Sprig

This is actually a duplicate post but I was wondering if anyone else, probably from Canada has tried Goway? The following are my comment sfrom another post on this subject:

Message: We are actually traveling thru Goway Travel a Canadian Tour Company and chose their Okavango Tour which includes Nxabega Okavago Camp,Khwai River Lodge, Savute Elephant Camp, Mowana Safari Lodge and finally Victoria Falls Hotel for two nights. We weren't sure how to travel to Africa and had some experience with Goway which was in our experience a a "Small Group" tour. We had the luxury of traveling around China with them with one other couple. We were accompanied by a driver and a guide but because we were only two couples we found a certain flexibility to our itinerary. It was a pretty neat trip. Therefore we booked Botswana with them. No-one else seems to recognize the lodges that they use. I am not really concerned because this could be a good thing. We are not luxury travelers but rather like the exclusivity of going to small places that aren't "well-traveled". We are however flying from Johannesburg to Maun to hook with our group and on the way back are ending our stay in Victoria Falls with one extra night and traveling to Johannesburg the following afternoon for our evening flight home. Perhaps we can make arrangements with Goway's local tour company in Johannesburg to hold any souvenirs that we might buy in our intial couple of nights in Johannesburg until we arrive back at the airport from Vic Falls for out trip home. If anyone else has tried Goway, doubtful, we would appreciate feedback. Our trip to China was great. Actually our young guide from Shanghai actually repaid us with a trip to Canada last summer to accompany us on our "Ritual Family Camp". It was a great pleasure to have him. (We won the most stars for someone coming from far away to camp with us in Canada...and he is a really great young man



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sandi

Sprig -

The camps you mention are "known" in Botswana, as is the Vic Falls Hotel. So if some were unfamiliar, no need to worry. There really are quite a number of camps in the Delta area and no one can know them all. There are some "named" camps that everyone knows - Mombo, Jao, and are quite expensive, but the ones you list are fine, in fact, pretty good.

As to leaving some purchases bought in JNB being held by your tour operator (until you return from the Delta and VFA) - sure you can ask, but you also have to be certain they will be there with all your packages at the terminal when you return from Vic Falls.

We did this before going to Kruger and sure enough our tour person met us at the airport and off we went to check-in for our Int'l flight. It can work, as I'm sure this won't be the first time they've been asked to do this to accommodate their clients.

Lisa1224

We just returned yesterday from South Africa and we used Goway. The tour operator they use on the ground is Thompsons. Thompsons was excellent. They are very easy to contact while in Africa if you have any questions or problems. As for luggage storage in Jo'burg, our flight not to Botswana, but a charter flight on Federal Air and they stored our extra luggage/souvenirs for us. Thompsons met us each time we were at an airport. We are not from Canada, we are from the USA and this is the second time we have used Goway (first time in Australia) and we were very happy with their reps in South Africa. You can ask Goway directly if their will be someone to store your luggage in Jo'burg--that's what we did. Hope this helps.

Sprig

I am glad you had good luck with Goway. I will ask them about storing the luggage. Did you stay in any of the lodges that I have mentioned. I understand that you can get your laundry done at the lodges so you can get by without much luggage. Any info would be appreciated. I don't think I usually travel with a lot of luggage by the 26 pound limit seems pretty light.

Lisa1224

We did not stay at any of those lodges as we spent the 2 weeks in South Africa only. (We stayed at Table Bay in Cape Town, Lanzerac in Stellenboch, Phinda Game Reserve, The Palace in Sun City, and Singita)
If there is a particular place you wanted to stay and It's not listed in the GoWay brochure Im sure they can accomodate as almost all of the places we stayed were not listed.
The game lodges we stayed at provided laundry services free of charge, the other hotels provided laundry services but for a charge.
We took 2 suitcases and 2 duffel bags in addition to a camera bag. We stored the suitcases at the airport. If I had to do it again, I would leave the suitcases at home an only take the duffle bags-while on safari I wore the same 2 pair of pants(zip off into shorts) the entire time.
Are you traveling from Canada?
Hope this helps.

Sprig

Yes we are traveling from Canada. We are going to be in Botswana the end of March which is still technically the rainy season so we are hoping for good weather and good game. We will be in Johannesburg for two nights at the beginning and in Victoria Falls, Zim side at the end. Really looking forward to it.

Lisa1224

Another thing I forgot to add, you said you used Goway previously for a trip to China. If that is so, make sure Goway gives you you past customer discount (I thinks is 10%-not sure though)