Safari was fab! Rob and Frank were like old friends, how lucky can you be with 2! wonderful guides!
We booked our Botswana-trip through a Belgian travel agent, that works together with Rob Barber and his Golden Africa Safaris. From the moment we had expressed our wishes and vision, we immediately felt that our journey was planned just accordingly. With very fluent conversation through almost amicable e-mails, we were fully confident when we arrived in Kasane, that it was going to be a wonderful holiday. Yet, we were still overwhelmed, as everything ran so smoothly: flights, transfers, accomodations with always a hearty welcome, serving and quality of food. Moreover really everbody was so kind ! Nothing, really nothing to grumble about, we felt spoilt as we have never been before.
After Chobe and Okavango River, we arrived at the mobile Khwai camp (set up only the day before!) We were welcomed by Rob and Frank (the other guide) and a staff of 9, who were all friendly and caring. Chef D.H. worked magic in his field kitchen, not just cooking, but also baking cookies, scones and cakes – even a birthday cake for my wife :-) :-):-) .No wonder we were totally at ease in the silence of the evenings, soon talking and joking like old friends. In the mean time the frogs in the river next to us were making a racket…
The 4WD – drives were at the same time exciting, interesting ánd great fun; a leopard, a family of 5 lions with 3 cubs devouring a lechwe – catch, a giant herd of 400 buffalo trekking, 30 something elephants passing by our tents to cross the river, but also a hamerkop swallowing a frog after picking it to death. And birds, birds, birds of course ! Frank started every morning saying: “ Let’s see what nature has got to offer us today ! “ which translated his ánd our spirit perfectly. He’s a master in finding wildlife, mostly driving with one hand, while giving interesting and funny details of all this beauty, his love for baboons, the odd Green Elephant Syndrome, and his unknown knowledge of Spanish….;-). Rob was a relaxed and considerate observer, cracking a joke now and then, and clearly enjoying just being amid the wildlife with some nature buffs. All this topped off with a daily sundowner (or 2), admiring the unforgettable African sunset.
Thank you Rob, and everybody at Golden Africa, for taking such good care of us. Thanks to you lot, our safari was like a wonderful dream, better than a second honeymoon. Any marks to be given, we’ll go for 6 stars on all items. We’ll be back !!