nyama

Maybe of interest to all Botswana travellers:
WS have published the first pictures of refurbished Little Vumbura (www.littlevumbura.com) and Savuti Camp (www.savuticamp.com).

ijkh

What does that mean refurbished? We are looking at both of those camps for next year May using Wilderness Safari.

thanks,
I

cary999

I didn't find any info on rates per night there. I didn't look in the right place? I hate it when I can't get an idea about rates without sending an email of reservation inquiry.
regards - tom
ps - yeah I know, if I have to ask, I can't afford it.

Kavey

Interesting - the tents at Savuti now seem to be HUGE but also have thatched vaulted ceilings instead of canvas. They look very nice but much, much bigger than they were! The public area too looks completely rebuilt!

I can't see any photos of LV tents so can't assess how much they have changed.

http://www.justgiving.com/kavey

nyama

ijkh, "refurbished" means that the camp and tents now look quite different than before.

Tom, WS have never published rates on their website.

Kavey, sorry. I'm quite sure I saw the tent pictures on the public WS website. Maybe they have been removed temporarely. You certainly won't recognize the tents, looking completely different than before. More Savuti Camp style. Most of the bush feeling has gone.

Kavey

I am not sure whether I'm pleased or not to be honest as one of the things we loved about LV and other camps we've visited is the simplicity whilst retaining comforts and that seems to have been lost in favour of more OTT luxury. I'm not saying I dislike luxury but the simple tented camps were my favourites.

nyama

Maybe in a few years there's a new fashion and they re-introduce the simple classic safari camp, "true bush experience for the connoisseur", and you have to pay extra dollars for it.

atravelynn

Cynic that I can be, so how much more is this going to cost me?

I am waiting for Nyama's idea to be fashionable.

nyama

I even would pay more if they would offer me a road transfer option from Maun to the camps. Safari means travel, doesn't it? Leaving villages and goats behind, encountering the first wildlife, crossing channels, watching the different landscapes of the Delta; finally you reach your camp, a place in Eden - all this can be a great experience. These fly-in transfers from Maun remind me more on TV channel hopping.

cary999

So, "WS have never published rates on their website." Why not, is there a law against it? Good time to start doing it is now.

It makes me suspicious when costs are not posted. I wonder if they quote back rates based on who I am or where I am. I therefore don't even bother with asking. But hey, it's their choice and I make my choice.
regards - tom

combo

Hi Nyama,
I was interested in your comment re: driving to camps vs. fly-ins. I'm trying to decide between two 10-day Botswana Safaris - one flies into the the Okavango camps while the other drives. I was leaning towards the fly-in one because I heard it was worthwhile to fly over the delta. Any comments on the preferability of either?
Thanks.

nyama

Tom, most upmarket operators don't publish rates on their websites. I don't know the reason. Maybe it's not of such importance for many of their clients. Could also be a cultural issue (for instance, in my culture talking about money is regarded as bad style by the higher society). Or they want to give their agents more financial scope. Latter could be true for WS who aren't dealing directly with clients.

combo, what sounds more interesting to you? Let you imagination decide. Both kind of transfers are interesting, if available I prefer a drive-in and a fly-out.

cary999

Well nyama, you still have not convinced me. Mombo, Singita Boulders/Ebony, Governors Camps, and Londolozi all publish rates on the internet. Not to mention Mala Mala. Maybe you do not consider these upmarket camps?
Anyway, I give up.
regards - tom

PredatorBiologist

Tom: Mombo is a WS camp. They do not publish their rates because their marketing model is for clients to deal directly with agents, they do not allow direct bookings. I don't like the lack of direct rate information or ability to book direct either but the model is certainly working well for them so I don't see it changing anytime soon.

I also wish they would leave more variety in the standard of camps and thus variety in pricing but it seems all camps will continue to be upgraded to the high luxury standards levels.

nyama

Tom, I didn't say "all". Mombo is WS.

cary999

Sorry guys , my last posting on this I promise-
"Mombo and Little Mombo have varying rates depending on seasons - the rates start from $1330pppn to $1510pppn"
This from Mombo web site -
http://www.mombo.co.uk/
regards - tom

nyama

Tom, this is a website by UK-based agent Botswana Odyssey who is not associated with WS (these guys are only clever in registering good domain names to drive travellers to them). You should go to www.mombo.co.za.

nyama

PredatorBiologist said: "I also wish they would leave more variety in the standard of camps and thus variety in pricing but it seems all camps will continue to be upgraded to the high luxury standards levels."

From the WS website: "Instead of having one style set throughout Wilderness camps, we celebrate the difference and uniqueness of each area and its wildlife - so that each group of camps has its own identity, feel and character. This variety of accommodation, activities and product means that there's something for everyone wanting to come to Africa."

Maybe this last line should be re-written.

atravelynn

www.e-gnu.com has rates for some Wilderness and other camps.

napamatt

I guess you are free to book with whoever you want. If Wilderness see upgraded and luxury accomodation as a key element of their business model that is up to them, if you don't like it go elsewhere. Kwando has more rustic accomodations at slightly cheaper rates, and it appears from other threads that there other cheaper alternatives available as well. Maybe the Wilderness overland would be a good idea, or better still camping with Mad Mike!