Ulinda Safari Trails
- Located In:
- Size:
- 5-10 employees (Founded in 1997)
- Member Of:
- HATAB & BOGA
- Tour Types:
- Customizable private tours and fixed group tours
- Destinations:
- Price Range:
- $400 to $1,360 per person per day (USD, excl. int'l flights)
Reviews
Email Weronika | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Unforgettable experience!
I was on a 12 night safari with Ulinda Safari Trails in September 2016. The adventure started in Kasane, from where we drove to the Chobe Riverfront (3 nights camping), Savuti (3 nights), Khwai (4 nights) and Moremi (2 nights). On the last day I was dropped off at my hotel in Maun.
This was my first safari and camping is not something I do often either, so I wasn’t sure what to expect. And surely enough the trip exceeded my expectations in all aspects! The wildlife was amazing – so many elephants!, lions with cubs and hunting buffalo, zebras, and eventually feeding on an elephant, wild dogs, leopards feeding on impala, hippos, crocodiles and so much more! Nature at its best! In total I had 8 leopard sightings which is something exceptional! The sunsets and sunrises in Botswana are breath-taking and you never miss one as the days start early, with 5:15am wakeup. We also had a boat trip on a Chobe river and mokoro trip in Khwai. Both very relaxing.
The camping was comfortable, and camp moves very efficient. Food was delicious thanks to Gassie – a great vegetarian choice. We had various visitors in our camping sites, including honey badger, elephants, leopard and a civet, and in the evenings sitting by the fire place you could hear lions roaring and leopards grunting. Unforgettable experience!
And something to highlight – the closed vehicle (with opening roof) – is really the way to go. I was protected from the morning cold, and the wind and dust, yet had no issues taking great pictures through the open roof. I didn’t see many vehicles of this type around, and I really felt bad for people in the open cars at times!
Jane, Gassie and Alex were super friendly and professional. They made the trip an unforgettable experience for me, and I can wholeheartedly recommend safaris with Ulinda Safari Trails!
Totallt wonderful!
Everything was wonderful on our 22 night safari. Jane is a wonderful and tireless guide, always stretching to maximize what we could see, and on the rare occasions when she wasn't sure of an answer to a question, looking it up for us. Her staff is extremely helpful and friendly, and the food was fantastic. Ulinda was one of very few companies to use vehicles with enclosed sides, so that it was never too cold in the morning, or too hot mid-day. The evening campfires were really a lot of fun, and the tents were quite comfortable. In the service of a balanced review, I've tried thinking of anything at all negative, and all I can possibly come up with - which would relate to very few other people - is that Jane's soft voice can be difficult for someone who doesn't hear well, like myself. In the vehicle and at the campfire I often needed my wife to amplify what Jane said (and her stories are great!!); this would have been a problem were I a single traveler. But that didn't in the least dent our experience of this out-of-the-world safari.
Email George & Sylvia | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
All-round Great Experience
My wife and I have just completed Ulinda's "Classic Safari" - 3 nights at 3 different locations in Botswana. Both still to come down to earth - it was beyond our expectations.
From the time I first contacted Jane Bettenay to the time she farewelled us at the Kazungula Ferry for our onward journey to Zambia dealing with Jane was a pleasure.
Jane met us at Maun Airport and conveyed us to our overnight stay at Thamalakane River Lodge (not part of the Ulinda package) in preparation for the start of our safari with Unlinda the next day.
Originally the safari included stops at Moremi, Savuti and Chobi however due to the severe dry weather we had our first location moved to the Khwai Development Trust area. This change to the itinerary was communicated to us a couple of weeks out from the start and the choice proved excellent.
This safari normally caters for 8 people however we were the only one's so the service level was great, whether it be food, facilities or comfort we were both delighted. I suspect that even with a full party the standards would not drop. I have had some camping experience but my wife has had none during her 65+ years.
As conveyed to Jane when choosing what we wanted from the safari "we just want to see the animals". And we certainly did. And every day produced one or more surprises. Even on the last day in Chobe we we able to observe a Leopard with two cubs drinking no more than 5 minutes drive from our camp site and not another safari party anywhere in sight all because of Jane's knowledge, experience and advice that we be up and into the day at dawn - it sure paid off every morning.
The sunset gin and tonic to end each day and the camp fire discussions at night rounded out, what for us was a holiday that we'll continue to talk about for years.
This was our first trip to Africa. Maybe not our last.
CA
Email Ray | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Authentic, well organized and well delivered safari
From first communications through committing to the safari, to the actual game drives themselves, food, camping and camp life, this proved a very positive experience. We wanted a safari that was genuine and allowed us to experience as much of the Okavango as possible by camping over a ten night period rather than staying in a lodge and Ulinda Safari Trails delivered in spades. Food was excellent, the camp crew who looked after camp set up, shifting to new locations and of course cooking was wonderful, camp equipment was fine and our guide (owner/operator Jane Bettenay) exceptional. Jane has a wealth of safari experience in at least the 4 areas we visited/camped at (Chobe, Savuti, Khwai, Nxai Pan) found pretty much all animals we could ever have expected, placed us perfectly in locations for best viewing and photographing, drove endless kilometres in all these locations oftentimes in challenging road conditions and also ensured we enjoyed ourselves while in camp and sitting around the camp fire. One couldn't ask for more and we would highly recommend Ulinda Safari Trails and Jane Bettenay to anyone seeking a genuine, guided camping experience.
US
Email Shara | 35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Wonderful Bush Experience
I can say only good things about my safari with Ulinda in the Nxai Pan and Central Kalahari. Jane runs a very professional outfit with excellent staff to set up camp and cook delicious homemade meals. Even freshly hot homemade bread! The tents are spacious and comfortable. Our campsites were lovely, away from the public campgrounds, providing a real authentic bush feeling. And the vehicle with the pop-up roof was perfect for spotting and taking photos of the wildlife. Jane herself is a wonderful and interesting person who is a pleasure to be around. If you are a solo traveler and debating whether the single supplement is worth it to have a private safari, I encourage you to go for it! My experience this way was purely delightful.
US
35-50 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Botswana adventure
My 16 year old daughter and I joined Jane for a great time. It was my third time in Africa, but it was the time I learned the most about the true Africa. The staff was wonderful and we felt spoiled at all times. We felt safe and had lots of fun. The food was amazing, it was way more than I expected. I chose Ulinda's Safari because I got the feeling that it would be real and I would be given a one on one experience and we did. Im very glad that I chose them to expose my daughter to her first African adventure. I would recommended them to anybody who wants the real African experience. Thanks Jane!
Email Helen Blackmore | 65+ years of age | Experience level: first safari
A wonderful experience which totally exceeded our expectations!
This was our first safari, and it exceeded our expectations both as to the wildlife sighted and the total experience camping out in the wild. My husband and I are 74 and 68. Jane responds quickly to emails, and answered all our queries prior to the safari. She is a very good and knowledgeable guide, and as a photographer herself, knows how to position the vehicle for the best light conditions. We enjoyed the closed vehicle on the cold mornings, and one wet day, when some people in open vehicles looked rather miserable. It was also good on the long drives between sites. As a woman just over five foot tall, I could see well, and take good photos when the top was open, by standing on the seats. The crew are all friendly and effective and so we thoroughly enjoyed the camping. The food was wonderful, and plentiful, causing some expansion of waistlines! Jane has an excellent reference library of books about the flora and fauna of Botswana - these are always to hand in the vehicle which really enhanced the sightings. We enjoyed the convivial evenings around the campfire and Jane's skills as a raconteur. We would thoroughly recommend a safari with Ulinda.
CA
Email Rob Graham | 20-35 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
An incredible, fullfilling experience.
I went for a 10 night safari with Ulinda in July of 2017, and it was an experience I won't forget for a very long time. The wildlife was incredible, the food and accommodations were spectacular, and the chance to get away from it all and spend 11 days was exactly what my body and mind needed.
The trip was not without a bit of drama, but Jane acted promptly and made the best of a bad situation, and it all worked out for the best in the end.
Driving around it seemed like most of the tour companies in Botswana use the large, open walled vehicles. And as someone who has been on 5 safaris before, I highly recommend against those types of vehicles. They have no protection from the elements so you freeze in the morning and roast in the afternoon, you get to spend 10+ days crammed in with 11 people you just met, and most importantly, there's nowhere to rest your camera for taking pictures.
Truth be told the vehicle type was the reason I chose Ulinda in the first place, but their accommodations and food totally blew my expectations away. A special shout out to Jane's staff who work really hard all day long to try and make the experience as amazing as possible for the guests.
Pictures from my safari posted on my Instagram: @robnoxious_travels
NZ
50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
A great experience
My wife and I had 2 weeks safari tour with Jane and it was really good. The staff were lovely, the food was excellent but most importantly Jane's knowledge and guiding ability is exceptional. After being in Botswana we went to Tanzania and did another safari with a very adequate guide who did nothing wrong but it was clear to us then that Jane more than just knows what she is doing. If you are a photographer look no further, Jane is an expert, with a camera that looks like it could launch a rocket and she knows how to get in position for the best shots. We are not really photo people but by the time we had finished we had a wonderful collection of a quality that still surprises us.
I liked the fact that in planning the trip I was communicating with the owner rather than someone wanting to do a deal and move on. I was impressed at the range of meals and the consistent quality and I had to ask for a repeat of one meal that I very much enjoyed. Ulinda Tours is more than just a commercial safari and really worth doing.
Email John Whitehurst | 50-65 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Beyond expectations - a first safari experience with a real taste of the bush...
Informative and helpful pre-booking support from Jane Bettenay helped the decision and a first safari started with excitement and hopes. First day in at Khwai Jane found leopard with cub and kill - magical - and an early start the next day was rewarded with two hours or more exclusively watching and photographing the mother and cub at close range from the thoughtfully adapted vehicle. Stunning! None of the 10 days disappointed with many more sightings and special memories of the wildlife and northern Botswana. Kwhai and Chobe river trips were brilliant with more close encounters and wildlife thrills including baby elephants swimming and lions in the sunset.
The 'bush' safari style suited well with evening camp fires, relaxed times and a good level of camp style comforts. Jane, and particularly her staff, were amazing and provided lovely food and much hard work with their individual skills, abilities and friendliness making the experience so rewarding. An great taste of Africa and a hunger for more!