How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Anton was a legend.
He works so hard to keep us entertained and find so many different animals. He had a great sense of humour and coped with the unruly mob that we were."

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Be Prepared for early cold starts the temperature drops very quickly at night but it gets Hot during the day.
Be ready to enjoy the company of the people you are with.
Have plenty of Camera Batteries and charger with you there are uk style plugs in Livingstone, there are no end of photos to take."

Do you have anything else to add?

Listen out for the Lions, Hippos, Elephants and Hyenas as they pass by your camp at night

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our Explore leader, Bibi, was excellent. He had boundless enthusiasm and never seemed to rest. He is an excellent tracker and led us to see many animals. His knowledge of the animals and birds we saw was excellent.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The trip dossier warned us to be prepared for cold mornings and the advise proved correct. If you go in the winter months thermal underwear will be very useful. Also something to cover your face against the morning breeze and for longer drives. Camping is very comfortable but be prepared for night visitors to the camp. We had elephants, hyena, honey badger and a leopard that we know of!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

I did not feel that we had a tour leader as he had to do everything including the driving and arranging the camp this meant that on some very long days (10hrs we had very little contact)He was very good in all that he did so this is no critism of him but of the fact that you have combined 2 roles into one and reduced the explore experience we have come to know.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

It was very cold after sun set and in the mornings (down to 2c!) and as we traveled many hours in a open  truck you need additional clothing.

Do you have anything else to add?

This trip was not up to the standard expected. Very long journeys of over 10 hrs no organised stops (hot drink/intrest stops to stretch the legs) I accept this may not be available travelling that distance in an open truck with temperatures of 5 to 8 c is not acceptable. For long journeys a closed bus should have been provided. A tour leader can not be a driver at the same time this is a health and safety risk and  would not be allowed in the UK. We had very little local information as the driver/tour leader could not talk to us or tell us anything about the country we were traveling through. I gained very little information on the country or culture. I will seriously think of not using explore for my next trip as this was not the standard I have come to rely upon from Explore.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Hold on to your hats if you have Bibi as a tour leader...your time on Safari will certainly not be dull!

He is a one off!"

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"There are some bumpy and some long drives-take an MP2 player etc.
Livingstone/Vic Falls-Optional-Elephant back and Helicopter rides were excellent
CAMPING-THIS IS WILD CAMPING-you are sharing the animal's territory at night-which is wonderful of course-but does mean that you could meet one on the way to the loo at 1am. But you just need to follow the Tour Leader's Advice. It's thrilling as well. Having breakfast watching a herd of elephant (with babies) just metres from your tents. We even had a leopard sleep by our camp fire one (cold) night.
IF YOU HAVE A SENSE OF ADVENTURE YOU'LL BE FINE!
It's cold at night-bring thermals, gloves, hats, scarf, our nights went down to -2 degrees. It was freezing!!!!!! Make sure you have 2 strong torches for camping."

Do you have anything else to add?

"Buy sweets and biscuits to share on long journeys. Bibi loves them too.

The food on the camping was very good-we had a couple of vegetarians who ate well and I think they've even had a vegan before.

Livingstone-Grab a taxi/Leave the lodge behind- we would recommend Ocean Basket in Livingstone for it's amazing seafood-DELICIOUS!"

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Bibi - professional, organized and very knowledgeable.  Particularly impressive when negotiating the group through border controls, fantastic stories around the campfire, amazing tracking skills and great fun!  A superstar.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Not only does it get very cold at night, but the wind chill factor in the truck on early morning and late afternoon game drives requires many layers to keep warm, including hat, scarf and gloves!
Do souvenir and trinket shopping in Livingstone, there is little opportunity when you get back to Maun.
Be prepared to be amazed by the quality and quantity of the most fantastic wildlife on the game drives - I feel very privileged to have seen so many beautiful birds and animals in their natural habitat."

Do you have anything else to add?

I loved the wild camping, the first couple of nights the elephants did wake me up, they were so close to the tents ... and really quite noisy!  Watching a leopard circle the campsite whilst enjoying pre-dinner drinks by the fire was also quite memorable!  Arriving back at the campsite from the afternoon/early evening game drive, seeing the candles on the dining table glowing as we approached and being greeted by a roaring fire and hot water to wash away the dust and sand.  Best Explore holiday so far!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Tour leader knew what he was doing and was empathetic to needs of the group. Well organised and good logistical manager considering there were sevral punctures and stuck in the sands.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Wrap up warm in the mornings.
Keep your hands out of the water when you are on a boat on the delta (Crocs).

Do you have anything else to add?

Best safari ever. An ideal opportunity to get amongst the animals and feel free in the wild. You do get very close nd on some occasions the animals come to you.   

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Bibi's driving and tracking skills were great.  It helped us see so much.  It was good to have someone so experienced with us, although sometimes I think he forgot that we weren't used to being in the wild and perhaps didn't remind us of the dangers as much as he should.
Bibi also planned the menu while we were camping.  As a vegetarian it was nice that he made an effort so that I got some interesting a tasty every day and not just the meat eaters side dishes!"

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Don't under estimate how cold it will be at night or while travelling.  There's no such thing as too many layers!  At the same time, don't overpack.  The tents are cosy and you'll be thankful for the extra room.  Ladies, don't forget your sports bra, I didn't think to bring mine and there were a few uncomfortable moments when going over some of the more rugged terrain.  A torch with a strong beam is essential.

Do you have anything else to add?

This was my first camping holiday and I have to say, it wasn't too bad.  The tents were just big enough for 2 camp beds with mattresses, our luggage and us!  I was most worried about the toilets and was pleasantly surprised, just remember to not look down!  We had a hot shower every afternoon and fabulous food 3 times a day.  Staying in the camp also allowed us to see so much more than we would in a hotel.  It's not everyday you see elephants roaming past your camp.  

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Tour leader was helpful and worked hard to keep us mobile with several vehicle breakdowns punctures and stuck in the sand moments.  

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

The transport is open and you leave early in the morning when it is cold. Take some windproof clothing to fend off the cold wind. Ready to remove and store because it gets very hot as the day progresses.

Do you have anything else to add?

"I love Botswana, it had excellent mix of wildlife. Dont expect huge swathes of wildebeest, you are more likely to get individual or small packs of animals, Leopard, hyenas, eland and lions are great.
Camping experience I feel is the best way to integrate with the environment and dont be surprised as we saw when a herd of elephants delicately and safely take a walk through camp to have a look and a drink from the bucket shower.   "

From the moment we arrived in Botswana and were met by our guide Bibi our adventure began, this trip was one of the best experiences of my life and I will cherish the memories forever, go on this trip and enjoy all the different cultures, admire the wildlife and most of all, have fun. (BW - 28th October)

This was an amazing experience, we had a wonderful guide Bibi, he was also an excellent cook! The very cold mornings,especially when camping were a shock. Very warm clothes are needed, possibly gloves too. We saw lions, leopards, elephants, cheetahs and also wild dogs. We were able to follow them as they began to hunt. The time on the houseboat was lovely, again we saw lots of crocs and birds. The meals here were very, very good. The whole holiday was wonderful and this was due in large part with having Bibi as our guide; what a super chap, he had all the skills needed for that job. This was an unforgettable experience. (BW -29th July 2011)

I have just come back from an amazing wildlife experience.  Our guide,driver, cook and tracker BiBi was amazing.  His tracking skills were amazing, his food delicious, his manner friendly and funny, his networking skills very useful if you want to find animals.  Trust his advice and you will have an amazing holiday.  Wild camping was amazing with elephants, leopard, honey badger and a hyena visiting us on various days.  I missed the rhino walk in Livingstone and wish i had gone as some in my group went and saw 7 rhino (not guaranteed) and as there are none in Botswana that would have been a great animal to have seen.  Thanks BiBi. (BW -29th August 2011)

Our guide Solomon was fantastic, he provided excellent driving skills, advice and entertainment and organised everything to run smoothly. Our camp boys provided amazing food every night. The boat on the Okavango river was brilliant and the views amazing, each morning was to produce a stunning sunrise showing hippos, bee eaters, crocs and elephants on the riverside.  The Chobe and Morembi parks were staggering due to the herds of elephants that congrigate there, we had a huge herd swim past our boat protecting their calves. During the camping nights, Solomon lost a shoe to the hyenas who raided the bins in the early hours, he'd thrown it to scare them off!  Bring a powerful maglite torch for the dark evenings, they catch the animal eye reflections surrounding your camp, and you must embrace the additional guests of praying mantis' and coackroaches as they fly in your face at dinner time! the camping days did drag towards the end as you are only able to venture out in early am/pm due to the heat so bring lots of interesting books. Did the 'walk with lions' in Zambia and found it very interesting and not as touristy as I'd expect. The Falls were brilliant too, but ignore the dodgy locals who try and tempt you out onto the rocks at the top of the falls, they ask for money to get you back safely! The lion walk (ALERT) is a worthwhile project to donate to. Holiday is recommended, espeically if you are a very keen twitcher. (BW - 2009)

Great trip! Covered over 2000km searching for elephants, lions and leopards - which we found! Chobe National Park was a very special mix of water and land game drives and we were able to get up close and pretty personal with the residents. The camping was comfortable, the food excellent but the roads were bumpy - so bring a cushion! Camping in Moremi allowed us to beat the local lodges to the wildlife in the early morning and also allowed the locals to visit us! We had hyena and elephants in the camp and lions acting as security guards outside! I lost count of the mornings I was woken by hippos! Bring a good long lens with you and you will go away with some fantastic pictures of this wonderful country and its friendly people, as well as lifelong memories. (BW - 14th October 2010)

What a great trip. All we'd hoped for and more! Wonderful wildlife in beautiful surroundings. Highlights? Too many to mention, but for me 'our' Leopard has to be number one - first hanging upside-down from a tree while playing with the remains of her kill, then dropping it right next to the truck and climbing down to finish off the rib-cage! One of the world's most beautiful animals close up and completely unphased by our presence.Wow!     

My other highlight came a bit more expensive, but  if you can (it's not cheap) take the helicopter flight over Victoria Falls. The views of the falls are wonderful, but the 'extras' will take your breath away. (BW -1st October 2010)

We've all seen the wildlife documentaries on TV, but being there in the middle of it all is breathtaking nonetheless. To be just a few yards from a leopard eating its prey, or a pride of lions lazing off a big meal, or hippos soaking themselves, or seeing a huge herd of buffaloes stretching off into the distance, is a thrill that will stay with you. The camps are simple but reasonably comfortable - camp beds and sheets/sleeping bags are provided, as are toilet and shower tents (days in October are hot so an afternoon shower was a more than welcome relief!) - and they are genuinely out in the wilds: don't be surprised to see elephants or impalas wandering by. Oh, and you'll probably have noisy neighbours, but they'll be lions, hyenas and hippos. This trip started well and just got better. Highly recommended. (BW -10th January 2010)

We've done a few safaris before and were looking for something different and we got it. Botswana doesn't have the same high levels of tourism as other African countries. We saw the same 2 dozen tourists as we toured around. we stayed on the houseboat in the remoteness of something that looked like the Norfolk Broads with hippos and crocs. Crocs are magnificent, we got so close and paused as they stared at us. Even sleeping they have their eyes open. Then with a big flick of the tail and big splash they're gone. Nice to see them enter the water and not our boat. Into Zambia and Victoria Falls we arrived by 0830 and were only tourists there. Uber magnificent water spray everywhere and multiple rainbows which I've never seen before. Awe inspiring and cannot forget for rest of our lives. Took the helicopter flight which alters the perspective and highlights the magnificence. Pilot took us white water rafting down a gorge, flying just feet from the water with all the sharp turns and excitement like being in a raft for real. We then set off for the National Parks of Botswana. We've seen alot of big cats but never expected to come face to fac with a leopard just 5 minutes into Moremi. In fact we saw more leopards than lions which we loved as they are beautiful.The small group pulled together as a unit to assist with the pushing as the 4wd got stuck in the sand. Animals were in abundance and we got so close in vehicles and during occasional leg stretch. we didn't even have to walk far as in camp at Chobe the elehants all 50 of them came to camp to check us out. Integrating so naturally with this environment made this tour so exhillerating and pleasurable. (BW  - 13th August 2010)

This trip to the three countries of Botswana, Namibia and Zambia was quite amazing from start to finish. What were the highlights- well where do I begin? We stayed on the magnificent houseboat in the Okavango Delta panhandle, taking small dinghies out early in the morning and at sunset to marvel at the birdlife and hippo basking in the water. We were woken to the sound of elephant right beside the boat trampling through the undergrowth and snapping off branches - what a memory. We then moved on to Livingstone where I took a helicopter flight over the Falls - quite stunning and very special. Seeing the statue of Livingstone was tremendous as I did my O level project on his African journeys all those years ago! The falls were breathtaking. The final part of the trip involved crossing the border back in to Botswana from Zambia where we stayed in the game reserves of Chobe and Moremi where we saw wild dogs, hyenas, buffalo, giraffe, zebra, leopards, cheetah, lions - even seeing a pride of lions bring down a buffalo right in front of us- not for the faint hearted but an amazing sight! This was totally unexpected and I am sure you could go on many safaris and never see that. Elephants would stroll past our camp on their way to the water source- what a great sight. The trip was rounded off with with an awesome flight low over the Okavango delta. I can not recommend the trip highly enough- the sheer variety- camping, wildlife, Livingstone, the delta and so much more. Awesome. Just one piece of advice- take plenty of film, batteries and more than one memory card- you will definitely need it! Oh and yes stock up on plenty of supplies in Maun when you get the chance as you are out in the wild for some time- enjoy it- I certainly did! (BW- 14th August 2009)

The thrill of seeing the 'big five' and the helicopter flight over Victoria Falls, all made me feel very humble. My unexpected experience was that out of 12 people in the group 7 were American. I don't know why I hadn't thought to expect this before - maybe because other Explore trips had consisted of only British rather naive of me really but once I got used to the idea everything was ok.  Our tour leader, Bibi, was absolutely amazing.  Future travellers - stick to the rules and guide lines and be open to the experience. (BW- 30th April 2010)

Wow! Where to begin??... Arriving in Maun,and seeing our guide Solomon's beaming grin,as he loaded us into the safari truck that was to become (almost) our home for the duration. Catching sight of the houseboat floating serenely on the Okavango, and being lulled to sleep by the 'music' of the hippos around us. Driving to Victoria Falls, and overcoming Zambian bureaucracy (!) in order to see the most amazing volumes of spectacular water ever (and even more terrific from the air). Starting our time in Chobe with an elephant charge (we were perfectly safe!) followed immediately by spotting lions wrestling with a kill. Moving from camp to camp without leaving a trace behind us, and having elephants and zebra wandering casually by. Finally, the evening campfire conviviality, with the whole group (aged 14 to 76) bonded and happy to be in each others' company. What an incredible experience from beginning to end! (BW- 3rd April 2010)

We arrived at the airport to be met by our wonderful guide for the trip, Bibi. He looked after us really well from the beginning to the end, worked really hard and had great tracking skills. I never in my wildest dreams imagined we would see so much wildlife and so close up. A highlight was camping out and having giraffes, zebras and wildebeest as neighbours during the day. At night we were visited by hyena, elephants and buffalo (and I am sure lots of other things we didn't see!). We followed a pack of wild dogs for two hours and watched them bring down an impala - thrilling; saw lions on a hippo kill; a leopard with a kill; vultures and storks on a dead buffalo. The boat trip at the start was very relaxing and great for bird spotting although we got way too close the hippos in the tiny little boats for my liking.  If you go in the winter - the game safaris start early and it was pretty freezing in the back of the jeep so pack clothes you can layer up as by midday it is into the twenties. We didn't get to meet the San bushmen as they were off hunting and some of the drives are very, very long and bumpy so be prepared. That said, Bibi made sure we had tea and biscuit stops along the way.  If you like wildlife, this is the trip for you. This was my first safari and following this holiday I am totally hooked and off to India on safari with Explore later this year. All in all a fantastic trip and be prepared for some close encounters!! (BW- 1st July 2010)

One of the best from the moment we met our guide, not only funny but informative and kept us going on cold mornings nothing was to much trouble. Had a great group of people from all walks of life that jelled from the start . fantastic scenery and the wildlife was exceptional. even the Leopards posed for us along with the elephants and lions plus other animals too numerous to mention. The highlight was Victoria Falls what a sight awe inspiring! on a par with the Grand Canyon any a day. A fantastic holiday all round. (BW- 16th July 2010)

We had expected the camping to be an experience - seven nights under canvas in the African bush surrounded by all manner of animals great and small. It was still a surprise to have the early morning intrusion of a honey badger to raid the cool box and rip open the rubbish bags (and to cause consternation amongst the porters) but on reflection probably better than a lion or hippo! The trip was simply a collection of highlights (not all as anticipated) - early morning on the Okavango river, river trips and crocodiles, controlled chaos of border crossings, potential suicide victims on top of the Victoria falls (not in the explore group!), campfire drinks and stories, cold mornings on the tour bus, bush showers and of course the colourful and varied collection of plentiful animals and birds. Finally, and by no means the least, an interesting and diverse (and very amusing) group and excellent tour leader and camp assistants (including Kreecher the camp elf!). Take camera, binoculars (and bird spotting book) as well as plenty of warm clothes for the bus and you will have an amazing experience. (BW- 30th July 2010)