Safari trip with OAT

Old Oct 22nd, 2007, 01:34 PM
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Safari trip with OAT

Someone recently went on the Ultimate Africa Safari with OAT...sorry but I can't remember who it was...... we are booked to leave on that trip in July.... please let me know how it was...I'm sure I will have lots of questions...

thanks!!
nancy & bob
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Old Oct 23rd, 2007, 05:01 PM
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I looked but did not see a report. Several people mentioned upcoming Ultimate Safari trips with OAT, but don't recall anyone reporting upon their return.
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Old Oct 23rd, 2007, 07:06 PM
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I think "arkay" and "mossway1" did the Ultimate Africa trip.
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Old Oct 24th, 2007, 08:03 PM
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Hi Nancy and Bob,

We did Ultimate Africa in late spring 2004. It was a FABULOUS trip! Maybe my favorite trip ever although each trip is special in its own way.

We returned from OAT's Best of Kenya and Tanzania on September 7. We enjoyed it very much although I really felt like a tourist in Eastern Africa. I felt like an adventurer in Southern Africa - mostly because it was a fly-in safari and because we stayed in really small lodges and tented camps which were just large enough to accomodate our OAT group of 13. The camps were all VERY nice with wonderful staffs and lots of personal attention and inter-action. The food was excellent - a step above what we had in East Africa and drinks were on the house including Sundowners every night. And we were lucky to have Robson as our trip leader. He was absolutely the BEST!

We rarely saw another safari vehicle during the trip. We had 2 big open Land Rovers in each park and reserve and each vehicle followed a different circuit so we didn't even see each other most of the time. A lot different from the huge herds of mini-vans jockeying for position in Kenya and Tanzania. (Sometimes the crowd of vehicles is hilarious, sometimes it's annoying and sometimes you are so enthralled by what you are seeing that you don't care. But it does make the experience a little less "authentic" and zoo-like)

Animals were plentiful in Southern Africa - we never drove very far without seeing some. The Sable Antelopes were especially beautiful and we saw tons and tons and more tons of elephants which I think are among the most entertaining animals to watch. Saw a great variety of animals too but not as many cats ( saw no cheetahs or leopards and only a few lions) as we saw in Kenya and Tanzania. And we didn't see the millions of zebras and wildebeests that we saw in K & T. and the scenery is not as beautiful as it is in Eastern Africa but ....no matter.

The boat trips on the Kwando River were a really nice change of pace from the driving safaris and the sundown cruises were especially enjoyable.

All in all a wonderful relaxing but exciting outdoor adventure. You will love it!
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Old Oct 25th, 2007, 07:02 AM
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I have also taken this trip. And surprise - Robson was the trip leader for my trip too. He was the best. I will always treasure the memories of Wilderness Tented Camp in the Okavango Delta. It was a great introduction to Southern Africa.
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Old Oct 25th, 2007, 06:44 PM
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VeeR, we did not stay in Wilderness Camp. We were scheduled to be the first OAT group to stay in the new camp but they had generator problems and at the very last minute and some nimble scrambling by Wilderness Safaris and our trip leader we were flown to Chitabe Camp for one night and then to Savute for 2 nights. Both places were quite nice but we were refunded $1500 per couple because of the last minute change!! I think Robson had a lot to do with engineering the generous and unexpected refund.

I've been curious about Wilderness Camp. Was it as nice as Baobab, Lianshulu and Linkwasha?
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Old Oct 26th, 2007, 07:38 AM
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arkay - Wilderness Tented Camp was a bit more rustic than the other facilities on the OAT tour. It felt so new that I swore I could still smell the sawdust. The staff was young and very enthusiastic.
I was trying to keep in touch with Robson via email - but he's not getting email now. I talked to a couple of people in Botswana who knew him and they said he has gone back to the family farm in Zimbabwe.
I have sent him "snail mail" and hope to hear from him.
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