Botswana and Zambia Tours & Trips

I thoroughly enjoyed my first ever safari experience, and would definitely do another one. The whole organisation of the trip was excellent, and the tour ran very smoothly. From being collected at Walvis Bay airport, to being dropped off at Livingstone Airport, nothing was too much trouble for any of the drivers and guides. I think my only 'complaints' would be that arriving in Namibia is NOT cheap. Although a tourist holiday visa can be dealt with on arrival, it is expensive. I was charged N$1,600.00 for a seven day stay. At least crossing the border into Botswana, and then Zambia is cheaper. They just stamp your passport at immigration control! Also, at our first campsite at Spitzkoppe, although in the trip notes it says, 'guests can enjoy hot showers and there are shared bathroom facilities', where we pitched our tents, there were no hot showers or bathroom facilities. We had two long-drop toilets. At least, if you get out in the night, you can always enjoy the starry night sky and Milky Way! Fortunately, we were only there for one night! As for the safari drives themselves, they were all first rate, and I have many fantastic memories and hundreds of photos to look back on. Some off them were very early starts, (5am at Chobe for example!), but they were definitely worth it. From seeing the sun rise over the Chobe River, to driving close to a pride of dozing lionesses, and seeing elephants, giraffes, baboons and other herbivores at close quarters, was something I'll never forget. Also, the cruise on the Chobe River, was excellent, with very close views of buffalo on the bank sides, elephants, crocodiles, and a large herd of hippos, plus many different bird species. One of the main highlights at the start of the tour was spending a day and a half on game drives around Etosha National Park in Namibia. Again, fantastically close views of all manner of animals and birds, including a very obliging cheetah, who sat and posed on a tree branch for about half an hour, completely oblivious to all the tourists and their cameras! Finally, a big mention to our guide for the tour, Joe, and the ever reliable driver, Harmony. I would recommend both for any awards going. Joe was everything a tour leader should be. Extremely well organised, punctual and efficient, friendly and supportive, and a great cook, ably assisted by those who helped him! Harmony, as driver, was also brilliant. Given the lengths of some of the road trips we went on each day, he never lost his sense of humour, despite, presumably feeling very tired at times. Again, he was always on time in leaving and arriving at destinations, and was very good at assisting people in putting up, dismantling, and packing away their tents, and helping to store them in the truck. He was a very safe and competent driver, and made frequent stops for 'bushy-bushy', toilet breaks along the way! Both Joe & Harmony are a credit to Acacia Africa, and I hope they are used together on future safari tours.

We had a lovely trip with Cynthia and Nock. They really looked after us and made us feel welcome showing us around there home country. We loved zambia and this tour made it extra special.