DE
50-65 years of age | Experience level: 2-5 safaris
Your own private paradise
No big five or Serengeti-style mega-herds but lots of other wildlife to enjoy. Never saw so many raptors in one place.
You need to work a bit harder than in Luangwa because this park was recently established and animals here are not used to people watching them. Makes it feel all the more 'wild'.
Only one lodge in this park so you really feel like you own the place; especially if you are the only guests like we were. Staff (many from local community) is excellent.
An enormous, spacious, uninhabited, dry, cold and hot, real African landscape
The Central Kalahari is enormous. Driving through this Reserve, only on dirt roads, is quite an experience.
Maybe 2 or 3 other cars can be seen daily. There is a lot more chance to see wildlife than humans.
Don't expect to see animals every 10 minutes. Sometimes you have to drive some distance to see them.
Overall Botswana gives much more bush - wildlife experience than the touristic areas in Kenya.
A video of this trip can be seen on youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0BWD5I6YrIo
An amazing experience. I would recommend it to others.
I saw a Leopard quite by chance. I also saw giraffes, buffalo, elephants,and various other animal. The weather was hot and dry. There was a lot of dust. The lodge was brilliant with lovely clean rooms and a good al a carte menu in the restaurant.
A remote park
If you are in the area, it is well worth a trip to Ruma National Park. You will probably not see any large carnivores, but it is the only park where you can see Roan antelope. We saw plenty of roan antelope, topi, impala, giraffes, monkeys (vervets and baboons), some pretty birds, and zebra in the park. There is a nice camping area. You must have a four wheel drive vehicle as the roads get muddy and it's easy to get stuck. We ended up having to push our landrover out of some mud. But! We were the only people in the park, it was peaceful, there were not huge groups of landrovers surrounding the animals. For that BIG reason, I highly recommend it. It's probably great for birding as there aren't tons of loud people around! If you an get there, I highly recommend it.
Great Experience
I stayed at Amakhala for 4 days in March, 2010. It was pretty hot, but the game drives were quite comfortable (the "Landis" have canopies on them). The guides were very knowledgeable and loved teaching the guests about each of the animals (plants, too). Each drive included a nice little 'snack break' where we'd get out of the vehicle, stretch our legs, have a drink and some snacks...and there was always a nice view.
The amenities were great; the staff were helpful, and there was plenty of privacy.
There are certainly larger parks and reserves, but we never felt restricted here. There was always a rush of excitement while looking for the animals, especially the lions.
It was a great experience that I'll never forget. I'm proud to say that a few of my photos were used on this site, too!
35-50 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Home to some of South Africa’s biggest tuskers
Tembe is known for its elephant population, and in this park you’re likely to see some of the biggest tuskers in South Africa. At the park’s reception area, be sure to pick up information on the well-known bulls of the area – there is a poster that shows their photographs and includes details of the length of their tusks, and their weight – as this will add interest and value to your game-viewing.
There are a few hides in the park, and you’re almost guaranteed of seeing elephants if you’re patient. Mahlasela hide is particularly good for game, and it’s not unusual to see elephants and lions here. It’s well worth packing a few snacks and drinks and arriving at the hide mid-afternoon, so that you can be sure not to miss anything during the water hole’s busiest time of day.
If you visit Tembe during the week, you’re likely to feel as though you have the entire park to yourself and you could spend an entire afternoon at a hide without seeing anyone else. Over long weekends, Tembe can be fairly busy as it’s a favourite destination for 4x4 clubs. You need to have a 4x4 vehicle to drive the roads of this park.
20-35 years of age | Experience level: first safari
Review about Lake Nakuru National Park by glynis2
Lake Nakuru is beautiful. I visited during March when there isn't as much wildlife as other times of the year, but there was still plenty of game viewing such as rhino's, lions, buffalos, baboons, pink flamingos, different types of antelopes, etc. The park is smaller than the other reserves I visited, but there were a lot more trees which gave it a more "woodsy" feel than the other reserves I visited which were more open plains.
US
20-35 years of age | Experience level: over 5 safaris
Review about Lion Sands Game Reserve by lugolfer33
Was there during the World Cup back in 2010. First safari experience. However, never saw any lions which was bad luck. Just wasn't my week as we were told they were on another reserve.
Selous Game Reserve is a marvelous place to visit without masstourism hassle.
I visited Selous Game Reserve at the end of September 2011. Selous is a wonderful safari place where you can almost on your own move around and see lots of wild animals. In our safaris we saw only few other vehicles in the area. Selous Wildlife Lodge is excellent place to stay. Service is luxury, food, "tents" and people. Location is a minor problem, you have to drive quite far to see the "big ones". We managed to see lots of lions, elephants, impalas, giraffes, hippos and crocodiles. I recommend Selous to all safarilovers. And if you are in a honeymoon... go to Selous Wildlife Lodge, they sure know how to make your honeymoon unforgettable.