Reviews

Sort By: Date Most Helpful Rating 11-20 of 23 Reviews
Andrew P.   –  
United States US
Visited: May 2023 Reviewed: May 8, 2023

Email Andrew P.  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Fantastic in all regards!
5/5

Myself and 8 other people went on a 12 day tour throughout the park, and everything could not have gone better. EVERYTHING was FANTASTIC! WOW!!!!
We were camping along the way and staying in the same camp about 2-3 days each on average, for a total of 12 days. EKS handled all aspects of the trip: transportation/guiding, meals, lodging (tent), and everything else that might be smaller. We had Sam and Paul as guides and took 2 trucks. The transportation/guiding was amazing - you could tell that Sam was the longtime guide that all the other guides (in other outfitters) constantly talked to and asked for advice. Paul provided a perfect partner guide as their personalities worked great together and complemented each other well. Each day was great and long enough to see animals, without getting overwhelmed or leaving miles on the table. Food was traditional "western" food with a carb (rice/potato), meat (chicken/beef/etc), salad, bread, soup, dessert. PLENTY of food. And wine/beer/mixed drinks. Everything was served to you and it was a full 5 star experience in all regards. Lodging was also better than most people have at home with fresh sheets each day, large tents, bathrooms/shower in each tent, and all the small amenities you would wish for - a cold towel to wipe your face after each drive, a cool wet towel on the outside toilet so the seat is not too hot, etc. They thought of it all. I would certainly do it all again and not change anything - the experience was perfect in all regards. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

Laura   –  
United States US
Visited: November 2021 Reviewed: Dec 21, 2021

Email Laura  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Unforgettable!
5/5

Absolute trip of a lifetime! We traveled to Botswana in November 2021 for a 10-day safari through Chobe National Park, Savuti, and the Okavango Delta. Sam and his fellow guide Paul were absolute encyclopedias of knowledge of the area, the animals, and the birds. They were so patient with all of our questions, and they worked so hard to ensure that we saw lots of animals and beautiful sights. Our tents were immaculately cleaned every day, and the beds were so comfortable. Sam's staff took incredible care of us, catering to our every wish. The food was absolutely delicious; we were amazed at what Chef could create over a campfire. He even made us a chocolate cake one day! I'm so glad that we didn't stay in a lodge. We were truly immersed in the environment, at one with the birds and animals. Every night the stars would fill the sky, and the animal sounds were the music to which we fell asleep. I had no concerns of covid because all of Sam's staff is vaccinated, and everyone in Botswana and South Africa wears masks. Sam also planned the trip so that we could get our travel-required covid tests for our return flights home. You cannot go wrong booking your trip with Early Kingfisher Safaris.

Frits van Vliet   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: August 2019 Reviewed: Sep 2, 2019

Email Frits van Vliet  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

The personal approach from the proffesional guides makes this the best safari we ever had in years.
5/5

Communication before leaving and after arrival from the management makes you feel human instead of a number. Safari feels like hunting with a camera of course, the guides did work great together. Rest camp did feel like home.

Natasja van Bragt   –  
Netherlands NL
Visited: August 2019 Reviewed: Aug 7, 2019

Email Natasja van Bragt  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

We had a great experience with OT and Lee. We were with a group of 11 and everything was super
5/5

We had a 2 days/1 night safari in Moremi. Our crew was top. We saw the most beautiful animals and a lot of Moremi. We like the flexibility of Theo and his crew. The campsite was like home, the food was great. The best experience ever. Thanks

Katie   –  
United Kingdom UK
Visited: April 2019 Reviewed: Apr 23, 2019

Email Katie  |  50-65 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

We saw more wildlife in 10 days than we could possibly have imagined!
5/5

This is the trip of a lifetime. Sam is a mine of information on all things natural, but more than that, he’s fun and very responsive to his guests’ needs and particular interests. He'll find you every conceivable animal and bird and take you close up. We even had a night of star gazing.The support team at the camp are fabulous too – nothing is too much trouble and the quality of food that chef manages to produce on an open fire is impressive. This is comfortable camping within the boundaries of the national parks and the cacophony of animal and bird noises throughout the night make it a true bush experience! We were blown away by the scenery as well as the wildlife and can’t recommend Early Kingfisher highly enough.

Alison Smith   –  
Australia AU
Visited: April 2018 Reviewed: Apr 11, 2019

Email Alison Smith  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Highly experienced guide!
5/5

Sam was a highly experienced guide and created an amazing safari experienced for my husband and I that definitely exceeded our expectations. All of the staff was so kind and hospitable to top off the incredible tour. We felt like we were able to see and do so much. We definitely recommend this safari to everyone.

Damien Chimes   –  
Australia AU
Visited: June 2018 Reviewed: Apr 10, 2019

Email Damien Chimes  |  20-35 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Life changing trip with an incredible company
5/5

I cannot recommend Early Kingfisher Safari enough! Sam and the crew were incredible. We saw more animals than we had imagined we could. Sam is full of every piece of information you could ever want about even the animals you didn't realise were so interesting!

Emil Graziani   –  
United States US
Visited: September 2018 Reviewed: Apr 3, 2019

Email Emil Graziani  |  65+ years of age  |  Experience level: 2-5 safaris

When you have a very knowledgeable guide and attentive staff you have an amazing experience!
5/5

Our tour of the Okavango Delta was 15 years in the making, having fallen hopelessly in love with Africa after a 2004 guided tour in Kenya and Tanzania. During that trip we spent our non-game viewing time in lodges. This time we wanted to be full-time “in the bush.” Early Kingfisher Safaris guide, Samuel Mopalo, and his attentive staff of 4 made our 2018 trip the most amazing trip ever. There are numerous reasons for this: Sam is a certified Botswana guide with 20 years experience. Botswana guide certification is the gold standard for African safaris guides and his father was a guide before him. He has mastered tracking, identification of over 60 mammals, numerous reptiles and nearly 600 bird species and he loves sharing his knowledge. In addition, Sam is a master wildlife photographer. He knows how to position the vehicle for light and distance resulting in perfect photo opportunities. In short, Sam has mastered the art of safari guide, but perhaps the best thing about Sam’s skills is his ability to take advantage of luck. By that I mean when an opportunity presents itself, he moves on it to present to his guests that unique safari experience. When a lioness walked (roared) near the camp one morning before daybreak he asked that we leave before breakfast to catch up with the cat as the sun was coming up; and we did, long before other guides/tourist, giving us a breathtaking experience, memories and great pictures. This is Africa! The entire 11 days couldn’t have been better and I didn’t even mention Sam’s good natured manner, the superior service from the staff, and the delicious food. In summary, go with the best, go with Early Kingfisher Safaris.

Melli   –  
Germany DE
Visited: March 2019 Reviewed: Mar 21, 2019

Email Melli  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: over 5 safaris

cAtMAZING
5/5

It was a great Trip in Botswana. We've seen so so many animals. Not only birds, also cats were Sam's speciality. We've seen more than ever. He's a very good tracker. Thanks a lot for another unforgettable journey in africa.

Catrin Dancewicz   –  
United States US
Visited: October 2018 Reviewed: Mar 20, 2019

Email Catrin Dancewicz  |  35-50 years of age  |  Experience level: first safari

Sam is an excellent guide with tons of experience!
5/5

Everything on our 6 night trip worked out smoothly, from pickup to drop off. The crew (guide and cook) were well organized and worked together seamlessly. Even hickups (blew a tire on the last day and pulled out two other cars that were stuck in the sand) were handled with ease, speaking to the level of experience and familiarity of the environment.
Best, however, was Sam's knowledge about were to be at what time to see the most amazing wildlife! We got lucky with the only two cheetahs in the park lounging after a morning meal and learned a lot about the animals' behaviors.
Don't miss out on asking Sam about "close encounters" around the camp fire and make sure you have a nice bottle of wine lined up for it!

Average User Rating
5.0/5
Rating Breakdown
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