Holiday review by Mr. John Beaird

Name: Mr. John Beaird

Date of trip: 07/07/2019

Number of people: 2

My favorite experience was the Elephant encounter. That was easily my highest point. Being able to be that close to a bull elephant was one of the high points of my life. The work that Doug and Sandi do is wonderful, and sharing in it, even if it was just for one morning, was amazing.

  • Game drive snacks at Stanleys Camp

    Africa, Botswana, Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

  • Meet the orphaned elephants while at Stanleys Camp

    Africa, Botswana, Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

  • Stanleys Camp at sunset

    Africa, Botswana, Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

  • Water lilies at Stanelys Camp

    Africa, Botswana, Sanctuary Stanley's Camp

  • Aerial view of Chobe Bakwena Lodge, Chobe, Botswana © Chobe Bakwena

    Aerial view of Chobe Bakwena Lodge, Chobe, Botswana

  • The pool deck and waterhole at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

     

  • Standard room at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

     

  • Victoria Falls Safari Lodge and elephants

     

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Tribes Overall:

My trip was a blast. Everything was perfectly set up and went off without a hitch. This was my first time working with this company and I will say I was a little nervous , but I had nothing to worry about. Everything was perfectly planned and executed! It was an amazing trip to Botswana.

Tribes Service:

Clearly my trip was set up perfectly! It was easy to plan (for me) and I couldn’t believe that everything came off so well. I never had to go wait. I was promptly met at every stop. I can’t imagine having to do all of this planning and having it timed to perfection. I will definitely use this company again.

Guides:

Wonderful guides at every lodge I stayed in. Extending beyond the guides, the staff at every lodge was exceptional. I felt very comfortable and well taken care of at every stop.

Social & Environmental Responsibility:

I was unaware of how bad the drought is in Botswana and wish that I had been prepared for it prior to the trip. It wouldn’t have altered my plans but to experience the delta with this degree of dryness was a bit of a shock and disappointment.


The places you stayed

Game drive snacks at Stanleys Camp

Stanleys Camp

Okavango Delta

This is an amazing lodge! Perfect in every way. I was disappointed there was so little water, but don’t hold the lodge accountable for that!!! It was so comfortable and so nice and got the feeling the staff really cared about my having a great time and seeing what I wanted, including a big lion kill! Perfect!


River room at Chobe Bakwena Lodge, Chobe, Botswana © Chobe Bakwena

Chobe Bakwena Lodge

Chobe National Park

This is a wonderful lodge but it is pretty far from the wild. However, I took the short boat ride down to the “four corners” and saw crocs, hippos and elephants and realized how close the wild really is. Also the bridge construction there was truly awesome. My only criticism of the lodge has to do with my traveling solo. I was always given a table alone and it felt a little weird asking the staff to move me when friends invited me to there table. The African experience is so filled with people enjoying one another’s company that this was the only time I felt a little uncomfortable.


The pool deck and waterhole at Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Victoria Falls Safari Lodge

Zimbabwe

This is more like a hotel than the other places I stayed and it was tough going back to having to take care of myself again. But the hotel made it easy.