Exploring the Botswana Wilderness

This was a wonderful mobile camping trip visiting several areas of Botswana. It was my first time mobile camping and I absolutely loved it - even the 'long drop toilets'! To sit outside er the stars with no light pollution was incredible. We had some brilliant sightings, especially the elephants who we watched playing in the water for ages. Trips in between camps could be long but it was more like an extended game drive and didn't bother me in the least. The trip started off at Thamalakane River Lodge where we had a beautiful sunset over the river. It finished at Chobe River Lodge where we went on a boat trip - once again with wonderful sightings - and watched the sun go down. I could honestly have gone immediately back and done it all again! Kirsty and Allan of Wildlife Trails arranged this brilliant photographic tour for us and I will hopefully return again in the not too distant future. I thought the quality of both lodges and the mobile camp was excellent. We would go for a game drive on the morning of our departure to another camp and by the time we got to our new site the old camp had been dismantled and was re-assembled, ready for us to use, as soon as we got there - with food and drink awaiting! The staff were absolutely amazing and our chef created excellent food with seemingly no effort. This was extremely well arranged by Wildlife Trails with nothing being too much trouble for Allan or Kirsty.

On a safari trip I go with hopes and expectations, in this case they were exceeded which was a first. The vehicles used were modern and most importantly not crowded. The trip was a photographic ari and our hosts turned out to be expert wildlife photographers and I learnt a lot from them. The other part was fulfilled by our two local guides who had exemplary, knowledge and had the happy knack of putting us in the right place at the right time. This was a wild camping trip and the facilities again exceeded my expectations. The itinerary worked very well and enabled us to make the most of our time in Botswana. Wildlife trails created the environment that made the trip so good, I learned a lot about photography and the wildlife I went to see. For me the highest praise is that I was a returning customer and have already booked my next trip and that they are good value for money.

Everything went like clockwork . Superb organisation, transfers, border crossings, our guide and driver were excellent making sure we got everywhere on time and with little fuss, but lots of husiasm. They were very knowledgeable, friendly, good cooks and always happy to help. Our accommodation was excellent ranging from luxury to basic camping. Elephant Eye was luxury on stilts with fantastic views over the watering hole, watching the elephants, etc, especially when you were having a shower! The Bedouin camp will remain close to my heart. Camping in the bush giving you that real sense of being at one with nature! The countries we visited, the wonderful friendly people and cultures we experienced was just amazing. This holiday was a little gem, although Vic Falls is highly commercialised,( but still dramatically beautiful) The rest of the trip is off the tourist trail! Would recommend this trip to anyone wanting to spend there time watching wildlife. Great company, always happy to help, listen to what your needs are and deliver an itinerary that is perfect. Would highly recommend Wildlife Trails to anyone wanting a holiday full of wildlife and adventure!