Botswana veterans...please share your favorite lodges
Apr 1st, 2004, 04:27 AM
#22
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Hi rocco, Kavey et al,
We spent a week in Botswana last year at the Orient Express (formerly Gametrackers) camps - Savute Elephant Lodge and Khwai River Lodge (package was purchased on luxury link).
Savute is more arid and sort of in the "high grasslands" if I had to describe the geography. We saw a HUGE amount of elephants and lions. Note that this was in January (high summer) where game viewing is supposedly poorer so I cannot imagine how plentiful the game would have been in May. We did not go to their water-based camp (Eagle lodge) b/c it was not recommended at that time of year.
The cabin itself was very luxurious - a large canvas tent that zips up entirely built on stilts. The furnishings were gorgeous and the bathroom was huge. We felt truly pampered. The staff were uniformly friendly and gracious (including our knowledgeable and friendly guide).
Meals were plentiful (5 a day) and very high quality with nice S. African wines. It really was luxury. We really enjoyed these properties. You can email me directly ([email protected]) and I will send you pictures of Savute camp in particular, if desired.
Lisa
We spent a week in Botswana last year at the Orient Express (formerly Gametrackers) camps - Savute Elephant Lodge and Khwai River Lodge (package was purchased on luxury link).
Savute is more arid and sort of in the "high grasslands" if I had to describe the geography. We saw a HUGE amount of elephants and lions. Note that this was in January (high summer) where game viewing is supposedly poorer so I cannot imagine how plentiful the game would have been in May. We did not go to their water-based camp (Eagle lodge) b/c it was not recommended at that time of year.
The cabin itself was very luxurious - a large canvas tent that zips up entirely built on stilts. The furnishings were gorgeous and the bathroom was huge. We felt truly pampered. The staff were uniformly friendly and gracious (including our knowledgeable and friendly guide).
Meals were plentiful (5 a day) and very high quality with nice S. African wines. It really was luxury. We really enjoyed these properties. You can email me directly ([email protected]) and I will send you pictures of Savute camp in particular, if desired.
Lisa
Apr 1st, 2004, 05:02 AM
#23
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Lisa-
Did you post your pictures here? I would be very interested in seeing them as would others here. Would appreciate it if you could link us to them.
How was the weather in January? Did you see much rain or dark skies? What about the temperature at night? Very hot? I would like to try Botswana in all seasons and am doing that later this month. I'd love to push it up until January but you can't get into the areas where the major birds are nesting. Thanks and sorry if I already saw all of this and just fogot. Senior moment? I hate that term, but alas, yes, I do forget more than I used to.
Liz
Did you post your pictures here? I would be very interested in seeing them as would others here. Would appreciate it if you could link us to them.
How was the weather in January? Did you see much rain or dark skies? What about the temperature at night? Very hot? I would like to try Botswana in all seasons and am doing that later this month. I'd love to push it up until January but you can't get into the areas where the major birds are nesting. Thanks and sorry if I already saw all of this and just fogot. Senior moment? I hate that term, but alas, yes, I do forget more than I used to.
Liz
Apr 18th, 2004, 02:29 PM
#25
Join Date: Jan 2003
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Hi Liz,
The weather was great in January -- it rained for one morning (maybe 2 hours) at the Khwai lodge. It was very hot during the day - like 29 degrees (sorry not sure what that is fahrenheit). it was still warm at night - e.g. would still wear shorts and a t-shirt. we were glad that the tents were air conditioned for our afternoon nap.
it was pretty sunny all of the time. not sure if it is normally like that in the "rainy" season or if we just lucked out. we were going on to cape town and wanted to be able to enjoy the nice beach weather. we still saw an incredible amount of wildlife in january - can't imagine how much more spectacular it is in june!
you can email me directly and i will send you a link to our pictures - it is on our personal web site and i don;t really want to post the link here.
thx.
The weather was great in January -- it rained for one morning (maybe 2 hours) at the Khwai lodge. It was very hot during the day - like 29 degrees (sorry not sure what that is fahrenheit). it was still warm at night - e.g. would still wear shorts and a t-shirt. we were glad that the tents were air conditioned for our afternoon nap.
it was pretty sunny all of the time. not sure if it is normally like that in the "rainy" season or if we just lucked out. we were going on to cape town and wanted to be able to enjoy the nice beach weather. we still saw an incredible amount of wildlife in january - can't imagine how much more spectacular it is in june!
you can email me directly and i will send you a link to our pictures - it is on our personal web site and i don;t really want to post the link here.
thx.
