Bostwana Guides
 

Could anyone recommend the "best" guides at the following camps:
Duba Plains, Duma Tau, Stanley's Camp. Thanks so much!

sharpei, you have said that this will be your first safari. In my opinion, you would do very well to relax and enjoy your safari. In my experience, I found that I needed to get a feel for safaris and my own interests before I could make any informed decisions on the the individuals that I might want as guides

Actually, I am very relaxed. Since I have read post that have complained about guides that weren't up to par, I just thought I'd ask.... Any info out there?

James at Duba Plains is outstanding.

Your game drive guide is very important. I'd say THE most important person for a great safari. (Well, after the camp chef anyway :-) ).

It's not often that I request a guide, and I've had limited success in getting the guide I requested, so don't count on it 100%. Guides rotate on and off duty a lot. Also, if you're there and don't like your guide you can request another. This I've done a couple of times with no questions asked. But your question is a good legitimate question and I wish I could help you with those camps but I have not been to any.

Is there any aspect of game drives that you're really interested in? Perhaps photography (me), birds, big 5, etc. If there is, some camps have guides that may be "simpatico" and you should tell the camp and ask for those guides.

regards - tom

Thanks so much for your reply! Anyone have suggestions for Stanley's and Duna Tau?

Alan was my guide at Stanley's. He is a lovely person and an excellent guide.

No suggestions for specific guides but I've done as Tom suggests and let the camps know (in advance) about our particular interests/ requirements and made a request for a guide with particular skills in those areas to be assigned to us.
This has worked well for us.
The only time I've requested a specific guide, and been lucky enough to get him, was for Grant at Tubu Tree back in 2004.

Let the camp know in advance what your interests are and they will allocate the most suitable guide available at the time you are holidaying there.
Guides are on leave on regular basis and that might interfere with a particular request/time.

Your Travel consultant should have asked for your particulars in order to inform the camps. Provide them with as much as possible information. So don't worry.

As Tom pointed out - you can change guide on spot if chemistry is not working. We never have experienced this. But that might be also because we provide the camps with thorough information on our interests beforehand or as we do regular safaris sometimes we just pull back if there are newbies who are going mad about anything and just let them have the first say - as long as they don't force us into extreme birding ;-)

SV

James007 at Duba Plains and ask him to make his airplane noises.

Moses (if he is there) at Duma Tau.

If you don't get these people, I'm sure you'll be happy with your guides.

Don't think Moses is still there, Lynn.