goodbye when we left - I was crying with the need to stay longer.
I wish we had added a third camp such as Little Mombo, just to experience the 6-paw. River Club was certainly the place to stay during Zimbabwe's elections, and we did see an unusual number of elephants, quite close, on one of the evening boat rides, and of course it was an elegant place, a refuge from the hot roads, and utterly delightfully friendly hosts, yet I'd probably choose another camp on the Delta, on another trip. We really hated to leave. This was my "trip of a lifetime," and Michael, who has been to Africa over twenty times, was happy with the quality of care and knowledge the hosts and guides offered. Thanks also for recommending Newman's Birds of Southern Africa."
L. Summer, GA.
We've been back from our safari for 2 months, and I thought I'd write and tell you what a wonderful time we had. Everyone in our group of 5 loved Botswana, the camps, and travel arrangements. It was a wonderful country to visit. The people are friendly and proud of Botswana, and there were plenty of animals to see even in the rainy season. We also enjoyed the River Club and Zambia for the Falls and cultural activities. Our favorite camp was Duma Tau, the one you booked for us instead of our first choice, Savuti! It was the perfect place to end the safari. There we saw the most animals, and had a fabulous guide, Peace, assigned to us. We returned with many great photos and memories. I'd love to go back, but if I never can, it was truly the trip of a lifetime!
Thank you for making all the bookings. Congratulations on a job well done."
C. Neifert, IL
BOTSWANA GREEN SEASON SAFARI - MARCH 2002
As advanced seniors, we reasoned that future, major trips are realistically limited. So we asked friends who travel extensively "what is the best trip you've ever taken"? Surprisingly a majority of responses favored Africa. Research of our options, which included Kenya/Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana resulted in our choosing Botswana. Planning began shortly after 9/11 We were aware of the political problems and risks of Zimbabwe, heightened by the March 2002 elections, so favored Botswana due to it's unique stability and felt it would be a less "touristy" experience.
We ran a Person to Person inquiry in ITN asking for comments on several tour operators. This produced 35 replies! Most were very favorable. After checking around a bit, we selected Fish Eagle Safaris of Houston, Texas, (1-800-513-5222), run by Bert Duplessis, an ex-South African, who was able to customize a Botswana only tour whereas most agencies offered combination packages which we did not want. It was a pleasure to deal with an organization where the owner answered the telephone (no menus)! We'd recommend Fish Eagle without hesitation.
Bert put together a 12 day package which included 3 days each at two camps in the Okavango Delta, 4 days at a third, preceded by 1 night at the Grace Hotel in Johannesburg, and ending with 2 nights at the River Club in Zambia near Victoria Falls. He also handled the air on South Africa Airways, Atlanta to Johannesburg, and the local air in Africa. His prices were competitive and the entire process handled flawlessly.
The overseas flight on SAA, Atlanta to Johannesburg, took 14.5 hours. This was tiring but service was good, including better than average meals and complimentary wine and drinks. SAA's daily flights leave at 10:30 am and arrive JNB 8 am the following morning - time change 7 hours from Atlanta. We overnighted at the Grace Hotel, recommended by Fish Eagle, about 30 minutes from the airport, rated one of the top hotels in Africa. Their service and amenities were true to their reputation. This was on a B &B basis for $120 each, expensive but a unique experience. With the attractive exchange rate our roast lamb dinner with appetizer and dessert cost $7.70 U.S.!
The next morning's flight JNB to Maun took about 1½ hours on Air Botswana. Maun is the jumping off point for flights to the various Okavango Delta camps and has boomed in recent years due to the tremendous growth of the safari business. Sefofane Air is used for the short flights between camps, in small aircraft with good views of game from flight altitude of about 1500 feet.
The Okavango Delta floods annually from May through August. September/October are typically dry. The rainy season is November through February. However, the flood comes from the Okavango River originating in Angola in the north. The flood takes four months to reach the Okavango Delta. Hence the delta floods in May. After evaporation roughly end of August, September/October are dry. This is a most unusual phenomenon. Our trip, in March, worked out fine as it fell just after the rainy season but before their winter. It is their fall, so warm, 65-90 degrees, low humidity, few mosquitoes, and many of the game drive tracks which are unusable later due to the flood are drivable in March.
Our first camp was Xigera, known as a permanent water camp, offering game viewing not only from the standard, very rugged and dependable Land Rovers but also from canoe like Mekoros poled by native guides through narrow waterways, and from a motorboat with 55 hp. Mariner which permits traveling a longer distance from camp. At Xigera we saw large breeding elephant herds, giraffes, gemsbok, red lechwe, impala, crocodiles, and baboons, not to mention lots of birds. The camp features raised walkways and elevated platform tents, luxurious with hot and cold water, and ensuite bathrooms, by no means primitive!
During periods of darkness, one is accompanied by a camp guide from tents to central areas. Dining was excellent and the bar was open always and included. Each camp has a management team, often a husband/wife, and you are assigned to a guide who stays with you for your entire stay. All camps we visited are run by Wilderness Safaris, the principal operator in the Okavango. They do a fine job! We'd recommend including Xigera for variety although we saw more game in terms of variety and numbers elsewhere. Capacity at Xigera is about 16. Game drives include occasional pit stops where guides check the nearby foliage for unwanted animals and also "sundowner" stops toward the end of the late day drive, complete with drinks and hors d'oeuvres, served on the savanna, are standard at all camps. The drivers don't drink!
A short flight took us to Duba Plains, smaller, 6 tented units, no raised walkways, but the dining area is on a raised deck overlooking a large plain. Here the game viewing was entirely in Land Rovers, about 4-6 people in each vehicle. Each camp features "plunge pools" to cool off during mid-day. The usual schedule at all camps calls for an early morning game drive from about 6:30 to 10 am, lunch at 11, "R & R" until 4 pm, an elaborate snack then, an afternoon/evening game drive 4:30 to 7:30, with cocktails/dinner at 8 pm.
At Duba we drove further, but saw a greater variety of game, adding lions, Cape Buffalo, kudos, tsessebe, hippo, warthog, jackal, leopard, antelope, and a hyena den, to those seen at Xigera. Since no hunting is permitted in this area, the animals are unafraid of humans. The herds of Cape Buffalo were amazing. We estimated 2000 in one herd which took over an hour to pass before us on the savanna in front of the tents. We also watched a lion kill of a young Cape Buffalo, and observed the pride of about 12 lions devouring the kill just a few feet from our Land Rover, a fascinating experience. Once again, excellent management, guides, accommodations and food.
On to Mombo Camp, considered the ultimate in safari camp luxury. It lived up to its reputation, with gourmet meals, a tent much larger than the others, and game viewing in greater numbers and variety than the other camps also closer to camp. Mombo has 9 units with an added 3 units at adjacent Little Mombo. In addition to the aforementioned animals, repeated at Mombo, our guide found a family of Cheetahs, a family of lions with cubs, and huge zebra herds especially at water holes. We visited two abandoned leopard cubs three times whose mother had apparently been killed. They had been without food for a week. This was a sad situation but it is their policy to let nature take its course. We, and some staff, however, were rooting for a rescue effort where they could be fed until old enough to be released and take care of themselves. We'll always wonder what happened.
In all cases the guides, natives of various parts of Botswana, were incredibly knowledgeable as to all forms of wildlife and the flora and fauna of the area. They also possessed an excellent command of English.
This ended our camp safari segment. We then flew to Kasane, a long hour from Mombo, followed by a short flight to Livingstone in Zambia, where we were met by a Wilderness Safaris rep and driven to the River Club. Peter, the owner, raised in Northern Rhodesia, now part of Zambia, and educated in England, acquired a beautiful property in 1997 on a high bluff overlooking the Zambezi River 12 miles upstream from Victoria Falls. The main building is adorned with beautiful furniture and art work. Accommodations are in open units overlooking the river and affording all amenities, not mention a gorgeous view of the river. Peter is assisted by Clare and meals, overseen by Brett, were outstanding, served either in the formal dining room or, for breakfast and lunch, on the lawn above the river with wine and all the trimmings.
A visit to a nearby game farm with White Rhinos, along with other game, is included as are a late afternoon river trip, an excursion to Victoria Falls which we viewed from the Zambian side, and optionally fishing on the Zambezi which your author tried and caught a 5 pound tiger fish. The falls are spectacular but prepare to get very wet! We spent two nights at the club, three might be better, departing by car to the Victoria Falls Airport, in Zimbabwe, and managed to pass through Zimbabwe unscathed, flying Air Zimbabwe to Johannesburg. Entering Zimbabwe requires payment of a $30 pp Visa charge plus a $20 pp airport departure tax. This can be avoided by returning from Livingstone, Zambia, using a different air service to JNB. We'd recommend considering this alternative.
The return flight to Atlanta on SAA is brutal! Rather than non-stop to Atlanta, they fly south to Cape Town, then stop for refueling at the Verde Islands, taking 21 hours to Atlanta without getting off the plane. Were we to return we'd seriously explore alternatives. This was exhausting, especially being followed by 10 more hours from Atlanta to Portland, Or.
Overall, a fascinating trip and so different from the usual "holiday". All was very efficiently handled by both Fish Eagle Safaris which contracts with Wilderness Safaris for the camp reservations. We'd recommend both. There may be a "premium" charge for Mombo Camp but the River Club appears to be included without surcharge. We'd recommend including Mombo and the River Club however, as both are very special experiences. Should you go in our summer, their winter, prepare for cooler temperatures. We felt that March was in between and just fine. One caution! Be able to climb in and out of the Land Rovers used for game drives. It's a high step up and requires a moderate degree of agility or a strong helping hand!
Charles Cusack, OR
BOTSWANA SAFARI - GREEN SEASON 2002
"Yes, unfortunately we are back! I have it on my list to e-mail you but it's been pretty crazy since we got back. It was WONDERFUL. Thank you so much for putting together the trip, all the arrangements worked like clockwork.
Let me give you a critique of the trip
1. Booking and arranging the
trip -Fantastic, absolutely no complaints at all. I really appreciated the
effort and thought you put into making the itinerary match our needs
2.
Xigera -The birds were wonderful and the guides were very interested in the
birds and showed skilled guiding to find them. The managers of the camp however
were not great (John and Salome). They did an adequate job but after
interacting with other managers we found them to be lacking. The food at Xigera
was a bit like British public school food and at times there was not enough
cooked for the number and appetites of the guests.
3.Mombo -Wow what a
camp! We were very fortunate to have Gregg the manager as our guide as his
parents were visiting and as we were as interested in birds as they were we
shared a jeep. The animals were fantastic lions, leopard elephant etc. etc. (no
cheetah) and the birds were magnificent maybe even better than Xigera. The food
was outstanding and I was made to feel very special by the chef who really put
effort into making gluten free food for me. Some of the other guests however
were a little strange!!!! One family left early as they "had seen everything!"
4.Duba - This camp had a wonderful feel and the reason was due to the
managers James, Lisa (I've just had a mental block on the other ladies name).
They went out of there way to make you feel welcome .The food was not as
'fancy' as at Mombo but was lovely in presentation and taste. The game was
mainly lions and elephants and there was lots of them and we were very close to
them . Unfortunately despite the number of times we told our guide we wanted to
include birds and other unusual creatures in our sightings he would not change
his theme of 'find the lions' and he frequently did this at the expense of
seeing the other fauna and flora and got a little annoyed with us when we kept
asking to stop for us to identify a bird (all the people in the jeep were
birders).
I hope this is helpful for you when you are booking other people We are up for Namibia soon! (we need a great deal!)"
R. Fleissner, ND
CAPE TOWN, VICTORIA FALLS & BOTSWANA - GREEN SEASON 2002
"Dear Bert, I have been remiss in not getting in touch with you to tell you how much we enjoyed our southern Africa trip (Jan 2002). We all three agree it was one of the most pleasant experiences of our lives. The camps were absolutely superb. Management and staff were without exception considerate of our every desire; the kitchen was in the hands of experts and the food was gourmet. Without hesitation, we can and have recommended your good offices as well as that of Wilderness Safaris to our friends and acquaintances who may be contemplating an African vacation. We were particularly impressed with Savuti and Xigera Camps, probably because they were smaller and the staffs seemed more personally involved with the guests. This is not to denigrate Little Mombo. It also was very pleasant and of course the quarters were superb but it just didn't seem to have the intimacy of the other two. We also enjoyed Victoria Falls and the Ilala Lodge. It was a spectacular beginning to our African adventure. Cape Town was beautiful and we were impressed with the tours and the knowledgeable tour guides.
We were met at every step of the way by very considerate and helpful representatives of Wilderness. They provided the transportation as needed and even made arrangements for wheel chair assistance for my wife at the Johannesburg and Cape Town airports. The assistance provided with customs and passport control in each of the three countries was exceptional.
The trip home was long and arduous but was to be expected. Should we visit South Africa again (and we certainly hope we can) we may very well arrange to travel thru London or Paris and then on to Johannesburg after a day or two to break up the long "sit" of the return flight.
I wish to thank you for all your assistance in making and completing the arrangements for our trip. With the one exception noted above, which was beyond your control, everything was handled efficiently and to our complete satisfaction. Your choice of the bush camps couldn't have been better. With the experienced and highly trained guides each camp provided, we saw animals and birds beyond our fondest expectations. You may be assured of our recommendation of you and your agency to anyone contemplating a southern African adventure.
T. Olson, NM
CAPE TOWN, NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA & ZIMBABWE
Arnie and I really enjoyed every minute of our Jan 7 to 25, 2002 camera safari to Southern Africa. We are so glad we found you and Wilderness Safaris in 'International Travel News". Wilderness Safaris persons at every stop gave outstanding service - on time, informative and premier, first class assistance from the time we disembarked in Cape Town until we were let out of the van at Jo'burg Airport at the end of the trip. The managers, guides, food service and other staff at the four safari camps - Sossusvlei, Jao, Dumatau and Makalolo - also rendered continuous premier 1st class service. And the small plane service with Cessnas was superb. We had excellent hotels and food and tours and service at Cape Town, Swakopmund & Victoria Falls. Even the weather cooperated, with only 2 short rains. Our only safari negative is very minor, no roof on the land Rover at Dumatau. Our only travel negative concerns economy class seating in the SAA 747-400 from Atlanta to Cape Town; the seats were extra narrow and leg room was nil. No such problems with the 747-400 from Jo'burg to Atlanta. I think if I went again I would fly Lufthansa to Frankfurt or Munich and then lay over a day and fly Lufthansa or Air Namibia to Windhoek. Many thanks again.
Darrell Bakken & Arnold Viere, IN.
NAMIBIA, BOTSWANA, VICTORIA FALLS & SOUTH AFRICA SAFARI
"Our southern African experience (Sept 2001) has changed me forever. I remain enchanted by the whole experience. Most of all, the people of Wilderness Safaris were wonderful, personable and professional at the same time. Each person was skilled in their specialty, from greeter to camp staff to tracker. Without exception, they did their best to take care of us. It is impossible to fake the personal relationship that we felt. These people did their best to show their country at its best. It was not lost on us.
You and your wife, must share in our gratitude. We described our objectives to you in a general way, and you organized the whole African experience in a way that could not have been better. We are now bitten by the Africa bug, and must return. Both Rob and I had cameras, and we took a video camera as well. We have some fantastic photos and will send you some copies when we get them edited and have a chance to get the better ones reproduced.
For your information, Botswana was my favorite. I loved the people, all of them. The Wilderness Safari folks were exceptional as always. I was pleased to find equally gracious people with less motivation to be pleasant, e.g., border guards, immigration officials, baggage handlers, clerks, etc. Our Kings Pool ranger and tracker (Brooks and Captain) will be dear to me forever. They went out of their way to share everything they knew with us. I learned about animals and the land, but I also developed some insight in the pride that Botswana people have for their country.
Virtually all of our game drives were rewarding and some were truly exciting. I have examples of my definition of exciting. On one occasion, we surprised a male lion. He stared directly at me, 10 to 12 paces away when the guide turns off the ignition. (I later learned this was to avoid the perception that we were prey.)
The rangers and trackers are superb, they clearly understand animal behavior through observation - their habits, their body language, etc. but they are also knowledgeable of scientific facts that characterize an animal. Each ranger was careful to never promise what we might see, they emphasized that we would have to be lucky. It became obvious that luck had a lot to do with the ranger/tracker's skill and experience. Our luck was exceptional!
Andrew, our host for the day in Cape Town was a most pleasant companion and he did an admirable job of showing us the area. It is unfortunate that we did not have more time here, but one cannot do it all. Cape Town is more beautiful than I ever imagined. Cape Point is magnificent -- almost unreal. I loved the botanical garden, even though we raced through.
As I recall, Trevor is the name of the person who took us to Rovos Rail for our Cape Town departure. He said to give his regards to you and Kathy. Rovos is everything that its founder/owner could imagine. I am glad that I had the experience to ride the train in his lifetime. It is clearly his personal passion, and there is no way that heirs or corporate managers could ever match his pride in making every detail perfect. It was a lifetime trip to be remembered.
As you may recall, we used our 50th wedding anniversary as the excuse to make this trip. Well, now we shall have to work on our 51st and Africa again.
Anita & Rob Rollo, TX.
SOUTH AFRICA - 'BEST OF SOUTH AFRICA' FLY-IN SAFARI
Our first experience in South Africa (Oct. 2001) was being met at the airport by a Wilderness Safari representative and transported to Pretoria. Our driver/guide was waiting for us when we arrived and helped us get everything settled at the airport and on our way to the Marvol Manor House for our first nights stay. This was a wonderful place and I would highly recommend it for future guests. Though a little away from the downtown area it is in a marvelous setting. Very comfortable accommodations and a nice restaurant that served excellent meals. (Just a side comment: we couldn't believe the cost of food and wine could possibly be so cheap. Half or less of what things would cost in the U.S. This was true for our entire stay in South Africa.) Our tour around the Pretoria area was very nice. We got to see the Voortrekker Monument, Kruger house and Parliament and other places of historical interest. The young man who took us around Pretoria also picked us up the following morning and transported us back to the airport - and even escorted us through the airport to make sure we got to the right point to catch our flight to Skukuza.
We were met at Skukuza airport by representatives from Kirkman's Kamp who made sure all of our baggage got aboard the vehicle and then transported us to the camp. We were met at reception by Theo., our driver/guide for our two-day stay, who helped us get registered and then settled in our quarters. He would remain with, and take care of, us for the next two days; everything from driving the vehicle on game drives to making sure we were up on time in the mornings and that we were well taken care of at mealtimes. Such personal service is rare and was unexpected. Theo is a very knowledgeable, capable young man who did an excellent job for us. The driver/guides we had contact with are amazing in their ability to spot and track down both animals and plants in the bush. They see and point out things that we would never see on our own. We got to see all of the Big 5 while at Mala Mala plus a lot of other animals. The highlight was following a Leopard at night while it was on a hunt and then see it make a kill of an Impala and proceed to drag it along the ground and then up a tree. (This is the same Leopard that is on the cover of the October issue of National Geographic magazine. Our guide had worked with the photographer who did that cover photo.) We saw this same cat the next two mornings when we were out on game drives. Overall our experience at Kirkman's was excellent. Good food, comfortable accommodations, entertainment provided by a family of wart hogs who ran around the compound a lot of the time we were there, and good game viewing.
When we left Mala Mala we flew out in a small twin engine Piper Apache to Ndumo. This was a great experience for us because both Floyd and I are pilots, and in fact Floyd owned a single engine version of the plane we were flying in to Ndumo. We both gave up active flying some time ago so this was a real thrill for us! We could see things from in the air that were not visible from the ground. The number of lakes we could see surprised us. We had no idea there were this many bodies of water in that part of South Africa. We skirted around the corner where Mozambique juts into South Africa because of air space restrictions, and landed at Ndumo (after buzzing a cow that wandered onto the runway in front of us). Our driver was waiting for us at the end of the landing strip.
Ndumo wilderness camp was marvelous. The setting on the edge of a permanent pan, with elevated wooden walkways and decks made for very good crocodile viewing. There were some very large crocs in the pan and they could be heard at night. The camp had suffered major damage in the flooding in that part of the country a year earlier, but had been completely rebuilt. We saw photos of the floodwaters that had covered a major portion of the campsite. The camp was almost empty on the day we arrived, and we were the only guests there on our second day.
The game viewing was good, but the bird watching was excellent. Our driver/guide, a man named Johnson, was amazing in his ability to spot game and birds. He could imitate birdcalls better than anyone I have ever met could and the birds would frequently answer his calls! At night, after dark when we were returning to camp after enjoying a sun downer on the edge of one of the pans in the area, he was able to spotlight and pick out animals in the bush that we never even saw. This enabled us to see some of the animals that only come out after dark. A great experience, highly recommended. Overall, Ndumo was an excellent choice.
From Ndumo we drove to Rocktail Bay Lodge. An interesting drive in a largely rural farming area. Rocktail Bay Lodge was a nice change of pace from our earlier stops. The camp itself was a neat place in a great location near the ocean. Game viewing was very limited, but our walks through the woods and over the sand dunes to, and along, the beach were great. The ocean weather was typically cloudy with some light rain showers. This camp would be an ideal spot for people who are really avid scuba divers and/or snorkelers, and it was okay for us, but was not the highlight of our trip.
The drive from Rocktail Bay to our next destination - Rorke's Drift and Fugitive's Drift, was quite long, but through some very beautiful, interesting country. Though this area is not heavily populated, the drive through the rolling hills and valleys and occasional village was really quite nice. Good roads, and our driver, Clive, seemed to know the area well and was able to point out areas of historical interest.
Our accommodations at Fugitive's Drift Guest House were very nice, and our host/hostess were marvelous. This is a very interesting old estate that the present owners have worked hard to improve - with good results. The battlefield tours and stories at both Rorke's Drift and Fugitive's Drift were a highlight of our entire trip. The manner in which stories of the battles were told and shown to us was outstanding. This was as good a presentation as any I have ever experienced. I think that few Americans have much knowledge of the history of South Africa and the importance of the Zulu wars, and anyone at all interested in history would surely enjoy visiting these places. The presentation by the two men conducting the tours made you feel as though you were in the battles yourself. Absolutely outstanding! I would highly recommend that this be considered for future visitors to South Africa.
Next stop - Cape Town. We did the normal tourist things including a tour to the tip of the cape and the wine country. The thing that made this different was that it was our own private tour, with just four of us so we could suggest and/or make changes as we went along. Our driver/guide, Leyann Wahl of Wilderness Safaris, was charming, pleasant, and knowledgeable. She was not only with us while we were in the Cape Town area, but also drove us to and picked us up from Bushman's Kloof to return us to Cape Town airport.
Bushman's Kloof was entirely different than any of the other places we visited. Not only was the topography different, the camp was different also. This shouldn't really be called a camp - it is a luxury resort. The accommodations were out of this world. In fact, my wife said when we first walked into our chalet "just what I've always wanted - a large bedroom with an equally large living room, and his and her bathrooms, and no kitchen". Everything, including the turndown service at night, was first class. Food and service matched the quality of the quarters we were living in. Game viewing was different, but not a surprise. Viewing some of the cave drawings was interesting and worthwhile. The wild flowers were okay, but not as spectacular as they might be at another time of year. Some of the birds we saw here were very different than any we saw at our earlier stops. Overall, a very nice place to visit - we would recommend it to future visitors to South Africa.
OVERALL RATING - 5 ***** Excellent trip.
Forrest D. Baribeau CA.
BOTSWANA, ZAMBIA, MALAWI, VICTORIA FALLS & MOCAMBIQUE FLY-IN SAFARI
I have finally found some spare time to write you the letter I promised when Betty and I returned from southern Africa a few weeks ago (Sept. 2000).
The experience was simply marvelous - we could not have asked for a more delightful trip. The safari camps were much more luxurious and comfortable than we had expected, the camp staffs and management were very friendly and helpful, the food was delicious, the small aircraft pilots were skilled and friendly, the game viewing and other sights were spectacular, and the weather was gorgeous. Moreover, everything that was supposed to happen did happen, and on time! There were no people-caused delays - we were met on time in every instance.
In short, the trip was perfect. You and the people in Wilderness Safaris really did your jobs. More specific comments on some of the camps, hotels etc. and some of the highlights of the trip appear below.
Johannesburg:
The Grace Hotel where we stayed upon arrival in South
Africa and after completing the Botswana safari is delightful - new building
but old-fashioned hospitality in a very nice residential section of the city.
The two brothers (Gordon & Derek Erntzen) who operate the van service
between the airport and the hotel were friendly and on time.
Zambia and Malawi:
We think that everyone who visits southern
Africa's game parks should include South Luangwa in Zambia and Liwonde in
Malawi. South Luangwa has all the big game except rhino, and we saw them all
including leopard. Kapani Lodge just outside the park is an excellent camp with
comfortable quarters and dinner under the stars. Mvuu Lodge (really a tented
camp) in Liwonde is also a great place - small (6 or 8 guest capacity) and
cozy. One can get great hippo and elephant sightings here on the Shire River.
Both camps offer night drives with spotlights which we do not care for because
we think such drives are intrusive to the animals, but they do offer the chance
to see nocturnal animals. Staying at the Livingstonia Beach Hotel in Lake
Malawi was a great place to relax and write post cards after the safaris.
Victoria Falls:
The Victoria Falls Hotel deserves its reputation as
one of Africa's great hotels - terrific service, outstanding vistas and great
location. The helicopter ride over the Falls is awesome.
Botswana:
The ten days we spent at Chobe Game Lodge, DumaTau, Little
Mombo and Xigera were spectacular. One must go to all of the areas in order to
experience the totality of northern Botswana as each area is different. Little
Mombo is unbelievably luxurious for a safari camp, and the others are close
behind it. We wish that we had allowed at least 3 more days in northern
Botswana, but at least we now have an excuse to go back again.
The game viewing was outstanding and varied - watching from boats elephant and other animals in and near the water at Chobe, and watching all of the plains and big game from the very comfortable Land Rovers at the other camps plus mokoros at Xigera. Leopard sightings were frequent both in trees and on the ground, and all the other southern African game were seen in abundance. We even saw an aardwolf in daylight! Our guide said that in all the years he had been doing game drives, this was his first aardwolf. The camp staff at each camp gave superb service, and always with a smile and a friendly greeting.
South Africa, Swaziland and Mozambique:
Buhala Lodge near Nelspruit
is a gem. The location of the lodge on a hill overlooking the southern border
of Kruger Park is spectacular, as is the lodge itself. Each bedroom is
different in shape and size as well as decor, and there is a large veranda
overlooking the Crocodile River and the Park. We could have spent several more
days there (they offer game drives to the Park).
Swaziland is a beautiful small country, and the Royal Swazi Sun Hotel here is very nice. While I did not play the golf course, it looked to be challenging.
The Polana Hotel in Maputo is quite nice with a spectacular view of the Indian Ocean, and will be even better when the extensive refurbishing now under way is complete. Our room had been refurbished and was very attractive. On the other hand, there is not much to see in Maputo and the people seem to still be recovering from the recent civil strife.
That about sums up our experience. I took about 1500 slides on the trip (and Betty took about 700 prints) and I have been busy trying to fit the slides into about 7 carousels. It is hard to discard good slides even when they are more or less duplicates of other slides, but I am trying.
Many thanks to you and to Wilderness Safaris for putting this trip together and for executing it in such a perfect fashion. I think that the mid-January 2001 Kenya-Tanzania-Zanzibar trip that we are working on with you now is proof of our one hundred per cent satisfaction with Fish Eagle Safaris.
With best regards, John Utts and Betty Soucek, GA.
"Bert, The trip (Nov. 2000) was spectacular - we had a wonderful time. Even though I was in bed for a day in Jao and Kat was feeling a bit ill the day after me, we still had a wonderful time. The camps and their staff were incredible. They were by our sides when we needed and left us alone when we wanted.
Jao was incredible, the guides on the game drives were wonderful. They really knew what they were talking about. I think that this was my favourite camp overall and from what I heard from others, it was theirs as well. I would like to thank both Marlene and Christoph for the wonderful care that they provided me.
Chitabe was a little disappointing, the driver for the game drives wasn't that great, although the rest of the camp staff was wonderful. Since we were getting over the illness, they were happy to pick us up and drive us back to the camp early.
Muchenje was great as well. The camp is beautiful, overlooking Namibia. The staff and guides were great. (We had two flat tires getting from Kasane to Muchenje, but we weren't delayed by much. Our guide Neil was great he was incredibly knowledgeable of the area, and the animals.
River Club was very luxurious, and although I enjoyed myself and Emma was wonderful, I felt like it was a little formal for myself. Don't get me wrong I really enjoyed myself there, but maybe it was the other guests that made me feel as if I didn't belong. They tended to be older couples/friends and they were travelling on the Blue Train or Rovos Rail in more luxury.
Thank you for arranging the extra night in the Grace Hotel. I agree with you that that hotel is incredible. I initially thought it was too formal for my taste, but the staff were very nice, and did everything to make our stay very pleasurable.
The camps were all very different, but I have to say that from our impressions, we would vote for them in the following order from worst to best. Chitabe, River Club, Muchenje, and Jao. Our flight to River Club was piloted by a Canadian from Calgary. He was great. He gave a free flight over the falls and we got some incredible pictures of it from the air. A big thank you to Sefofane.
Again, thank you for arranging our trip. It was the best of our life. If you ever need someone for a recommendation, let me know. I would be happy to give you one."
Gerrard Leach, Canada.
"Enrique and I got back from Africa (Sept. 2000) on Sunday and truly had a WONDERFUL TIME...all the preparation that Enrique did for the past year surely paid off....Everything was perfect. The safari in the three different camps in Botswana was something to behold......These "Tented Camps" were nothing like Girl Scout camp back in the 60's. King Size beds, in-door plumbing.....the only thing that resembled a tent was that the walls were Canvas!!!! Food was great and Animal Viewing was at an all time HIGH!!!!
Can't seem to say enough about our trip to do you justice on all your advice on the camps. They were all so different. Jao, of course being our favorite and Chitabe, best animal viewing. There is NOTHING that we would have changed. Certainly a lovely experience which we will treasure for many years. Thanks for helping make our third Safari so Wonderful!!!!
We will pass the word to other friends that might be interested and have them work with a "Real Professional". Appreciate all your help."
Cordially - Bonnie & Enrique Rosselli, Switzerland
BOTSWANA & ZIMBABWE FLY-IN SAFARI
"Dear Bert, Sorry that it has taken me so long to write to you. You will be happy to hear that we had a great time on our trip. Thanks for all your work on our behalf.
We loved Chikwenya. The hosts, Alison & Mark were very friendly and the accommodations and food were lovely. We often were the only passengers in the vehicle with our guide and on the walk. We also enjoyed canoeing and going on a small boat. Dinners outside under the huge trees with many lighted candles were fabulous. We enjoyed the best experience at a hide all by ourselves for about 2 hours.
The accommodations at Water Wilderness were very unique. We enjoyed sitting on our porch and watching the animals come to the shore to drink, etc. The sunsets on Kariba were beautiful. The camp hosts, Beks & Kirsty were nice. The best activities were on the lake. When we took game drives and walks we didn't see much wild life.
At Linkwasha the camp hosts, Philippa & Martin were very nice and friendly and the food was prepared beautifully. However sometimes the quality of the meat wasn't the greatest. We had a nice guide there and we loved seeing all the elephants, giraffes, and zebras.
The hotels in both Harare and Victoria Falls were nice. The room at Ilala Lodge was nicer than at the Bronte, but the grounds at the Bronte were lovely. Both buffet breakfasts were good, especially at the Ilala. Seeing the falls of course was very nice. At night we organized with Wilderness to go to The Boma Restaurant for dinner and the show. The buffet was interesting, since we got to eat Kudu steak, Warthog, and Ostrich. I even ate a Mopane Worm and received a certificate recognizing my "bravery".
The tent at Lebala was more rustic than at the other camps and it did not have electricity, however it was huge, and had 2 sinks and big bathtub. The food was not quite as good as at the Wilderness Safari camps, but it was good and very plentiful. The camp hosts were a cute young couple who were very friendly. We had a guide and a tracker in the vehicle which was a Toyota and much better than the Landrovers at the Wilderness camps. We saw some fabulous animals which we had not seen previously. First we saw 2 cheetahs over several days. Then we saw a pack of 24 African wild dogs and 10 of them were puppies. We visited them every day for 3 days. They killed 2 impalas 5 minutes before we arrived on the scene and there were several lions eating the impalas and we were told by people in another vehicle that the dogs never even got a bite before the lions moved in. Later we saw the lions leave when the hyenas came. Another day we also saw different lions eating on a giraffe which they had killed 4 days before. The guide there was very good at placing the truck for the best picture angles and the two trucks had the best communications which helped us all locate the best animals to view.
Jao was the loveliest camp and it had the best food. However, we didn't have a very good guide and apparently he was fired after we left. We did not see too much wildlife there, but we did see some male lions and got some good pictures of them. Our ride on the mokoro wasn't too great, possibly because we couldn't understand what the poler was saying. We enjoyed the ride on the speedboat better. The camp hosts, Marlene and Christoph were nice, but not as readily accessible as the hosts in all the other camps.
We've been enjoying talking all about our trip and showing people our pictures. Perhaps someday we can return. The pictures in the beautiful new Wilderness Safaris brochure are really great and those of Namibia really look intriguing to me. Thanks again for everything."
Sincerely, Ned & Gloria Krier, AZ
N. BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI - OCT 2000
"Dear Bert, Our trip to Botswana was fantastic! Everything worked seamlessly, from the pickup at Maun to the drop off from Duma Tau. We loved the whole experience and want to go back.
The three camps were wonderful, and we had outstanding guides: Sam at Xigera, O.B. at Duba Plains, and Pray (the best) at Duma Tau. They were very good at both animals and birds. (I tallied 237 species -155 in Botswana, the rest in Cape Town.)
Your advice to rent a private car for a day at DumaTau was excellent! We were very glad we did because we would otherwise have had to go out with fanatical (and I do mean fanatical) big game watchers who scorned those interested in birds.
In short, I can't thank you enough for devising such a wonderful trip for us. We hated to see it end. Our stay in the Okavango Delta made us truly understand the lure of Africa and the reason that people love it so. I'd be happy to write a fuller testimonial if you'd like, and to talk to anyone about the trip.
Your choice of camps was perfect; each was different, and each offered something special.
All the best, Phyllis Katz, ME
"Thank you very much for all the arrangements on our trip (Sept. 2000) . Everything went like clock work and our experience was fantastic. This was the best trip we ever had . Fell in love with Africa, with the people and with their demeanor. Derek and Gordon were great and very informative. It is wonderful to deal with people that enjoy their job. Our guides were excellent, very knowledgeable and extremely accommodating. We saw just about everything that we wanted to see and then some. Please be advised that we stand ready to be in your reference list and won't hesitate to recommend your company, you and the services that you provide. Once again thank you very much.
Carlos and Regina Vazquez, MI
OKAVANGO & LINYANTI ADVENTURE, BOTSWANA
"Bert--I wanted you to know how fantastic our trip to Botswana (Feb. 2001) was. Wilderness Safaris was great! We loved the Grace Hotel in Johannesburg; I can see why you recommend it over the Michelangelo. Everyone we dealt with from Wilderness Safaris could not have been nicer. Diana Tilden-Davis went with us throughout our safari in Botswana; she is a lovely lady and lots of fun. She helped us so much. I will highly recommend you and Botswana. Everything was fantastic--hope that I will be able to go back to Africa in the next year or two.
Bill Cook, MS
MANA CANOE TRAIL (ZIMBABWE) & FLY-IN SAFARI, BOTSWANA
"We had a spectacular time in Africa (in October)!! Everything was much better than we imagined. From the minute we stepped off the plane in Jo'burg to the time we had to leave again, everything went smoothly. The canoe trip was fabulous and was the highlight of our trip. That was an experience like we've never had before. Andy and Jen, our guides were great. We were the only two on the trip so we got special attention. I wish we could go back and do it again.
The camps in Botswana were wonderful too, each one a little different. All our bush flights were on time and everyone we met, all our guides, pilots, camp managers, etc were awesome. I'm recommending this trip to everyone I know. We handed your cards out to a few people we met in Africa as well. I think you did a spectacular job, Bert, of organizing our trip. Thanks so much."
Sincerely, Beth and Jeff Winke, VA
"All in all, we had a wonderful time (Oct. 2000), with, as you'd expect, the Okavango portion the most incredible. Chitabe Trails was a great homecoming for us; we had such great memories from three years ago when we stayed two days there at the end of our Mopane trip. Unfortunately, this time, for some reason, the wildlife viewing was not up to its usual standards. No one really knew why; just one of those things. That area is so lush and beautiful, you'd think there'd be animals everywhere!
Thanks for recommending Kwetsani. What a terrific, luxurious place. The wildlife drives (we're trying to get away from the term "game" drives) were very fruitful: we saw the first cheetahs in the area this season, we saw lots of lions, as well as the other usual animals, and lots and lots of birds. We did a wonderful mokoro morning as well. And Grant was terrific. We were in luck because one of the guides was away, so Grant was more available than usual, and was able to accompany us on our mokoro outing. He even called in an owl!
Thanks for all your help. As before, I'm perfectly willing to talk about our trips, your excellent assistance, and the great Wilderness Safaris company, to anyone who may be interested. Don't hesitate to give out our phone number or email address."
All the best, Steve Lambros (and Laurie Gerloff), OR
BOTSWANA FLY-IN, VICTORIA FALLS & CAPE TOWN
" We are back home one week after our African trip and are pleased to report that on a scale of 1-10 this experience was a 20! Wilderness Safaris did an excellent job throughout our journey. The Grace Hotel in Jo'burg was the perfect start . Then off to Lesedi which we should have done as a day trip. We thoroughly enjoyed the activities there but the overnight stay a little rough for our tastes. We missed the Grace. Victoria Falls Safari Lodge was a better choice on your part than the Victoria Falls Hotel. That provided a good introduction to the game viewing. The Falls were spectacular and we took a jetboat ride on the upper Zambezi River. Our small plane ride to DumaTau was exciting. The staff was very friendly and accommodating. We saw all the game including wild dogs but no leopard . We had numerous Elephant encounters especially in camp . We had nighttime visits and one of the local residents parked in front of our door blocking our return to the tent. Birds galore. The highlight of the trip was luxurious Mombo which exceeded our expectations. The staff and facilities were outstanding. The game viewing was the best. We saw three different leopards on three different occasions. We didn't want to leave.
Wilderness greeted us in Capetown at 10:30 PM and took us to the Commodore , not quite the Grace but adequate and conveniently located. The sightseeing program worked out just fine including a trip to the top of Table Mt. Thank you for providing your expertise. We really enjoyed the trip but those trans Atlantic flights are a Killer. Keep us on your newsletter list. Someday we hope to see the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti Plains. Bye for now.
Dot and Dan, FL
"Bert, We're back from our (August 2000 Botswana) trip and it was fantastic! Everything went off like clockwork. Wilderness Safaris was amazing in the quality of their camps and attention to detail. We couldn't have asked for better. I will write you a detailed report as soon as I have time. I can't thank you enough for all that you did for us to make this trip so perfect. Everything was as arranged with no glitches. Our seats on the planes were great. All hotels great, food & people great. Couldn't have asked for more. The animal sightings were super- wild dogs, leopards, & everything else. All the girls loved it. We will go back. I'll have to talk to you about suggestions for the next trip to Africa- probably in 3 years. I'll be back with details soon. THANK YOU !!!
Barbara Broomell, NY
NAMIBIA & BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI
"Dear Bert: The trip to Namibia & Botswana (Nov. 1999) couldn't have gone smoother, or been any more pleasant. It was my first trip to southern Africa, and first safari. It was Duane's tenth trip to Africa and her tenth safari as well. She said that her only regret, especially during the visit to Botswana, was that now I'd think that every safari that I'll ever be a part of is going to go as smoothly, and that this abundance and variety of wildlife that was seen is going to be the norm. An example: on our very first trek into the delta after arriving at Mombo Camp, we saw all three cats; cheetah, lion, and leopard!! She was astounded, and related that she hadn't even heard of anyone ever being so fortunate, much less being this lucky herself. She said that now I would be "jaded"... I truly don't mind
We also had a wonderful experience in Namibia. I was surprised at how well "wired" all the different tour operators are. Everyone seems to have internet access as well as email, which made planning our several days of free time at the beginning of the trip almost effortless. We drove our little Mazda and Toyota about fifteen hundred miles...from Windhoek to Swakopmund, from there through Walvis Bay, down to the Namib near Sossusvlei, took a hot-air balloon ride at dawn in the desert. After our visit to Botswana, we returned to Namibia and spent the remainder of our time at Etosha pan. I never grew tired of visiting the various watering holes. Each day at the watering holes was different. Each hour they changed like the seasons. You have given us something to remember for our whole lifetime together. Thank you.
Duane Decker, MO
N. BOTSWANA FLY-IN & MANA CANOE TRAIL
"Thank you for your email. Yes, we are back from a truly excellent vacation. Everything was incredibly well organized and on time, which is no small feat in itself given the number of connections. Our favorite camp was Jao Camp which is really gorgeous, we saw a leopard at Chikwenya and the absolute highlight of the trip was the 3 day canoe trip. Hippos are now at the top of my fear list -- I will lie down with the lions anytime instead.
Wilderness Safaris is a very good outfit with good facilities, especially friendly management and very knowledgeable guides. We also met a lot of nice people from South Africa and that makes me want to make a visit there in the future. Thank you so much for your excellent service. It has been much appreciated and I will be sure to recommend you to anyone I know heading toward Africa."
Vicki Atkins, Beijing
ZIMBABWE FLY-IN SAFARI & MANA CANOE TRAIL
"I just wanted to send you a quick note to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip (August 2000) to Zimbabwe. Everything was as wonderful as you indicated it would be. I did finally get so see my first Leopard in the wild. It was absolutely awesome and thrilling! The camp sites were extraordinary, and the service was wonderful. All of the guides were exceptional; very knowledgeable and very accommodating. Thank you for all of your assistance."
Dee York, FL
BOTSWANA FLY-IN SAFARI, BLUE TRAIN & CAPE TOWN
Hi Bert, yes we are back safe and sound. Another great trip! Loved the new Little Mombo. I told them I was moving in and not moving out! Mombo was the best ever -- the game is so great, and the new camp is just icing on the cake. We also had a great time at Dumatau. Alistair and Megan were managing there, and they are so warm and fun it really makes the camp great. We were talking about the differences in camps, and what a difference the management makes. Jao is lovely, and birding especially is nice there, but there was no cohesive management there -- we never had a clear idea who were our "hosts". So the experience suffers.
The Blue Train was a great experience -- Doug loved it especially. A nice way to relax and see the scenery as you do. Dining was fun, with good wines and food. For me it was a bit slow after all the action, but as I said, Doug loved it and wants to do more. Cape Town is a fantastic city! I didn't realize how spectacular the scenery is there. We had a wonderful visit exploring the waterfront and the downtown art and markets. The Cape Grace was wonderful -- they really treated us like family. To top it off, on our last night we attended a wine dinner at the hotel and I won the grand prize -- two free nights at the hotel any time in the next year! We had just been talking about returning!!
We used a local guide to tour us around the wine country and Cape Point (on separate two days). It worked out great, and he is a plant lover like me so our trip to the garden was really good. Thanks so much for your recommendations. As always, a wonderful trip.
Patricia Sutherland, CA
FLY-IN SAFARI BOTSWANA & SOUTH AFRICA
Bert, I can't say how impressed we were with Wilderness!!!!! Everyone was so helpful, timely and efficient. We just received our photos and are re-living the trip (Fly-in safari to Botswana and South Africa, April 2000). As I'm sure you hear all the time, there are not enough words to describe our experience, particularly the safari-portion. We definitely plan on returning to Africa to experience other portions of the country.
As for Sodwana, our early departure had nothing to do with service. We simply decided that a 5-hour drive + 18 hour plane ride, all on the same day, would wreak havoc on us. So, we thought it best to spend a relaxing evening in Durban right before our departure to the states. We had three great dives at Sodwana, which was amazing in and of itself. Highly recommended. Not a luxurious resort, but the diving was excellent.
Anyway, thank you so much for your valuable assistance in planning this trip!!!!! We've been telling our friends that they must go to Africa and of course, we will only recommend Fish Eagle Safaris!!!!
Thanks, M. Pickett, CA
"Before I rant and rave, we want to thank you for all of your recommendations and bookings. This was our first experience in Africa and feel it was more than we anticipated. We travel at least once a year out of the US and we thought that once we visited Africa, we would have it under our belt, so to speak, and would have no need to return unless business brought us back there. Well we were wrong. We would love to return in the future and experience it again.
For our first experience, I do not know how Mombo can be topped. The camp, the people, the animal experiences, and Wilderness Safaris were all A#1, not to mention the food. I only hope my pictures turn out to be 50% as good as I saw them. Overall, our Mombo experience was very special. It included clearing of lions and giraffes off the airstrip so that we could land, lots of herds of all types of antelopes such as impalas, also zebras, wildebeest, warthogs and birds, birds, birds (we cataloged over 90 types). We experienced a wild dog kill, cheetah cubs trying to climb the front of our Landrover while mom was being chased by two males, watching the leopard stalk the area and a few unsettled male elephants not liking our presence. We also had baboons and kudus visit our tent along with a 2-foot monitor lizard in our bathroom. The endless viewing of animals was surreal to us and it took us some time to get used to the environment and the routine. We said it would be very difficult to beat this setting. The staff was superb from the managers, cooks, and maids. We would return to this camp in a minute.
Sandibe was a different experience. We did not see as much game, compared with the variety and quantity of Mombo, but the architecture of this camp was worth seeing. The food was good, but again, hard to beat Mombo. There was a whole lot less staff here, but all were good and knowledgeable. We had a good mokoro canoe trip and saw over 40 hippo at once. It was quite humbling and scary at the same time.
We were most impressed with the country of Botswana. The people were very happy, unlike Zimbabwe and even South Africa, who are going through a lot of changes. I want to also say how impressed we were with the communication and the way all of the camps worked together to dispatch guest throughout all the camps, no matter who ran them. With the unusual flooding, they did a marvelous job moving everyone around from camps that were open, including the planes that had to get them there.
Again, thank you for all your help. Chuck and Linda Lawrence, IL
"First, thank you very much for arranging the premium seats on the 747 on the way over. They were truly splendid and everyone was wildly happy and comfortable. Botswana exceeded everyone's expectations and certainly mine since I was accustomed only to the routines of the Kruger Park, which I always enjoy the most because of our family all being there together. But Botswana was truly incredible. I think I actually liked the Xudum camp the better of the two though we saw a great amount of game at King's Pool. It was very personal and incredibly comfortable. The tents were just lovely. The new management duo were great and very attentive and had such a good way with the staff. The trips out during the day were great fun and it was extraordinary to see the water of the Okavango Delta rising even in the couple of days we were there.
To me, the light aircraft flights set the trip apart from others that I have done. I really felt a sense of going to a place that was remote. It was amazing to look down on the African terrain stretching away for miles and miles. The boys absolutely loved the whole thing, as did the rest of the group, but their high spirits and excitement in particular were wonderful to see. King's Pool was very exciting too, with the animals almost on top of you all the time. Everyone was astonished, quite enthralled with the luxury and attention we got from what seems like an incredible number of staff there. So many Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans and Zimbabweans working in these camps.
Food everywhere was outstanding and the morning teas and refreshments on the out trips were just great. Everyone was very pleased with the amount of wildlife they saw. The boys got to see a leopard and, along with the rest of us, saw lion, elephant, hippos en masse and also up close. Calvin was so pleased and added lots of birds to his list. He was also pleased that the guides were so interested in and knowledgeable about the bird life. But despite this active interest in birds, I think they kept a good balance of viewing so that the others in our group gained an interest in birds that they hadn't had before. Botswana was definitely worth the expenditure. I was so glad I went there -- it gave so much more of a sense of romantic Africa than I had experienced before.
Vic Falls was great too and the falls were incredible. It was nice that cars and buses couldn't drive to the edge as they can at Niagara. Quite a few braved the white water rafting on the mighty Zambezi river and have certificates to prove it. Not me, however. The shopping was fun, but the level of poverty frightening. No wonder they have all the entry and exit taxes!
It ... was a wonderful trip with no unexpected surprises, just a lot to marvel at. You did a great job for us and you can be sure there will be a lot of recommendations for your efforts. It was a great, entirely unforgettable vacation so thanks for making it happen.
Judy McCarter, TX
"We wanted you to know that the trip you planned for us was the most stress-free we've ever had. We were treated like royalty at virtually every stop. As an example: our plane from Ndumo to Jo'burg was delayed, due to mechanical problems. In its' place, Nelair arranged to have a pilot from Phinda come to pick us up, transport us to Phinda, where a twin-engine plane, complete with pilot AND copilot, was waiting to take us directly to Jo'burg. We were met on the tarmac by a van, which whisked us to the international terminal, and were walked to our gate. Awesome.
We were able to complete the entire trip. Thanks to your message, received at Rocktail Bay, we knew we could probably complete the whole trip. Surgery happened the Tuesday we began our return trip home. Mack's father is now home and doing fairly well, all things considered
It is difficult to decide which place was our favorite, as we enjoyed them all. Botswana was a great addition, and Dumatau was wonderful. The pilot did have a little trouble locating the airstrip, but since I was flying copilot, we let the others blame that on me. We did fly Sefofane's new plane, which is very nice. We saw so much at Dumatau, it was hard to imagine going anywhere else. The staff at Dumatau was truly exceptional, as were the facilities. We met some great people, from all over the world there.
Djuma was our favorite in a number of ways. Our ranger, Bhili, and tracker, Abel, were outstanding. They gave up their free time to take us to their village one morning, where we went to the school, met their families, and had the witch doctor throw the bones for us. We saw SO much! The last morning , all the camp staff went out to find lion for us (the only animal we had not seen there). They radioed a sighting to us, and the lion were magnificent. As we were leaving, the pilot said he had to buzz the runway before landing to clear the lion off!
Rocktail Bay was in a beautiful setting. We were so used to open spaces, it was a little difficult to adjust to more dense foliage, but we managed well. The beach was lovely, and , once again, great people (very few folks from the States, which was very fine for us). We weren't sure if we had the enthusiasm for Ndumo, but once there, we fell in love with that lovely place. The terrain was wonderful, the animals more than we expected (one night we were surrounded by several dozen giraffe on our walk), and the accommodations perfect. The others there were from Denmark, Norway, Germany, and S Africa, and we had a truly exceptional dinner conversation. How nice to know we could fit in!
Our daughter greatly enjoyed her accommodations, separate from parental units, but within reasonable distance to us. Both she and Mack took some exceptional pictures, some of which will be transferred to CD Rom, so that we can share them with friends. We promised to send some back to Djuma, and were impressed with their satellite cameras.
The accommodations in Cape Town were lovely, as was Janice, our guide. At Cape Point, a baboon jumped on our table, inside the restaurant, looking for food. We have a healthy respect for baboons now, and steer clear of them. Table Mountain was awesome. We wish we'd been able to spend a little more time in Vic Falls, as I really liked the Safari Lodge. Next time, we'll spend the two days we originally planned on. Yes, we are hooked. We are thinking Namibia and the Okavango for our next trip, but also would like to return to several of the camps.
If we weren't already looking forward to our next trip, this would be the trip of a lifetime. We owe you our respect, appreciation, and sincere gratitude for everything that you have done. This trip was to celebrate my 50th birthday, to re-establish family ties with our daughter, who had been away at school for the first time, and to visit a place we had perhaps always been a bit afraid to visit. Each goal was accomplished, thanks to you.
We would be very pleased to speak to any clients who have questions concerning a trip such as this, and hope you will feel free to use us as references, should the need arise. Additionally, my sister lives in Houston, and, while we don't visit often, it would be our privilege to take you and your family to dinner if your schedule permits, the next time we're in town. It would be a small way of saying "Thank you" for such a wonderful experience. Our sincere gratitude for your expertise, and your kindness.
Mack, Lorraine and Emily Beers, OH
"Just a short note to let you know how much we enjoyed our trip. Your itinerary and Wilderness Camps lived up to and exceeded our every expectations. A few highlights included tracking a cheetah couple for 2.5 hours, tracking white rhino and lion on foot, and being charged (for real) by a mother elephant. We saw and experienced so many wonderful animal sightings. Please feel free to put us on your list of highly satisfied clients. While we will probably not plan a return visit for several years, please keep us on your mailing list for updates as we definitely plan to return to southern Africa in the future. Again, our compliments to you and Wilderness for giving us such a great experience.
Sincerely, Diana Hendrickson, SC
A bit later than I'd hoped I'm writing to thank you for arranging my absolutely wonderful safari trip in Botswana in March 1999. It was a marvelous adventure, I enjoyed myself and was well taken care of, and everyone back home raves about my photos!
Specific things that worked well were:
All the information that Fish Eagle provided in advance that helped me choose camps and have a sense (without spoiling the surprises) of where I was going. Bert seemed to be right on top of everything, with preliminary reservations in place practically before I'd finished having the thought. I even sent the color brochure about the camps to my 80-year-old mom along with the itinerary so that she could imagine where I was along the way rather than worry about me. I also felt that Bert was available to answer any question, large or trivial, which was reassuring.
As for Wilderness Safaris, I have nothing but praise for all the people who took care of me along the way. The woman who met me in Maun was great about calmly but firmly dealing with my missing luggage problem. My hosts at Duba were charming, friendly, totally kind -- supplied me with clothes, toiletries and tender loving care. They did an excellent job of putting their feet down about getting my long-missing duffel finally delivered to camp. My guide there, Tsile, was enthusiastic, interesting, knowledgeable, patient and full of stories.
Grant Woodrow, at Mombo, is wonderful about introducing guests to one another and mixing in at dinner. I enjoyed his slides one evening, as they gave me more information about the Delta (and made me envious of his opportunities to take pictures!). Then Grant couldn't have been kinder after the monkeys broke into my tent and stole my camera -- he lent me his, with just the promise that I'd leave it with the Wilderness office in Victoria Falls.
At Dumatau, the huts are glorious -- I'd move in permanently if it were possible. Our guide, Alson, was a delight. His pleasure and interest in everything, from skimmers to hippos, made every excursion full of fun and interest. I really appreciated that he wasn't a "big animals only" guy, and would stop to show us trees, flowers, tortoises, and little birds.
The close encounters with lion, kudu and elephants at Chobe were exceptional. It was wonderful to go out on the river. I would say that Chobe Game Lodge was a bit disappointing after the Delta camps -- staff not quite as friendly (probably feeling a bit over-touristed), guests a bit more blasé and not as "into" the wilderness, tap water even more funny colored and foul smelling (I wouldn't wash my hair there).
Victoria Falls is an entirely different experience. I appreciate Bert's recommendations to stay at Ilala, although I found the ground level French doors that didn't close entirely tightly to be a little more disconcerting here than in the bush. I also appreciate Bert's recommendation to see the falls from the air, given the volume of water in the Zambezi. It was an exciting ride and a terrific view. I went to the "culture show," having been warned by a fellow visitor that it would start off a bit slowly but improve -- which it did. I'd recommend that to others.
Again, many thanks to both Fish Eagle Safaris and Wilderness Safaris for arranging a wonderful holiday. Please use whatever parts I've written than you'd like for your own publicity or to answer other travelers' questions.
Virginia (Prinny) Anderson, MA
I've been meaning to tell you what a good trip you planned for us -- but, as you can well imagine, there was sleep deprivation and work-load that took precedence. But, I'm almost caught up with the former, so here I am telling you. Not in order of importance, but rather as things come to mind: when we hit the Meikles Hotel, we were faced with that national industry strike and the hotel was being staffed by the management. Of the existing restaurants, only 1 was operating -- and then only on a buffet basis. They were obviously trying, but not doing too well. But, it was only 1 night! On to Gache-Gache; everything was lovely...the game drivers were efficient and knowledgeable. We even tracked elephants on foot -- and found a couple. It was interesting to see the different ways in which the guide handled the rifle as we got closer and closer. Never did I feel in danger, however.
Makalolo was elegant and was what we thought of as an incomparable experience later was disproven. Victoria Falls was disappointing because of the low water level -- but at least we could see the gorge this way. Water is certainly an uncontrollable force. And, we've seen Niagara, so at least we have an idea of what Vic Falls can be. While at Kings Pool we were hit by that wind storm that brought every bit of dust and dirt into our faces -- but we were not deterred by weather. It was uncomfortable sleeping the first night, but the second night there was the lightning show and rain drops so it was refreshing and did serve to break the heat a bit. Jedibe is the one place we could have skipped. Although the water passages are absolutely gorgeous to see with the reeds and papyrus growing so thickly on each side, there is just not enough to do there. It was too hot (43 c) to do much more than use the pool anyhow, although Michael and I did brave the mokoro ride and nature walk -- where we did glimpse the retreat of 2 Sitatunga antelopes. And, the feeding of the fish eagles was a pleasant sight.
On to Duba Plains which was certainly the absolute highlight of the trip. The camp managers there remembered your having been there a few times. They could not have been more hospitable -- and being in their camp was like being in their home. This is the only place where we were offered a behind the scenes tour -- and that in itself was very interesting. What they can accomplish with velcro, solar power and only a few hours of generator time is truly amazing. All in all, it was a truly memorable experience for all of us. It was physically taxing (climbing into and out of those land rovers and small planes) but well worth it. By 9:30 pm we were anxious to get to sleep so we could get up at 5:30 for the game drive of the morning - and we did!
Would we do it again? You bet! Thank you so much for a trip we will always remember and treasure. What did we see? well, not a cheetah (or a rhino, of course) but so many, many other animals I couldn't list them all. We even saw a puff adder kill a grass snake; a pack of 10 or 12 wild dogs make a kill in the reeds that was probably a baby impala left there by its mother while she went off to feed and devour the thing within 10 minutes; 2 different prides of lions -- one with 3 cubs about 6 wks. old and a zebra kill and the other one with a cape buffalo for dinner. I think I could continue for a few more pages, but you've heard it all before. We are happy that we went; we are very pleased with what we did and saw; but we are also glad to get back home to the convenience of good lighting and not having to live with the same small bag of clothes to wear. Thank you thank you thank you!
Barbara Freeman, CA
"It has taken awhile to reacclimatize to America after our wonderful time in Africa, but we do want you to know we were thrilled with the trip you put together for us, and enjoyed every moment.
Namibia was very interesting, and we all enjoyed our desert experience. Oryx did a fine job for us, and our guide, Toni Tomassi, was first rate. All the places we stayed there were excellent. Toni regretted he wasn't taking us north in Namibia, and in retrospect, as our grandson turned out to be such a pro at traveling, we regretted it too.
Cape Town is a beautiful city, and Janis (last name forgotten), our guide there, was also lovely. The Victoria and Alfred Hotel is first rate and was a luxurious treat. We were very glad we went to Soweto and had a little taste of Johannesburg, although it is a city with a nasty edge (a little like New York).
Both Djuma and Ndumo Camps were excellent. Our guides in both places, Billy in Djuma and Johnson in Ndumo, were smart as whips and full of fun, and we very much enjoyed their company. Lattie, our grandson, just adored the bush, and couldn't get enough of riding on the back of Landrovers.
Rorke's Drift was a special experience for all of us. Dave Rattray could make any story interesting, and he kept us all enthralled. He told us Lattie was the best behaved kid he had ever had, and as that included Prince Harry of Britain, that was quite a compliment. The truth was, the stories he told kept us all so interested the time we spent with Dave just flew.
Simunye was fun, for the first night, but one night there is really enough. To make a long story short, Vincent Sikhakhane announced he would take us to a Zulu wedding on the second day, and after almost 7 hours of off-road driving we managed about 10 minutes at the wedding. Sue Partridge, another wonderful guide, was fit to be tied, but we thought it was amusing. Our companions were all South Africans who were very funny and gave us a lot of insight into the current state of events in South Africa, from their point of view.
All in all, it was an excellent trip which we would recommend to anyone. Thank you very much for all your help in planning the trip for us. It was a wonderful experience.
Sue and Bob Wildermuth, NY
"We're home from our trip and had a fabulous time. We finally arrived in Johannesburg in time to fly to Skukuza and begin our trip. Londolozi was spectacular, and we really enjoyed it. The Garden Route was a bit of a disappointment but the Wine Country, Stellenbosch, Cape of Good Hope and Cape Town more than made up for it. The Cape Grace Hotel was a world class hotel with excellent service and amenities. On to Victoria Falls which were spectacular. The hotel was as you described, although I think they gave us the worst room there. I loved the grand old hotel and the grounds so it was worth the very small crowded room.
Loved Duba Plains. Britt and Cardo are an unusual couple, and we had a great time there. The accommodations were also excellent. Saw some game there but not as much as at Londolozi.
Wilderness Safaris was fine. We had an excellent guide with us by the name of Pam Allan from Tours and Trails in Cape Town. She was intelligent, efficient and I would highly recommend her for anyone who wants a private guide.
As you can see we had an outstanding time and I would be delighted to recommend you to any of my friends who wish to take this trip. Thanks again for your help."
S. Ginsburg, MA.
"Everything on the trip [Botswana fly-in safari, Nov. '98] went like clockwork. Air Botswana people in Johannesburg left my bag off the Maun flight along with bags of nine other people. The Wilderness Safaris representative in Maun took over and two days later my bag was on the plane taking us from Jack's Camp to Sandibe.
Jack's Camp was lots of fun and a guide took just the two of us out to an active Suricate burrow complex and we observed them for over half an hour. We also had a treat when we waited about dusk at a brown hyena den. Three six month old pups came out and walked around waiting for an adult to bring food. This group is being studied by a graduate student so great efforts were made not to disturb the site. We understand that there are only 10 000 or so remaining brown hyena.
A pleasant surprise for us was the vast salt pan area. The history of its origin and the discovery of very early man or pre-man artifacts and prehistoric animal bone fossils is very interesting and is understandably exciting for paleontologists and archaeologists. At our guide's suggestion we separated and searched for about half an hour for stone tools on the surface of the vast pan. We brought our findings back to the Rover and our guide identified the items we had found and explained about them. I had found a perfect 'three-way' tool which he dated at around 250,000 years old. Except for this piece, the other things were replaced on the pan. The guide took the one I found back to add to the exhibit at camp. Scientists are just now getting research under way on the pans for remains of hominoids which may predate any in Africa. It is interesting to learn that development of these pans was such that artifacts and fossils from greatly different periods are found together on the surface. I think Wilderness Safaris and/or Jack's Camp people might do well to publicize the pans more for ecotourism.
Sandibe activities were well organized. One evening we saw two aardwolves near their den. We saw lots of springhares at night. We saw only small groups of zebra, wildebeest and buffalo in various places and three elephants in some tall grass. Paul, or guide, worked hard to find animal activity. He found two female lions watching but not stalking a group of buffalo. We saw no wild dogs. Some people who had just come from Mombo had seen none there either. The only dog sighting we heard about were at Kings Pool. Elephant damage was extreme over all the Sandibe game drive areas. Probably, October to December is not the best time of year to visit Sandibe.
DumaTau was excellent. Saw lots of mammals and birds. Had baboons and warthogs around and under our quarters. We got long close looks at lions at a zebra kill, four cheetahs just walking and lying around, hippos out of the water, elephants, and giraffes. When we were brought to camp from the airstrip, we had to wait in the Rover while the camp manager got an elephant to leave from in front of the reception center. Saw the Dwarf Mongoose, two species of Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, and eight species of antelope. Saw many of the birds we had hoped to see including Hamerkop, Bateleur, Crested Barbet, Paradise Flycatcher, Wattled Crane, Saddlebilled Stork, Crimsonbreasted Shrike, Carmine Bee-eater and Redbilled Woodhoopoe.
All the camps had excellent accommodations and food. The 'half-time' breaks during the drives for drinks and a bite were fun and welcome. All the camps did this. We thank you for your attention to all details and in particular to our specific wishes. It was an excellent tour.
William Dick-Peddie, NM
'We are back from Africa [Botswana - July '98] much enriched by the experience. The trip exceeded our expectations and we are grateful to you for arranging everything. You were quite correct in your thinking about putting Victoria Falls first and Mombo last. It would have been a real let-down to go to the Falls after seeing predators at work close-up. And Mombo was a fitting ending, saving the best animal viewing for last.
Each place had its individual attractions - Chobe Game Lodge with its gorgeous setting and abundance of animals; Kwando Lagoon Camp with its feeling of cozy isolation, great staff and good game viewing; Chitabe Camp with its buildings perched on pilings, the resident elephant and our first sighting of a leopard and; the best of all, Mombo Camp, with its homey, well-worn feel, excellent staff, wonderful food, Grant, the best all-around guide we have encountered and the best variety of game viewing yet. It was a great ending to our trip.
All of your arrangements worked smoothly with nary a hitch. The people of Wilderness Safaris are true professionals. From all eight of our family, thanks for a unique experience. I will recommend you highly to anyone contemplating a safari."
J Jones, VA
'Bill and I had a great time [in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya & Tanzania, July '98]. I can recommend your services without hesitation. Overall, we saw many, many animals including over 36 separate lion sightings, leopard, cheetah, rhino and hundreds of zebra, elephants and impala. We saw lions mating, eating their kill and two lions sitting in a tree. Also saw leopards in tree with their kill. The scenery was spectacular. In South Africa, the Table Bay Hotel was exceptional as was the Plettenberg. We upgraded our rental car from a Nissan Sentra to a Toyota Camry since we are both large guys. All of the accommodations in all five countries we visited were excellent. Of the safari camps, Mala Mala and Little Governor's Camp provided truly great game-viewing experiences as well as fine food and service. We were switched from the Ngorongoro Serena Lodge to the Ngorongoro Crater Lodge which turned out to be a real plus. It was fantastic! In Tarangire, they could not accommodate us at the Kikoti Tented Camp because of the roads so they set up a private mobile camp for the two of us with four support staff including our guide/driver. It was a great experience. By the way, Air Zimbabwe was excellent on our flights from Vic Falls to Nairobi.
Again, I wish to thank you for arranging a great trip. Bill and I are both thinking about a return trip. We will let you know. If you or your clients have any specific questions, please do not hesitate to call on me.
D. DePoto, CA
'We've just got back from one of the best holidays [South Africa and Namibia, Dec/Jan 1998] we've ever had. Everything went absolutely fine & we'd like to thank you and Wilderness Safaris for making it all possible.
The Brass Bell in Kalk Bay was really fine and we were glad, having taken the seafood platter that we didn't take the starter course first, there was so much ! Also came across, by accident, the marvelous restaurant at Boschendal, which you should really recommend to future visitors (make sure they book, though). All the accommodation was first class, with the exception of 5th Avenue in Port Elizabeth where we were put in a smallish room with an even smaller bathroom. It would have been nicer to have had one of their suites.
All in all, a wonderful holiday, and you may use me as a reference if you get any more inquiries from this side of the pond.
I. Barnett, Switzerland
"Just thought I'd drop you a note to say again how appreciative we are of the fabulous trip [Oct. '97] you helped put together for the two of us. We were amazed at how smoothly everything went and even the marathon 30 hour trip from Maun to Seattle went off without a hitch. The camps were excellent and the level of service and professional attitude was outstanding.
Leopard Rock was a hit! Absolutely beautiful setting and we had fun on the golf course. Again, excellent service. No problems at all with the car rental. We could have packed with less than 25 pounds! Since laundry was done daily, we could have had fewer changes of clothes and underwear. And, flashlights were always provided as well as mosquito coils and even insect repellent... also shampoos, lotions, etc. We took about 18 rolls of film and have some good shots. Saw the elephants swim at Chobe (from the boat) and saw many Fish Eagles!"
Paul & Carole Steadman, WA
"Our April/May '97 trip was absolutely superb: 100% perfect. Thank you very much for arranging it. The camps were wonderful and the people were great. My husband is a reluctant traveler but he really enjoyed Southern Africa! The weather was ideal, too. I thought the order of going from Jedibe to Mombo and then to Kings Pool in Botswana worked very well. The Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls was a good suggestion: we appreciated its intimacy.
We had many adventures and lots of excellent sightings, and were lucky enough to find leopards twice. On one occasion I got some great photographs when some young leopards came right up to our vehicle. The Skeleton Coast fly-in safari in Namibia was wonderful: we loved Sossusvlei and the dunes. It was everything we had anticipated and more.
Marcia Feltheimer, NY
"This is a short note of appreciation, for the splendid manner in which you had made the arrangements during our recent (May '96) trip to Africa. From the camps you had chosen and the itinerary that you had planned, to the selection of Wilderness Safaris and the places of accommodation, all were to our taste and delight.
The two weeks we spent visiting South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe rank among the best times we had spent during any of our vacations that we can remember. The entire staff of Wilderness Safaris were very professional, knowledgeable and cordial. The game was plentiful and the viewing was to our satisfaction. The accommodation, even in the rustic setting, was to say the least, luxurious. The food was excellent and plentiful. The total credit for putting together such a package, customized to our taste and convenience goes to you. We are already raving about the great time we had to all who care to listen and we will continue to recommend your services in the most superlative terms, to anyone who is planning a visit to the African continent."
Dr. V. Menon, TX
"We had a great trip and want to thank you again for your very sound advice and guidance. Chobe was FANTASTIC. It exceeded what I saw in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania 25 years ago. One afternoon game run turned up probably 150-200 elephants crossing from island to mainland in the forefront while 20 yards away, a similar number of Cape buffalo were doing the same, some simultaneously, some minutes later. Moremi also had a substantial amount of game, but less than Chobe, particularly elephants and the big stuff."
Joe Opperman., CA
"I want to thank you immensely for the effort you put into arranging [our] trip to South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe in May '96. I wish to commend you for the excellent care you have taken in making sure that every step of this trip was very well organized. We had a wonderful stay: the tour guides were extremely pleasant, we did not have a problem with transportation and we were met promptly at every port of entry by the tour guides. We had such a wonderful time that we would like to go back to Africa again soon. The route that you had planned for us was particularly interesting as we saw the best parts of the country, and we particularly enjoyed the game safaris in Botswana. Out hosts at the different camps were extremely pleasant, and very accommodating, catering to our requirements willingly. On the whole it was such an excellent trip that we are now trying to persuade our wives to join us during our next trip. Again I want to commend you on a job that was extremely well done."
Dr A.P. Raguthaman, TX
"In response to your inquiry, we had a very enjoyable trip. Wilderness Safaris runs a very professional operation. Everything went like clockwork with very few delays or hitches. Wilderness Safari representatives always met us on time and got us to our next destination on time. You successfully placed us into a variety of camps, each of which had something different to offer. Thank you for putting this safari together for us, which accommodated our desires to be able to walk and to see different terrain. It was truly an unforgettable trip. If finances and time were no obstacle, I would return to Africa every year."
Federal District Court Judge Janice Stewart., OR
"Our Sept/Oct 1996 trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana came up to our expectations and exceeded them all. Plenty of elephant and lots of lions! Matusadona Water Lodge, our first camp, was the perfect introduction to Africa, with elephants, impala and buffalo on the drive from the airstrip. Of all the camps we stayed at, the one we enjoyed most was Ivory Lodge at Hwange Game Reserve. I could have spent days observing the game at the waterhole there. Jonathan Elway, the manager at Sekuti's Drift, is the best host one can possibly imagine. We also enjoyed King's Pool, which is quite luxurious: Imagine standing in your tiled bathroom and looking out through the screened wall at the hippos playing and resting in the river 30 feet away! Chobe Chilwero is also a wonderful facility - the quantity of elephants was unbelievable and watching a young lioness stalk a warthog is a memory that will always remain. There is constant change of your lodge companies because everyone is on a different itinerary. Guests are from every country in the world with Americans in the minority. This makes for great dinner conversations. All in all, an outstanding trip! It was a real pleasure to have had your assistance in planning this trip, which will remain a high point of our travels.
Robert Smithson, OR
"Our recent trip to South Africa, Zimbabwe and Botswana was all that anyone could hope for and then more. Every detail was perfectly arranged and handled by Wilderness Safaris. The trip was indeed five star. Your service is exceptional and I recommend you without hesitation to anyone contemplating such an excursion. It was a pleasure dealing with you!"
Russell Burns, MS
"Thank you for all your arrangements for our Landela Safari [November 1996]. The trip was greater than we ever anticipated. Everything surpassed our expectations. Zimbabwe was fantastic!
Brian & Sharron, Las Vegas, NV
Jacana (13 Day First Class Safari)
Dear Bert, I have just returned from one of the best experiences of my life. I want you to know that the Jacana Safari with Wilderness was just about perfect. As a matter of fact, I have forwarded your name to a couple who live here in Orange County. I hope they will be in touch with you.
Our tour guide was Russell Crossey, and he remembered you. He was absolutely the best guide one could hope for. The man is an encyclopedia, and he is so passionate about his work. It could not have been better. And the camps were wonderful. I was not prepared for the luxury we experienced. The food was terrific, and the staff (especially at Jacana Camp) were the best.
Our only complaint is that we were asked to bring the insect repellants and flashlights and extra batteries, which added weight to our luggage. Those items were provided at every camp. We could have taken a couple more shirts!
Bert, I just want you to know that we had a totally wonderful experience.
(Zella) Lu Campbell & Darcy Murphine
Safely back from a fabulous expedition (Jacana, April 2000) to Southern Africa that was a big success on all counts for all four of us. (A zillion thanks for helping the last minute switch from Veena to Arun; he LOVED it.) Everything went swimmingly. The game was fabulous. The Wilderness Safaris arrangements worked extremely well, our guide (Hayden Oake) was super and the accommodations couldn't have been nicer. The others in our group were good company. Finishing in Vic Falls was the right approach for my family, mainly because it permitted some semi-serious shopping at trip's end. Thanks for everything. You'll probably hear from us again one day. We're already talking about the Seychelles. Best regards".
Chester Finn, MD
"Bert, the Jacana Safari (Nov. 1999) exceeded all of my expectations, which were very high to begin with. In a word, the trip was stunning. EVERY aspect of the trip was organized, perfectly safe and "alive!" The diverseness of the Jacana Safari is perfect. In Chobe, we saw all of the big game, including the amazing sight of buffalo migrating to the water in the p.m. and then back toward the bush in the a.m. The first time we saw lions, especially a male lion with a full mane, I lost my breath. One "feels" why they are called the "king of the jungle" - their walk alone, says it all. From there, it was Linyanti, elephant haven. I had the great fortune of staying in the tent that was directly located on the elephants' path - one night I woke up to find several elephants right outside of my tent and I nearly screamed with excitement. Our third camp was the new Jacana Camp; it is serene and beautifully designed. Also, it offered some peaceful time on the mokoros and some outstanding wide-open sunsets. Then, we ended the trip at Mombo . Again, we saw all of the big game, including cheetah, wild dogs, a couple of leopards AND baby ostriches. What a spectacular way to end the trip and believe me, I didn't want it to end!
What made each of our game rides and the whole experience, actually, even more magical was the passion and knowledge of our guide, Russell Crossey, and our hostess, Katie Fell. For one, they made us feel safe and "watched over." Secondly, their knowledge was impressive and educational. Also, I felt so lucky to have the opportunity to go on a few "bush" walks with Russell. I have to say that walking through the bush is one of the most exhilarating feelings I have ever had; yet we all felt so safe because of Russell's experience.
Another outstanding part of the trip was the camps. EACH camp (and this is not camping in any sense of the word!) is exceedingly comfortable and clean. The local people who work at the camps are very friendly and really make you feel "at home."
Lastly, Bert, I have to thank you. Out of the seven us who were on this trip, my itinerary was the most organized because of YOU! Also, I was equipped with the most knowledge. Again, because of YOU! Everyone I know who will ever visit Africa will call you to plan their trip, including the individuals who were in my group. I learned that even if Wilderness Safaris offers the best safari, it is the person who makes all of the plans that makes a great trip into PERFECT! Thank you so much for answering all of my millions of questions before the trip. You treated me as though my trip was the most important one in the world vs. just a client and I will always be appreciative for that. Until my next trip to Africa, best wishes. (Note: I would be happy to answer anyone's questions regarding the Jacana Safari and any questions, in general, about traveling alone to Africa.).
C. Einsele, IL
"Dear Bert,
We had an absolutely fabulous time on our Jacana Safari
[in July 1999]! What an experience! Some highlights: Vic Falls was terrific! We
had baboons and warthogs right outside our room at the Ilala Lodge! The Flight
of Angels was wonderful and Andrew really enjoyed the horseback riding. A
permanent rainbow. Wow!
We spent an incredible hour watching wild dogs near the Linyanti camp. We even saw them mating! We were but a few yards away. Andrew and I were moved to tears with excitement! We saw a lioness and four 3-month old cubs at Chobe eating a zebra, also just a few yards away. We also saw a fascinating confrontation when an elephant and her baby entered the lion area! Near Baobab, we saw a lioness eating a huge zebra she had just killed. We watched the progress over a period of three days, seeing how she dragged it to a hiding place and guarded it. Finally, on the third day, a large male lion joined her! We saw a young male lion mating with a young lioness. It was interesting to compare the mating behavior of lions and dogs! In addition to the wild dogs, we saw other rarely seen wild life including the Pel's Fishing Owl, the Sitatunga antelope and the Roan antelope. The elephants were a joy, as were the giraffes.
We loved the wide variety of ways we traveled: on foot, on land, in the water and in the air by a variety of conveyances! We even tried our hand at poling a mokoro. Andrew was quite good at it! Having a chance to be in different locations was wonderful, and the Okavango Delta was amazing. Our visit to Cape Town was also wonderful. The tours were great! We even hit Table Mountain on a day without a cloud in the sky! In fact, we had great weather all four days, warm and no rain at all. Thank you for all your help and guidance. If I had had hiking boots to keep the thorns off my ankles (instead of just sneakers) it would have been perfect. I would like to let Wilderness Safaris know that the safari guide and hostess, Rowen and Trudi, were outstanding! They consistently went out of their way to make it a great experience for all of us. We were also pleased with the employees at all the camps. Also, our private guide in Cape Town, Leyann, was just great and sought to personalize our experiences whenever possible.
Lou and I have over 1200 pictures to sort out and Andrew has over 800 pictures from his digital camera to arrange into a computer slide show. He was able to show us some of his great shots along the way since his camera has a viewing screen. He took video clips with it as well! Thanks again, Bert!
Audrey, Lou and Andrew Flumen, NJ
"I want to apologize for not writing to you sooner regarding our recent safaris in Botswana and Zimbabwe. The time has just slipped away from me with no legitimate excuse or reason for being so tardy. Something that you were never guilty of throughout our long planning process. Gail and I can not thank you enough for the splendid work which you did in putting this trip together for us. Your representation for Wilderness Safaris was absolute top drawer; other people selling their trips should be as good. On the Jacana portion of the safari half of the group had no idea of what they were getting into nor did they want to be where they were. They made the best of it but they were not happy campers--- in fact they were not campers. For us, there were no surprises except for perhaps the high quality of everything including the camping. This was not our first experience in Africa but it was by far the best.
I would highly recommend to all who have the time and the money to combine the Jacana and Rhino Safaris to do so. I would have been so disappointed if at the end of the Jacana Safari I had nothing to look forward to but the long ride home. If there was any negative to this it was the time between the two safaris which meant either a lay over in Victoria Falls or other accommodations. Your recommendation (Matetsi Lodge) worked out OK however the experience was not of the caliber of the Wilderness Experience. Accommodations were great and seeing wild dogs was good but for some reason we did not feel that it compared with the rest of the trip. I guess maybe it was somewhat too plush and not quite as intense of a wild life experience. For many people it would probable be a high light.
All of the people connected with Wilderness are to be complimented on their individual roles with making these safaris as great as they were. The guides Rowan Calder on the Jacana and Craig van Zyl on the Rhino are to be commended on their knowledge and personalities. I would not hesitate to spend more time with either one of them. The walking portions of the Rhino with Craig were an added bonus for the Rhino Safari. Our Jacana Safari resulted in seeing many lion, so much so that I dubbed Brad the lion man and told Craig at the outset that he had a difficult task to equal Brad's lion spotting. Well he was up to the task. Both of them showed us lion in singles and prides, in early morning light to evening dark. Adults and kittens, what pictures I have as a result. To enumerate all the animals seen is a lot harder to do than to indicate the species not seen. We still have to find the rhino and good leopard which gives us hope for a return visit. As for birding, a contest developed there also with a few more different species being seen on the Rhino than on to Jacana. Our companions on these Safaris from Vancouver, Betty and Bob Kellogg, developed a very comprehensive list of all animals and birds seen, it is a very impressive list.
You were kind enough to ask our acceptance of a young girl who wanted to accompany her parents on the Rhino trip for which we were scheduled. You need to know that all went well and the seven of us were a very homogeneous group. It was great to have her as well as her parents along.
The published information on Wilderness Safaris is complete and enticing. The final itinerary left nothing wanting. When asked, I tell everyone that you made the difference between a trip to Africa and a great experience in Africa. I hope, God willing, we will be able to ask you to make arrangements for another trip with Wilderness Safaris. The many client testimonials which are on your web site bear witness to what you have done for others. God put the animals there for us to witness but you have made it possible for us to get there and to enjoy it. Thank you very much".
Gail and John Hoffman, PA
"We have indeed just returned safe, sound, and thoroughly jet lagged after the trip from Harare to Vancouver which took 40 hours. That will soon be over, but I know the pleasure and excitement of the trip will be with us for the rest of our lives. It was truly the trip of a lifetime! We had to constantly pinch ourselves to realize that we were actually experiencing all that we did.
Wilderness Safaris really delivered a well rounded experience on both safaris (Jacana Safari & Rhino Safari, June 1999). The guides, Rowan Calder and Craig van Zyl, were both exceptionally skilled and pleasant people who were enthusiastic and always ready to go the extra mile for you. The various camp staffs were universally friendly, accommodating and the meals they produced under field conditions were truly amazing. We saw more, and more varied, animals than we had ever hoped for, including leopard, cheetah, some 30 lions, sitatunga, eland, wild dogs, and wild cat in addition to all the others more commonly seen in profusion. Betty and I are both interested in birds and saw some 180 species that were new to us. Both guides were extremely skilled in bird identification.
We enjoyed the Matetsi Lodge experience, but it was really too posh for our tastes. Tent camping puts you in contact with the land and that is what we were looking for. Matetsi was certainly preferable to staying in Vic Falls between the two safaris and it was there that we had the chance to experience the wild dogs.
We are so very appreciative of the exceptional service you have provided us. On the Jacana Safari there were two groups that were not happy with the tent camping situation and it was clearly the fault of poor communication between them and their travel agents who probably never had been on one of the trips. Their problem didn't really affect our enjoyment of the experience, but it made us realize how fortunate we were to have dealt with someone so knowledgeable about the trips and so responsive to our queries.
I took 27 rolls of film during the trip and Betty took 6 hour of video. We already know the video footage is editable to something great and we are anxious to see the photographs we will get back from the processor today. Once again, many thanks to you and Wilderness Safaris for providing us with such a wonderful experience.
Bob Kellogg, Vancouver B.C.
"You have probably heard from Linda by now so you know we had a fabulous time [Jacana Safari, May 1999]. Our guide, Rowan Calder, was exceptionally knowledgeable and knew where to find whatever we wanted to see that day. We hated to part his company as he was so pleasant to be with. There were seven of us altogether. The four of us from Portland, a couple from Ventura County in California and another young lady from the Bay Area (California). So all Oregon and California as it was the last time when we went to Malawi. What a coincidence!
I had somewhat of an idea that the food would be very good due to some of your remarks in your reports...but is was still a very pleasant, beyond expected surprise. All the camps were great, each one in the style of its area. Sue's and my only problem was in Chobe where our tent was in the sun ALL day and we had no place to go except up by the campfire. We would have like to relax in our own tent...but! The rest of them were in the shade.
If Linda has not told you, the water camp that we were supposed to go to had to halt construction due to the high water so we went to Jedibe instead. It was lovely there and some of us went fishing...3 times...for the elusive tiger fish. At Jedibe (we were the only ones there the first 2 nights) we were treated to dinner on one of the houseboats the second night.
The guest house in Cape Town was wonderful. Unfortunately we only had a short stay as we headed out on a tour of the Cape. This was pretty thrilling for me as I had never dreamed I would see the Cape of Good Hope or have lunch overlooking the Indian Ocean. Now we have decided we need to go back to South Africa and spend more time at the Cape.
All in all Bert....it was a wonderful trip. Truly one of the best for me. If I never get to do anything like it again, at least I will have done it once. Thanks you so much for your part in it. Hopefully in a couple of years we will be able to put together another trip to Africa and you can be part of the planning process. We already have some ideas. Thanks again for everything!
June Smith, OR
"Let me start this letter off with a big 'Thank You' for making the trip [Jacana Safari, May 1999] of a lifetime a reality. Even though I booked last minute everything went off without a hitch thanks to your expertise and professionalism, whereas some others in Africa booked months in advance and experienced minor glitches.
So here is what happened: Mombo was everything I hoped it would be. Even though it was off season the amount of game was mind blowing. I can't think of anything we hadn't seen! Two pride of lion (five males in one, four in the other), four different leopard, three cheetah, the "Giraffic park" you had spoken of in your newsletter, dozens upon dozens of zebra, impala, baboons, hyena, and two packs of wild dogs! (Moremi and Mombo packs, the Mombo female is pregnant). The dogs are absolutely spectacular. Their markings are so beautiful, and it is amazing to watch how social they are with each other. Once when we were following the Moremi pack one late afternoon we and three other vehicles lost them in a thick bush. But when we came around a large forested area what a thrilling sight. Twenty feet in front of our vehicle was a leopard; to the left of him, a hyena; out in the distance in front herds of impala and buffalo, and then to the right, the dogs! We didn't see anything take place but the anticipation was intense and the setting African sun was the perfect backdrop.
All the camps had something to offer. Linyanti was simply beautiful. A young male lion had decided the campsite was his territory which made even our walk from the tent to dinner exciting. A ride into the Savuti area brought a mating pride of lion and two lioness and two adorable cubs.
I can't even name all the animals I had seen: Both jackals, African wildcat, serval bushbabies, hares, black mamba snakes, monitor lizards, wildebeest, kudu, honey badger, tsessebe, and at Xepa two sitatunga sightings and two gorgeous Pel's fishing owls! And we ended the safari the last day with a kill in Chobe. Four hungry lionesses who had walked by our tents earlier that morning had taken down a young Puku right in front of us and fought over it and ate it right in front of us. It was a slow nasty kill even to Hayden. About twenty minutes after leaving the lionesses we saw a young male lion stalking a buffalo by a lake but the young thing went after a lizard instead and the buffalo chased him. After that we saw another mating pride of lion and did I forget to mention the hundreds of elephant, the crocodile feeding on a baby elephant carcass, the leaping herds of red lechwe, and over 100 species of birds? (That's where I stopped counting). Oh, and another dog sighting at the Chobe border! Hayden asked me to send the photos to Africa for a census.
One thing I absolutely cannot forget to mention is what an exceptional guide Hayden is. He knows animals so well and is an amazing guide. Also quick. He was able to read us as well as he could read the animals and has bionic hearing and sight. Trudi was an equally wonderful hostess and chef. (I don't know what made me think I would be able to say all this in a couple of paragraphs).
I'm already trying to decide which trip to do next with my boyfriend. He can't believe he missed this one and we are seeing if we can go together possibly this November! You'll be the first to know so please keep me posted and updated. I've already told all my friends who are thinking of going to call you only! Thanks again for all your help!"
Lisa Hartman, NY
"We are almost recovered from our jet lag, but our safari [Jacana May 1999] will live forever in our memories! Guide, Rowan, was wonderful - I didn't ask a question that he couldn't answer. He was extremely knowledgeable. Accommodations were great - the first camp, Chobe, was rustic. The usual campsite was flooded so it was an alternate. We were glad that the trip started with the most primitive camp and ended with Jedibe. On the other hand, the crafts and shopping were definitely superior in Victoria Falls. We could have bought more there because we had a brand new propjet so weight wasn't a problem. As you said, the food was wonderful and plentiful! We suggest that travelers bring small games, needlework and books to occupy them during the midday hours, since walking is not permitted everywhere. We appreciated your Cape Town guest house suggestion - it was a lovely spot! All in all, a fantastic vacation! Thanks for your help in putting it all together!
Linda Jessell, OR
"First let me thank you for your phone call to see if we arrived safely in Cape Town. It was very thoughtful of you. What can I say about the trip [Jacana Safari, May 1999] when one day was just as perfect as the next? We had a wonderful time and the weather couldn't have been better.
Our day in Cape Town we did a tour around the cape, stopping to see the penguins. What a beautiful city! It began to rain during the night we were to leave. For some reason, on our flight to Johannesburg, we were put in first class which was a treat. On arriving in Maun, we were met by our guide and hostess and the rest of our group who were six people together associated with the Chicago zoo. This included the chief veterinarian and finance director. All very nice people. The plane which we took to Mombo was a brand new Cessna Caravan - it even smelled like a new car. This is also the plane which took us to the other camps. The previous week a vulture had crashed through the passenger side window and at one point we made a very sharp dip to avoid a Fish Eagle.
Mombo camp was wonderful - lots of animals on the game drives. It was just starting to fill up with water in front of the camp. I still can't get over how beautiful every place we went was - so many trees. One evening we watched a leopard crouching for an attack but I don't think it was very serious about it as it didn't seem to try very hard. The food was great.
Approaching Xepa camp, our guide and hostess could not get over the amount of water we had to run through. The road in front of our tent was covered and every day it crept a little bit higher towards us. At night, the hippo frolicked in it outside our tent. We were the last people ever to be at that camp as they were moving it to Jacana camp directly after we left. The mokoro trips through the water were the most peaceful thing we had ever experienced. We did see a Pel's fishing owl and also a sitatunga. Not an awful lot of game there as we had anticipated.
Next camp, Linyanti, was the most luxurious. Very, very nice. Would have liked to stay there at least one more day to relax on our own personal front porch in the easy chairs overlooking the water. Had to take everything out of our bathroom during the day as the baboons came in. Night drives here were great as we saw a lot of smaller animals.
At Chobe, the plains were completely flooded. Our camp was in a beautiful spot though and we saw lots of game. The elephant herds put on wonderful displays playing in the water. One evening, while eating, a male and female lion passed by our dining tent within about l5 yards. Saw lots of game here but also many more people than we had become used to. Our last morning while leaving we saw our first and only wild dog. What a treat!
Victoria Falls was so full of water it was hard to see the falls but was exciting to be there anyway. I wouldn't have missed being there at the end for the shopping!! What great bargains!
We never did need our mosquito coils or repellent as there was some in each tent. Our bird count ended up being l35 and that was not even trying very hard as the others were not as interested in birds which was no problem for us. Saw lots of various animals including a small herd of roan which I guess are not very common.
All in all, a completely wonderful experience. What a paradise for animals! Botswana certainly is a beautiful country from what we saw of it. Thanks for arranging our most memorable trip".
Louise McCarthy, WA
"In a nutshell, the trip [Nov. '98 Jacana & Rocktail Bay/Ndumo Wilderness Camp & Cape Town add-on] was a trip of a lifetime. We had wonderful shoulder-season weather, great guides, gourmet food, and saw marvelous things. I was especially impressed at how much ACTION there was to see.
For example, we saw:
1. Lions playing tug-of-war with a guide's safari hat on a fallen tree
(excellent visibility, but we were wondering what happened to the guide ...)
2. Leopard Tortoises fighting (they try to hook their shells under the
opponent's to overturn him, and one was so dumb that when he did overturn the
other he kept on pushing, which only righted his opponent again. It was also
fun to watch them simultaneously take "time outs" to rest.)
3. A crocodile
struggling with a fish in his mouth too large to swallow; he cut it in two,
flung half away on the grass, whereupon a Fish Eagle swooped down, posed for me
as he stood over "his" piece of fish, then flew up in a tree to eat it.
4.
A leopard climbed up a tree with his dinner (an African Wild Cat) and ate it in
front of us in the tree, while a Hyena longingly envied the scraps that
occasionally fell below.
5. Two cheetahs with thin bellies walking slowly,
who our guide thought might be hungry enough to stalk dinner. We drove
alongside until they saw their prey, whereupon they switched gears and gave us
a wonderful speed demonstration. (Unfortunately we couldn't follow them into
the thicket to see what they got for dinner.)
6. Two sightings of the rare
Black Rhinos, and many Whites; hippos, buffaloes, an African python crawling
across our road, dung beetles pushing their dung houses along the ruts, bush
pigs, bush baby, monitor lizard, black mamba, baboons, monkeys, and much more.
7. Elephants throwing mud over themselves, then hosing themselves off in
the river ... and one who courteously sprayed his mate.
8. At Rocktail Bay,
a human 3-year old baby was playing on the beach with a colorful
pail-and-shovel set when a Yellowbilled Kite circled over, then dive-bombed the
baby trying to get the shovel, apparently thinking it was edible. That was an
exciting moment!
These action events made me wish I had a video camera!
What else can I say? Claire and I were impressed with the camp logistics - flying the food into Botswana from South Africa, for example, and preparing exquisite, gourmet meals every day (unfailingly with wine!) under such primitive conditions
I must also mention that the Auberge Penrose in Cape Town was great. They have updated the Victorian house with modern plumbing. The staff was unusually gracious, offering us tea whenever we came home tired, and on the day of our departure (flight was 10pm) they invited us to return in the evening to freshen up with a shower before the long trip back home. We actually stayed in the sister Charlton House across the street, and had a magnificent view of Table Mountain from our balcony.
Wilderness did a fine job even by US standards and I would not hesitate to recommend them to a colleague considering a similar safari. And, I hope you can draw some satisfaction yourself from having two more satisfied clients!
Merv MacMedan, CA
"We just got back from our [July 1998] Jacana Safari and I thought I would let you know how much we loved the trip!! Conrad [Hennig] was SO outstanding. Not only was he knowledgeable about flora and fauna of Africa, but he was very into ecology and how everything must come together. On top of this awesome brainpower he had, he was so caring and concerned about each of us and best of all, he had even more enthusiasm than I have (and I have lots). He is without a doubt the best guide we have ever had and I could not imagine anyone being better.
The tents at Linyanti were wonderful and the whole setup at Mombo Trails was perfect. We could see at least 15 different species of birds and large animal life right from the terrace of our tent! We saw absolutely everything except the wild dogs. I have over 150 species of birds on my check-off list and we saw both lions eating a fresh zebra and a leopard with her cub eating an impala in a tree. We spotted leopards 3 different times and cheetah twice. Conrad was even more excited than we were about seeing the large cats.
The diversity of the camp areas and also the boat rides vs. game drives was very good leaving us with the feeling that we saw a great deal of Botswana. And we loved being the only people around almost all the time. I was concerned that I might prefer lodges, but the intimacy and feeling of being "right there" was so special in the small tented camps that we visited. And hearing the noises during the nights, knowing that an elephant or lion could be just a few feet from us was the ultimate in the bush experience.
You had told me that Wilderness Safaris was the best and I now have no doubt that is true. The level of caring from Conrad and Trudi as well as the many other staff was superb! At the last two camps, the staff even did a little song and dance show for us. And what a surprise at Mombo when we arrived at an area a few miles from the tents at 7 PM and there were tables with candles, tablecloths, etc. set up for us under the moon and stars!! How elegant can you get! And the turning down of the beds each night with hot water bottles, folded toilet paper and other such things found only at 5 star hotels!
And the food!!! We ate six times a day and it varied from very good to close to gourmet. The chicken curry that last night was probably the best we've ever had and I am sure I gained 10 pounds!! It was our very favorite trip ever and we have definitely been bitten by the "Africa bug" and are already trying to decide if we should do Malawi next or Namibia or Zambia... Thanks for it all.
Helene & Henry Schechter, NJ
"The [Jacana Safari July '98] trip was WONDERFUL!! It was everything we hoped it would be and more. We had a great time visiting South Africa. We managed to do quite a bit in Cape Town, including the cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, Cape Point, Cape of Good Hope, Chapman's Drive, the Waterfront and a tour of Robben Island. We had superb weather, sunny and warm every day! The PortsWood was a great place to stay and we were very pleased with the accommodations.
We spent a couple of days in Johannesburg and managed to get in a tour of Soweto. It was quite an experience!
Then it was on to Botswana. Our guide Paul, and hostess Linda were excellent. I'm not sure the experience would have been the same without them. Our first evening in Mombo, we were able to witness a leopard eating a kill in a tree. On our second day, we experienced one of the highlights of the trip: a kill by two cheetah brothers which we witnessed from start to finish. It ended with a hyena coming to take the kill from the cheetahs just as they were about to eat. It was quite exciting. I believe we saw six different leopards and numerous lions in Mombo. We even "snuck" out one night because we could hear them roaring loudly very close by. We managed to locate them and it was quite a thrill sitting amongst the lions and the stars.
Savuti was also a favorite. Lots of elephant and lion!! The trip came to an end in what seemed like a very short time. I'd like to thank you for all your help in planning for this experience. All your advice and information was helpful. I was also very pleased with Wilderness Safaris. I would not hesitate to recommend both Fish Eagle and Wilderness Safaris to people interested in a safari. Because of my enthusiasm, I believe I have some friends thinking about it.
Again, thank you! If, in the future, I return to Africa, I would undoubtedly use your services again."
A. Wasdo, MA
"My [November 1997] Jacana and Toktokkie Safari was wonderful - really an awesome experience. So much better than the trips I have done to East Africa. I am really impressed with Wilderness Safaris. As you know, I booked the entire thing online and I can't believe how smoothly everything went, both the safaris and the flights on SAA. You far exceeded my expectations! We had great groups who got along famously on both safaris, and the guides were so enthusiastic. Andy van Smeerdijk got us very involved with the wild dogs - we saw two different packs. Mombo was the best: leopard, cheetah with cubs - it was just perfect. My second favorite was Savuti Camp. And the boat ride at Chobe is not to be missed, just like you said we saw several elephants frolicking in the water.
Etosha was wonderful too - a lasting impression was an hour I spent on my own at the waterhole at Okaukuejo observing a solitary black rhino. Namibia is simply fantastic and the diversity of scenery is hard to describe. The way the light changes on the sand dunes, the massive boulders that look like a giant's playground... Unfortunately my photographs will never do it justice - I will simply have to return some day! I never did see the blackfooted cat, but it wasn't for a lack of trying - the African wild cat sighting made up for it though!"
M. Valeri, CA
"Our [October 1997] Jacana Safari was awesome: it could not have been better. We saw everything including lion, leopard and cheetah and some fantastic sightings of wild dogs. We saw no less than two different wild dog kills, the one right by the front wheel of our safari vehicle. It was unbelievable and we got some awesome 'photos! Really an exciting trip, a definite '10'. Best of all were Rob and Elize Moffat, our guiding couple. He must be one of the best guides in Botswana: witty and knowledgeable about everything from grass to birds to stars, and with incredibly sharp eyesight, able to find everything. Elize is phenomenal: an excellent cook and one of the most accomplished persons we have ever met. It is hard to believe she's only 23! If you ever need a reference just let us know."
Jewell & Rick Bell, NV
"Bert, the ('July 1997) Jacana Safari was phenomenal! Not enough superlatives to describe it ... the game-viewing at Mombo was awesome - it was as if someone flicked a switch and turned them all on. The guide, Conrad Hennig, was incredibly knowledgeable and his enthusiasm was infectious. Everything was extremely well organized. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you or Wilderness Safaris to anyone looking into an African trip. Keep up the good work. I may try the Suricate Safari next - Conrad highly recommended it.
Jane Piotrowski, Illinois
"Writing a note of thanks is normally not something I take the time to do. However, the Jacana Safari (June '97) was a dream come true for both me and my wife. It was absolutely amazing and far exceeded our expectations. We saw many lions, a male chewing on the leg of an Impala, a lioness carrying her one month old cub in her mouth, prides relaxing in the afternoon and hunting in the evening. There were leopard stalking in the bush, cheetah hunting on the plains, and a female wild dog (about ready to give birth) at a water hole in Chobe. We saw elephant (hundreds), giraffe, zebra, antelope, buffalo, birds (too numerous to name) hippos and crocodiles. It seemed everywhere we went there was some amazing sight to be experienced. And the African sunsets and landscapes are just breathtaking.
I also must say something about the Wilderness team that served us. The camp staffs were great and always willing to do whatever it took to serve us. Our Wilderness guides, Rob and Elize Moffat are the best! They truly made this trip something special for us. Rob has expert knowledge of the African bush and a great sense of humor. He was always willing to take the time to discuss the behaviors of the animals and above all looked out for our safety. Elize has a caring attitude and always seemed to have a smile. She's a great cook too!
Bert; many, many thanks for your work in setting this up for us, and we will be back!
Bob and Barbara McCurdy, NJ
"Just thought I'd let you know how much we enjoyed our (May '97) safari in Botswana. We had looked forward to the trip for so long I was a bit worried that it might not live up to expectations, but it did and more. The wildlife viewing was spectacular. Highlights included watching a cheetah kill an impala to feed her cubs (at Mombo), seeing a pride of 28 lions devouring a recently killed zebra (at Savuti), and seeing 500-plus elephants on the banks of the Chobe river. We were also pleased to see some creatures that we hadn't seen before, such as leopard, red lechwe, sitatunga and the Pel's fishing owl. Unfortunately there were no wild dogs to be seen, so I guess we'll just have to go back!
We found the camps very comfortable and the staff excellent. Our guide, Dave, was very skilled at tracking the animals; Jennifer, the cook/hostess, served up delicious food and kept things well-organized; and all the camp staff were friendly and efficient. We had a wonderful vacation and wouldn't hesitate to travel with Wilderness safaris again. Please keep us on your mailing list.
Cath & Mary, CA
"I can't think of enough superlatives to describe my [September '96] Jacana Safari. It was magical and awesome, in the old-fashioned sense of the word. Observing lions with cubs from what seemed like just 10 feet away and studying the activity at a wild dog den with 15 puppies was so special. I just loved sleeping in a tent, wondering just how close the lions were... We saw a pride of 29 lions, five leopards, cheetah and lots of elephant and buffalo. It could not have been any better. Our guide, Rob Moffat, was a real nature's child: very smart, bright and an excellent birder. I would advise single people to pay the single supplement: it's worth it."
Gisela Meyn, RI
"The [June '96 Jacana Safari in Botswana] was incredible. Thank you very much for your advice. As you said, the game, especially at Mombo Camp was plentiful. In our brief stay there we saw two cheetah kills, a leopard, the wild dog pack, and were kept awake for an entire night by a lion announcing his territory 50 yards from camp. The Wilderness guide and hostess were first rate and "read" the group well. Again - thank you for helping us with an amazing trip. Frankly, I liked it so much, we toyed with the idea of telling you it was horrible to keep others from going. Keep us on the mailing list, and let us know if you'd like any other info."
Jonathan & Robyn Kessler, APO
"We had a very, very good time on our [July 1996] Jacana Safari in Botswana. It was perfect and the guide, Heidi Dednam, was excellent. She just loves animals and has a way with people, as well. Even my husband, who was a bit leery about the whole thing before the time, enjoyed the trip. When I travel to Africa again, I will certainly go with Wilderness Safaris. We were really comfortable, and especially enjoyed the delicious food and a glass of wine at the end of the day. Keep us in mind for future trips - perhaps we'll try Zambia the next time around!"
Judith Prigal, NJ
"Our [October 1996] Jacana Safari was wonderful and we are very grateful for your help in making it a reality. The guides were simply fantastic: Dave van Smeerdijk was delightful and Charles Brightman [Chizarira Wilderness Trail] was just as good. He even found us a leopard which we observed stalking. Jennifer, our hostess, worked miracles over the open fire and we ate like the king and queen of Sheba! The game-viewing was excellent: we saw four different packs of wild dog, mating lions, a cheetah chasing a jackal and herds of elephant in silhouette against the sunrise. Really a worthwhile experience!
Jane Ballard, WA
"Dear Bert, Sorry I have taken so long to write you, we had a wonderful trip with absolutely no problems! Many thanks to your wife for assistance with the last minute adjustments to the Zimbabwe portion of the trip. Leigh from Wilderness met us; she was very kind and also supportive of the adjustments. Concern about Zimbabwe is prevalent even in South Africa but we did not have any problems. The entire trip was awesome down to every detail and again I wanted to thank you for all the work and service you provided. I agree with you about Wilderness, they are top notch!
Trip highlights included the Grace Hotel which was very, very nice, superb meals and accommodation. Deception valley has got to be one of the most beautiful and isolated places on the planet, all green and smelling of sweet flowers/clover and full of springbok. We had a wonderful second evening when a female lion pursued by 2 massive male Kalahari brothers came slowly to us from 300 metres away passing less than 10 feet from the vehicles and relaxing in our presence for well over an hour as we shot roll after roll and eventually just enjoyed the beautiful colours of sunset in the Kalahari. Our guide Pilot was wonderful and very good at spotting. Our timing was very good as the rains had been very heavy and just a couple of weeks before our arrival the roads would have been impassable. The same 2 males were enjoyed the next morning and later 2 separate cheetah spottings the first 3 males and the second a female with 2 cubs who we watched stalk springbok unsuccessfully. Birds abounded and we had well over 200 species by the end of the trip even though we were all new to the bird watching game. Swarms of Queleas were breathtaking all moving in unison. Nights around the fire were great fun and the cooking and camp facilities unbelievable considering the isolation. Unfortunately we were not allowed to do game drives at night to look for the elusive brown hyena in the Kalahari Central Game Reserve.
Our next location after 4 nights at Deception was the Makgadikgadi Game Reserve where we were allowed to do night drives and had very interesting nocturnal lion experiences tracking a female along the road all the way back to our camp which was a little exciting. The best was yet to come as lions roared just metres from the tent all night long! As far as places visited this was probably the most disappointing as there was very little game, we could not get to the pans due to the rains (too much water) and I was picturing the big pans like Sua pan but I think this is more like what you see at Jack's.
We then returned to Maun and carried on to Jacana camp which was our favourite place on the trip. What a beautiful little piece of paradise. The guide Dyna there is bushman-like in his ability to mokoro and spot birds at the same time. He was so kind and considerate and very into his job. We spotted 2 Pel's fishing owls and 3 Sitatungas. We actually chased a male by mokoro which was very exciting. The staff were so enthusiastic greeting us with a welcome song, surprising us in the bush with a Hemingway style brunch and entertaining us with songs and dances at night. A very intimate spot, very natural and I would recommend this to anyone for a honeymoon spot. Sadly we left and proceeded on to Duba Plains which was also wonderful. We had great lion viewings finding 4 females with 11 cubs every game drive, super pictures and behaviour. James the head guide is fantastically funny and a very kind man. Night drives were so productive spotting civets, genets, serval, and African wild cat. The gazebo is also a great place to hang out. SA Airways was superb throughout. Thanks Bert for all the help and we may be going back again with you probably either to Zimbabwe or to Namibia, the Skeleton coast trip sounds so amazing. Would love top go to Mombo, Jack's and back to Jacana camp as well. So many places! All the best to you and your wife.
Joel Carter, Canada
Mopane (12 Day Participation Safari)
"The (Oct. 1999 Mopane Safari in) Botswana was terrific. We saw a stalk and kill not far from Chobe lodge (lioness got a sable); cheetahs in Savuti, and Moremi was something else. Leopards, pack of wild dogs, pride of 10 lions after an elephant kill and on and on and on. Our guide Anderson was outstanding: young, energetic and loved to find animals plus he was a great cook. Who could ask for more? Our group of seven included three from England, two from Canada, three physicians, two teachers, an engineer and a nurse. The couple from England, both physicians, had spent two years in Tanzania and had been to the Serengeti and other safaris and felt this had been the best by far."
Stan & Maryann Bugaieski, OH
"I just wanted you to know what a wonderful time we had on the Wilderness Participation Safari [Mopane June 1999]. We started with three peaceful days in the Okavango at Zepa Camp, then flew back to Maun where we picked up our safari vehicle and headed out for Moremi. Once there, we found cheetahs, lions and lots of elephants....one night we watched as four male lions walked within 20 feet of our campsite. We had a great family adventure, and I would recommend this trip to any family that enjoys camping. Thank you so much for all your help..."
Pamela Wilson, TX
"So, I had the BEST time on my trip (Mopane Safari, May 1998)! If I could have stayed in Botswana for the next year I would have (of course, I might need a job of some kind, but... ). The country was beautiful, the landscape exactly as I pictured, the game plentiful, and the people were really great. My guide was Rowan Calder who I gather took the place of the younger brother of one of the current guides. He was fabulous - informed, funny, a great cook, and really enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the area, especially the vegetation and birdlife. I want to go back soon and explore more of Zimbabwe and go south in Namibia and I'd love to see more of Botswana. The Oryx Safari in Namibia wasn't the most fabulous (a little too much time in Swakopmund and a little too much German) but Namibia was really gorgeous and interesting and I met some cool people so it turned out really well. So thanks again for all your help setting things up.
S. Emerson, CA
"We made it home (from a Mopane Safari, Oct. '97) a few days ago, rested, tanned, exhilarated and a good ten pounds heavier than when we left. It ended up being a fabulous trip, with nary a snarl for the whole month. I'm glad we spent our two weeks in South Africa first. We spent time in Kruger, Mkuzi and Hluhluwe, seeing lots of animals, lots of birds and beautiful scenery and many rhino in Hluhluwe.
However, our wildlife viewing in South Africa was very limited compared with what we found in Botswana. Amazing what an expert guide and big Landrover can do to helping you find animals. The time in Botswana was fabulous. Due to one couple canceling at the last minute, we only had five guests. The three other folks were all singles, and really great people to spend time with. Consequently, I got to have the whole back seat of the Landrover to myself and my camera! I ended up shooting 55 rolls in the four weeks.
Pilot Manga was our guide and he was terrific. We feel extremely fortunate to have had him, with his terrific knowledge of the Botswana natural world, as well as being a local person and us having the benefits related to that. We learned a lot about Botswana people and history and customs. Pilot had a great sense of humor as well.
We were very fortunate to stay at the Chitabe camp our last three nights. What a stroke of luck. Pilot got hold of a radio to chat with other guides there and we were able to find leopard twice and cheetah once while we were there. In fact, on one evening, over the course of one hour, we saw cheetah, a leopard, a caracal and a wild cat.
And of course for the whole trip we saw all the animals you would expect: lots of elephant up on the Chobe River, lion almost every day (we had them wander through camp in Savuti one evening after dinner), wild dog and bat eared fox in Savuti, and we watched a leopard chow down on a vervet monkey for over an hour near the Chitabe camp.
Thank you for all your help in making the trip so great. Obviously I wouldn't mind chatting with any potential future clients, if you'd like. We're thinking about going back in five years or so, and then will be looking to spend some time in Namibia. So you can expect to hear from us then!"
Steve Lambros and Laurie Gerloff, OR
"We're back from safari (Mopane June '97), and we had an AMAZING time! There were only four people on our trip (apparently three canceled at the last minute), and we all got along great with each other and our guide, so it was like our own private trip!
Our favorite stop was Chitabe, which is a brand new lodge in the Okavango. After seven nights of camping, this lodge was the lap of luxury. I'm not sure the 3-paw trips will be staying here much longer, so we're lucky we got there when we did. Everywhere the game and bird-viewing was terrific. We saw a Cheetah eating her Impala kill, Wild Dogs (including five puppies!), Lions, Elephants, Sable Antelopes, Warthogs, Fish Eagles (of course!) and so much more!
All our travel arrangements worked out just as planned, so thanks for all your help in this regard. Let's stay in touch!"
Leslie and Dan, New York City
"Bert, our [July '97] Mopane Safari was amazing and wonderful!! We had a terrific trip. The guide (Pilot Manga) & camp hand (B.K. Setabuswa) were great - very knowledgeable and personable. I already want to go back, and would recommend it highly to anyone. Thanks for your help in setting this up."
Anita Parsa, Kansas
"My daughter and I really enjoyed the [August 1996] Mopane camping safari in Botswana. Thank you for your advice and information: we could not have made a better choice. I want to specifically commend the guide, Craig Thomassen, who did an outstanding job. Craig went out of his way to keep everybody happy and his knowledge of the wildlife and other facets of nature is incredible. We saw many animals and got very close to both elephant and lion, which was a most memorable experience. If you ever need a reference, by all means call on me."
Mick Fields, attorney-at-law, Ohio
"After a lot of investigating and schedule checking, I chose Wilderness Safaris as my guide. I had a wonderful time (on a Mopane safari) and no regrets. They are a group of companies, locally owned in each country in southern Africa, with local guides and headquarters staff. I found Wilderness Safaris through Fish Eagle Safaris in Houston, Texas. Bert du Plessis, the owner, is an excellent birder and guide from South Africa and can help you with the entire continent as far north as Zambia."
Charles Bragg, CA
"I just want you to know how spectacular the [June '99 Rhino] safari was. You were right, it was exactly what I was looking for -- and more. Craig Van Zyl made the experience. He is a superb guide and a fabulous human being. The canoe safari guide was mediocre. The food was unbelievable and the experience of being on foot, just yards away from Buffalo, Lion, and Elephant was indescribable. If you ever need a reference, please feel free to give out my name, email address, or phone number.
Lonnie Barbach, CA
"The [Zambezi Safari in Zimbabwe, June '96] was fabulous in almost every way, far surpassing even the most exotic of expectations. For us, the choice of a camping/participation safari was perfect. Being close to the land, cooking our meals, pitching our tents, was clearly something that enhanced the Africa experience. The canoeing portion of the trip was luxuriant by comparison, and was an excellent counterpoint as well as independently exciting. Our guide on the safari portion of the journey was professional, and delightful. The tent accommodations were excellent, and exactly what we expected. This certainly was the best trip we have ever experienced, and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to experience Africa at "first hand." We will return as soon as we are able.
In summary - an excellent trip, seamless arrangements on your part, professional guides and trip handling, and a memorable experience that will stay with us forever. If I had not done this trip, I would have gone to the grave with regret in my heart for not having done it. Our best to you - thanks for a good trip!
Dr. Randy Percy, NM
"Thank you for your help with my trip [Zambezi Safari, Sept. 1996]. It was a wonderful experience, with the canoeing segment on the Zambezi River definitely the highlight. Shearwater, who operates this part of the trip, has some incredible camps and everything is first class. Some of the drives on the overland part of the safari are long and rugged, but Wilderness Safaris have good vehicles and excellent back-up, as we found out when our trailer had to be repaired. We were very fortunate to spot rhino near Matusadona. I was also very impressed with the Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls: good location, good food and a nice pool.
Dr. Arnie Abrams, Oregon
"Nancy and I got back from our 5 week trip [1999 Toktokkie Safari & Botswana fly-in] on June 25th and I just wanted you to know everything was fantastic and the service/food was excellent. Namibia was beautiful and we saw lots of wildlife there including desert elephant. The Toktokkie proved to be a well laid out safari and our guide Jacques was very knowledgeable about anything to do with Namibia.
Duba Plains in Botswana was a wonderful experience and we got to use the mokoros three mornings in a row. Kings Pool was a little larger than we would have liked but probably has one of the nicest settings of all the camps we stayed at and possibly the best wildlife viewing (including the all too close view of the 8 foot long black mamba that was in the hide as we were about to enter).Cape Town and the Cape scenery was spectacular as was Victoria Falls. Thanks for all your help, Bert, it was a trip of a lifetime.
Jon Greer, MN
"We would like to sincerely thank you for arranging our wonderful trip to Africa [Oryx Safari, May '97]. Everything went like clockwork. We were delighted at the places you recommended for accommodations (The Breakwater in Cape Town and Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls). The Oryx Safari with Karibu Safaris was excellent. Namibia is a beautiful and diverse country - a good way to get a lot of flavor in a short amount of time. Our tour guide really made the trip. Andrew du Preez was highly knowledgeable on all the areas, people and wildlife we saw. His creative cooking skills were also greatly appreciated. Your knowledge of Africa and all your work made this a trip of a lifetime for us. We will call in a heartbeat if we ever plan another trip to Africa. Thanks again.
Barbara & Robert Mueller, Colorado
"The [Wilderness Safaris] trip, which was my third African safari, fully met my expectations. I thoroughly enjoyed the visit to Namibia with all its stark beauty and will recommend it highly to anyone wanting a wilderness experience. I wanted to especially praise the guide as being experienced and capable with an extensive knowledge of Namibia and of how to make everyone have a great trip. As you know, the guide makes the trip great, average or bad and Marc [Durr] made it great."
Austin Corbin, Texas
Overland & fly-in safaris in Malawi & Zambia
"I will certainly recommend the Leopard Safari (Malawi and Zambia) to anyone who is really interested in animals and birds. It reminded me a lot of Africa of 20 years ago. The guide, Andrew Douglas, did a fine job and the meals were very good. The trip certainly lived up to its name as we saw no less than six different leopards, out of a total of about 40 different mammals and over 140 species of birds."
Florence Roberts, NH
General travel in Southern Africa
KRUGER PARK FLY-IN - APR 2001
" What a trip! I want to thank you for all your coordinating in our behalf. I had an absolutely AWESOME time in Mala Mala. We managed to "track" the Big Five...I took tons of photos...our Ranger, Rowan was an excellent Ranger, Host, and Person. Our Tracker, Tom was wonderful too! I will definitely recommend this trip to anyone and everyone. You have my sincere appreciation for planning the trip of a lifetime. Wilderness was very professional. The people of South Africa were most gracious. The accommodations were perfect Thanks again!
Kendall Reid, NY
BOTSWANA SURICATE SAFARI & TANZANIA PRIVATE SAFARI - MARCH 2001
"Dear Bert. Both the Tanzania safari with Kibo and the Botswana Suricate Safari with Wilderness were wonderful experiences. Our Jacana and Rhino Safari experience two years ago was so mind blowing that there really was a risk of it being a hard act to follow. Not to worry, these two safaris were both tremendous experiences with excellent guides, great birding and game viewing, wonderful meals and first class accommodations be they either mobile or permanent tented camps. This trip we (with Haggai's help) identified 201 birds in Tanzania and (with Rich and Rebecca's help) 183 in Botswana. Rich had 23 more that he either saw alone or identified by call, so there was an abundance of bird life. We saw lions in trees on several occasions, rhino in the Ngorongoro Crater and the most spectacular leopard you can imagine in a tree in full sunlight on the last morning of our trip at Vumbura Camp.
Once again, our many thanks for your help in putting together a successful safari experience and answering questions so fully and quickly. It is a pleasure to deal with you.
Bob & Betty Kellogg, Vancouver BC.
SOUTH AFRICA & CHOBWE GAME RESERVE
You mentioned that Notten's might just be the highlight of the trip and so it was. What an adventure! The accommodations were very nice - we were treated as family. The range drive is somewhat different and you do not see as much game as at Chobe. On the other hand, you actually track game (the tracker is seated on the hood of the Land Rover). The ranger takes the vehicle off-road and you are alone on the property. No radio communication to other Land Rovers when sighting game. The adventure started at two in the morning with a Hyena standing at our glass door. We finished the day by watching a pride of 10 lions kill a Warthog. I believe we must have been about ten feet from the kill. Guests eat together at the end of the day with the Notten family and camp staff. We sat around a fire and discussed life in the bush.
I have already recommended your services to many. I'll continue. It was a first class deal. Thanks again."
Andy McCluskey, Idaho
PRIVATE TANZANIA SAFARI - MARCH 2001
We have returned from the great travel plans that you put together for us. To say that we had a great time would be putting it mildly. While we are still trying to get over the jet lag we wanted you to know that we are quite satisfied with the two safaris that you arranged. We did get the three photo opportunities that we set out for; rhino, lion in tree and leopard in tree. All good shots. The first days with KIBO at Isinya were spent with Kibo's owner Willy which was a great experience, especially since he arranged for us to attend a local Masai village's circumcision ceremony. Many other highlights both with KIBO and Wilderness Safaris. The Wilderness guides, Richard Fields and Rebecca Frazer (a married couple) were absolutely great. They made the low spots of the safari highs and the highs were made even the better for having them with us. Absolutely great !"
John Hoffman, PA
KENYA FLY-IN SAFARI
Our trip with EAOS (fly-in safari in Kenya, April 2000) was absolutely excellent, it could not have been any better. Even the weather played along. We were very happy with Joseph, who met myself and my family in Nanyuki: his guiding skills are fantastic and he was especially good with the children & unbelievably knowledgeable about the wildlife and especially the birds. Of all the camps I think we liked Tortilis the best, Sangare Ranch is also a super place.
D. Moore, ID
KENYA FLY-IN SAFARI
"The [Jan '97] trip to Kenya was great! The accommodations were very comfortable, the food was excellent, the service superb and everything went like clock work! Each camp was different from the other 3 which made for a well rounded visit. EAOS did a great job, great folks! They even turned us into birders! We saw every animal we had hoped to see and birds we didn't know existed! In summary we loved the trip and we are already thinking about our next trip to Africa. Thank you for all of your help, particularly your quick response to our missed flight out of Chicago which ended up fine.
Mike & Karla Lederle, Oregon
KENYA & TANZANIA FLY-IN SAFARI
"Our [Jan '97] safari to Kenya and Tanzania was fantastic: the best trip we ever took. Steve Turner of EAOS did a great job and he has some terrific people working for him. They really knock themselves out. Steve's partner in Tanzania, Pratik Patel, is equally as terrific. We enjoyed the hiking; the camel safari was fun but Mahale and Katavi were definitely the high point. We found the chimpanzees at Mahale - it took a bit of work! - and saw tons of animals at Katavi. Roland Purcell is a real class act and we had a great time with him. The food was excellent, too. We'd be happy to tell anybody else what a great trip this was, and you can use us as references anytime."
Beth Mazer, Massachusetts
"I really enjoyed the bird-watching trip to South Africa: great organizing, wonderful accommodations and the very best of local leaders. I can't imagine how it could have been any better. Thanks a lot for all your efforts".
Eli Elder, OH
"If you get the idea from this note that we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, you are 100% correct. You may recall that we have birded on all continents, and this Zimbabwe tour has got to go down as our ultimate birding experience to date. When and if you need references in the future, call on us."
Gifford Beaton, SC
