KissyPants

I'm considering a Botswana safari in May (first time!!). I'm primarily interested in wildlife viewing and am relatively active. Not really into birding. Based on the research I've done, I'm thinking maybe 4-5 nights at 2 land-based camps (Wilderness Safaris) and maybe 3 at one of the classic water-based camps, like Little Vumbura, Kwetsani, Xigera, Tubu Tree (others?) My question is, will 3 nights be too long at one of these camps? Which camp would you recommend for 3 nights that won't get "boring"--that is, is there one or two that provide the most diversity of activities or best opportunity for wildlife viewing that time of year?

Thanks,

KP

ShayTay

Water-based doesn't mean you won't see a lot of wildlife. The first camp I ever stayed at in Botswana was Kwetsani and it's still my favorite. In addition to a mokoro ride, we had a lot of lions in and around camp, elephants feeding next to our tent, etc.

KIBOKO

Kwetsani offers both game drives and Mokoro in May. The are you will be able to drive will depend on the height of the flood. You can also take a motor boat from Kwetsani over to Hunda Island and game drive on this island. Tubu Tree is located on Hunda Island - lots of leopard! Three days would be just right definately not boring. Kwetsani is a beautiful camp that will give you several options. Tubu Tree and Little Vumbura are also great camps. I believe Xigera is mostly water activities.

cj

cary999

I haven't been, but not sure that a "water-based" camp will give you the best wildlife, i.e. big 5, viewing. Why do you think so? Or, is it that you want of mix of land and water based? If that, then I'd spend 3 nights land based and 2 water. Or all 5 land based if the water thing is no big deal.

regards -tom

KissyPants

Thanks all. We do want a mix of land and water, but I'm concerned that 3 days at a water-based camp in May might be too much. My concern may be more specifically with Xigera, which we had been eying, so perhaps Tubu Tree or Kwetsani would give us more options? Or in May, are all three about the same?

Safari_Craig

I have been to both Tubu Tree and Kwetsani in May. They are very wet that time of year. The Delta peaks in May. The game drives for Kwetsani guests are all done at Tubu Tree and you get there by motor boat. Kwetsani's island is smaller than a football field. If you like relaxing and overlooking a floodplain, I think Kwetsani is ideal. I did see lions wading through the water at Kwetsani.

Little Vumbura is a great "mixed use" camp. I was last there in March 2008 and before that May 2007. If you like land drives and only a few water activities, you can just request to do game drives on the Vumbura Plains.

Three night are not too long to be at any of these camps unless you don't like the water activities. In that case I would cut Kwetsani back to two nights. You really should stay at the camps for more than seven nights to take advantage of the rapidly evaporating recession discounts.

Out of curiosity, I opened the agent access web-site for Wilderness Safaris on another internet browser. Looking at it right now Little Vumbura is 100% sold out and has a waitlist for every night in May except May 11 & 12 when it has 2 and 1 tent left respectively. LV has one tent left on the 30th but a one night stay is no good.

Kwetsani has decent availability and has one or more tent available for over half the month and many nights are consecutive. You could easily work in Kwetsani.

You did not mention Chitabe? In my opinion, this is the finest dry land-only classic camp in all of Botswnana. Savuti is a close second. Chitabe has one or more tents available May 21,22,23,24 and May 29. That is all!

I recommend you act quickly to get this booked. The specials in place right now all expire if you do not have deposit paid by Feb 28. All the specials are only valid through June 15. I seriously doubt they will be extended. The savings are significant compared to what the price will be after Feb 28.

Craig Beal

atravelynn

I'd include Chitabe for sure if you go Wilderness.

If the lack of dates derails you, there are other camps besides Wilderness you could visit.

HariS

Bear in mind, the floods in the Delta were massive last year - 2009 and predictions for 2010 are that they might just be even more MASSIVE ........

Given that, I'd think again regarding travelling to these flood-prone zones particularly May-July.

atravelynn

I think Hari's weather update is an even stronger argument for Chitabe. But then what else?

Where's that flood thread? I'm going to have a look.

atravelynn

http://www.fodors.com/community/afri...elta-flood.cfm

http://www.eyesonafrica.net/updates/flood-update.htm

There they are.

I recall frantically checking the chart in the above link in 2006 and trying to predict the slope of the next link. Sometimes I was relieved and sometimes concerned as the line grew and I fretted. It all turned out fine for my Botswana trip that included 2 delta camps and a Selinda camp, even though 2006 had excessive rains and an uncharacteristic flood. Probably saw less of some things, but more of others.

Last year I recall water reaching up to the wooden walkways of some tents and mekoros being needed to get around. You can try to find reports from last year around May and see what it was like. In general I recall people being worried about flodds and returning home happy with their trip.

But if it were me and I could go anywhere in Africa and was not limited to May, I think I'd check out some other options.

HariS

I do know of keen photographers, having a very disappointing trip in June/July last year due to the floods. But, again ..... they are very experienced safari goers.

Personally speaking, I was amazed with the amount of water around at the beginning of October last year.

HariS

http://www.ngamitimes.com/

Here's more news regarding rains/floods ....... not looking great is it? especially read the bit about what's happening in Angola.

cary999

Wonder if KP is stuck with going to Botswana?? I'd prefer more certainty with other of the many great safari camps.

regards - tom

KIBOKO

We were in Botswana in May and the game viewing was great. 2009 was very different, it rained more in June & July than April and May. Typically the pans dry out by July and the animals are concentrated at the permanent water. In many locations in 2009 the pans were still full by the end of October and now with the rains will remain full at least until next July. KP you will not be disappointed with Botswana.

skimmer2

Hi,

In terms of viewing mammals/birdlife from the boat, Xigera is amongst the best you can get in the Okavango delta if you can do a full-day boat trip to Chief's island. Ask your travel agent specifically if Mombo allows Xigera still to do it as the Mombo clients were complaining about lack of exclusivity and were asking why they couldn't do it (as Mombo doesn't do water activities).

If you are not into birding, two days will be fine I would say ...

The Jao and Vumbura concession (Tubu Tree, Jao, Jacana and Kwetsani) would be best avoided during the height of the floods ... These areas are also not so good to see mammals from the boat/mokoro.

If you stick to the WS camps, I would opt for Chitabe & Savuti. Bear in mind that luck is an important factor during May ... (higher grasses make it more challenging to spot game, if pans haven't dried up (from local rains) game will be more widespread.)

I would highly doubt that camps have so much confirmed bookings ... African travel resource used to show the availability of the WS camps but probably WS or the travel agents exclusively selling the WS camps asked to remove that feature as it was only helpful for clients. Craig is probably talking about block bookings or unconfirmed bookings. Being visited these camps before the recession, most of them were never constantly fully booked even during the height of the season.

As some of the camps have laid off staff or are/were closed during a certain period, I would rather think that the client base for the overpriced safaris is rapidly shrinking instead of the recession discounts.

I am still claiming that most agents posting on Botswana (fodor's/trip advisor) are giving advice in terms of their own financial interests and/or are lacking experience on the ground to make a real difference in setting up an itinerary which best suites the needs of the client.


Johan

KissyPants

Wow, thank you all, you're a wealth of knowledge! I have some thinking and planning to do...

atravelynn

Just a quick hi to Johan and thanks for that Chief's Island boat trip from Xigera hint. More thinking for KissyPants.