December 2010
Thank for  asking about how we got on and thank you for a fantastic safari holiday!
The arrangements were excellent. The representatives who met us at each stage of the trip were welcoming, friendly and extremely helpful. The game drives at both camps were excellent and the guides and trackers clearly very experienced. Mapula Lodge was excellent, the staff were extremely friendly, meetings us when we arrived with a welcoming song!
The Public rooms were very atmospheric as was our bedroom etc and we very much appreciated the mosquito nets.  
We were not as impressed with the facilities at Elephant Valley Lodge. The public rooms were acceptable and he staff were very friendly. However the private tents were, although adequate and the sleeping area was clean the bathroom area was dirty and smelly. Perhaps more importantly there were no mosquito nets which I feel should be provided and are recommended by theCenter for Disease Control.    
We would not like you to think that we did not enjoy the holiday as a whole, and we appreciated that were sleeping in a tent but I think you might raise these points with the owners of Elephant Lodge.  
We certainly look forward to using Island-Safari again.
Best wishes and thanks again.
Michael Leyland

December 2010
Trip worked out perfect. Your people on the ground in ZIM were efficient and very professional.

Thanks again for assembling an excellent vacation.

Regards,
Mark Semonin

December 2010
I am sending this mail to tell if you may be interested in our opinion,  first of all say that the Okavango is really great and the situation of Oddballs Camp too, but I would say that the accommodation is not for the  value for money at all.

And sell it as a luxuary camp and stayed in the attempt  because the tends if they are good but the bathroom is incomprehensible that  have no roofs on any camp design of the bathrooms are much better.
On the other hand, the issue of foods is another important part of the property  were really low to the point that if asked for bacon and eggs just put a piece of bacon...
I do not understand with what they charge to rationing in this way food.
The transfers were perfect and the service recived in the booking process  very well.
In general all good but my experience in this sector and I work in a Spanish travel agency  and once visited all types of accommodation to be able to recommend to our customers  on the camp Oddballs I have to say it is very expensive for what you there found and has advised  clients to avoid problems later.

Thank you for every thing

Yours sincerely
Mar Miguel

December 2010
Sorry I've just got your mail.  I'll will answer as per the bullet points below.
 
Island Safari - I could not fault your service one bit.  The booking process and communication was excellent.  The service provided made the booking effortless and a pleasure and that's not always the case with these things especially when trying to book for 8 people from 2 different countries.  I would recommend Island Safari's to anyone and have already told family and friends.  If we were looking to do a similar trip from the services you provide I would definitely use Island Safari's for the booking. 
 
Transfers - Again these were faultless.  The transfers went smoothly and there was no problems.
 
Kapama River Lodge - What a wonderful experience.  The lodge and staff were excellent.  The service was again faultless.  I loved every minute of it and it was the highlight of my trip to South Africa.  The ranger and tracker (Rowen and Fred) were superb and they made the experience a trip of a life time.  The rest of the staff at the River Lodge were all excellent too.  I could not highlight one bad level of service.  I also experienced their Wellbeing centre and the treatment I had was one of the best treatments I've every had and I do love my Spa's.  The beauty therapist was excellent and her level of knowledge was of a high standard.
 
All my thoughts above are a reflection of the whole group (all 8 of us).  We loved our 3 day fly-in Safari.  I just want to take this opportunity to thank Island Safari's for helping us make this trip to South Africa a trip of a life time and a holiday we will all remember for years to come.  If possible can you please also pass on my thanks to the Kapama River Lodge team.
 
Take care,
Lee Gallacher
 

December 2010
What a shock to come back to freezing Europe from sunny Mauritius!
But as always, we truly enjoyed our stay at Dinarobin, in every way, and have nothing but positive experience from Island Safari. We would not hesitate to use your services again, and would also recommend your agency to others.
Happy seasonal wishes from Sweden.
Vivi Munthe

December 2010
We found your company very easy to deal with.  We were very satisfied with all aspects of the booking process.  We could not fault the transfers at all and we were extremely happy with Kapama Karula.  We would highly recommend island safari and Kapama to our friends and family.
Eimear Phelan

December 20120
We returned from africa 2 weeks ago and did spend 3 more weeks in Namibia and RSA after our time in Okawango Delta. Up to now I was just to busy to answer.

We are very happy with our arangements with Islands Safari. From the very beginning Claudia handled everything very competent and helpful to all my Questions were taken care of.

For the two nights at Oddballs we enjoyed the exelent food and the special atmosphere of being in a very special natural environment and talking to other guests from all over the world and sharing their experience! The staff was very hospitable and I have to repeat: the kitchen was exelent!

The 4 days 3 nights bushcamping were a very special experience! Our guide was M.D., who is so well at home in the Delta (where he was born and raised), its vegatation and wildlife. We had most exiting hikes with many animals. Espacially I have to tell about the following: When we went back to Oddballs in a Mokoro fully loaded with our equipment one of my sandals got lost. I realised that only when we landed at Oddballs. So M.D. - even if I told him he should not - went all the way and in the heat of early afternoon - back to White Island to look for my missing shoe! And I really got it back via his cousin and another guide who found it floating in the water!
The transport from and to Maun was friendly and efficent - even if the age of the plane in wich we flew back, and especially its reluctance to get the lefthand engine started, did not really have my wifes confidence!

So, all in all: a good choice - an extraordinary good time!

Martin Treibert

December 2010
I have just had the absolute best holiday of my life! And, boy, did I see elephants! One of them was eating mangos within a metre of me; I'll send you a few pictures once I've sorted my photos out. I had a fantastic guide - Patson, who knows the animals and birds as if they are his own family - and a brilliant spotter - Raphael, who seems to find animals where no-one else can. I had two "firsts" - leopards (including a mother with two cubs) and bateleur eagles (I'm a birder, as is Patson so we got on very well).

Mfuwe Lodge is beautiful and extremely well appointed and the staff are very friendly and go out of their way to assist with whatever you want. I also met some great people and have made some good email friends.

I would recommend this Lodge to anyone looking for a great bush experience. Thank you so much for all your organisation; my Mom now wants to go as well but will leave it until next November, so she'll contact you sometime next year.

Kind regards
Lesley Jeffrey

December 2010
You will recall that you booked a trip to Gunns Camp for myself and my wife.

We have now returned to the UK and now have time to email to thank you so much for all the arrangements you made for us. We so enjoyed Gunns Camp which lived up to all our expectations (and more). The whole experience from the moment we left Maun to that when we arrived back was fantastic. The staff were charming, efficient and knowledgeable making us feel very at home with personal attention. Your staff also processed our requests well and so all I can do is tell you that we have already - and will continue to do so – recommended  your company and Gunns to others.

Yours sincerely

Mark Mackaness

November 2010
The only other comment that I would like to add, is that thanks to Alison's direction, the trip was a perfect mix of different places and different experiences.  It was also in the right (and what I think) is the best order.  Especially mixing up the game drive only camps with the water/walking safari activies at the other camps.  I think that it would be hard to do 2 camps that just do game drives back to back. It was also nice finishing in Chobe (seen we saw a lot more animals there) and then to Vic. Falls after we saw all the animals. 
 
Excellent direction. We had an amazing time.
 
Thanks again,
Tricia Snyder    

November 2010
We have returned safely after another trouble free visit which went like clockwork. Selati was very good indeed, La Residence was true to form and demonstrated its abililty to deliver against very high expectations; Birkenhead Housewas so relaxing and way ahead of The Marine. The Vineyard was The Vineyard and still manages to be caring despite growing every year. Thank you for organising us so efficiently.
 
You will be pleased to know that we have decided to return next year (despite Guguletu!) but we will probably depart a little later as there is something Patricia wishes to cover here in early November. I will contact you in January when we have sorted dates out and when we have finally decided what, precisely, we want to do.
 
We are toying with the idea of doing the Royal three (ie. Royal Malewane instead of Selati); nothing whatsoever against Selati – we would certainly be happy to return – it’s just that the Biden’s do it so well. We met both Phil and Liz at La Residence which was a very pleasant experience! You mentioned earlier this year that you might be able to get an attractive rate using one group and (I think) we have overcome any misgivings we had regarding game viewing although Shane (larger than life!), the Manager at BH, was honest enough to acknowledge that there can be reservations.
 
The other idea we have had (if the price is not way off) is to use a Marina (their cheapest and quite delightful) room at the One&Only in Cape Town instead of The Vineyard; we paid a visit and had a very good guided tour of the property and loved it and its location.
 
Well there’s something to get your teeth into!
 
With very best regards and many, many thanks from Patricia and me,
 
Chris Bull

November 2010
I have just returned home and confirm with pleasure that Claudia, who handled my reservation, has been very efficient and the BUFFALO SAFARI has been the most extraordinary experience of my life. Who knows, if I stay fit I might book a Lion tour. After all, I now know what to do with a dome tent in a bag!
 
Kind regards,
Ursula Schulz

November 2010
I just wanted to take a moment and thank you and island-safari.com for our recent trip to Botswana and our first African safari. All our connections were made, drivers were there, and safari camps perfect! We loved our visit to Victoria Falls, brief as it was; Muchenje Safari Lodge was first class, especially the guides, accommodations, and food; and Xakanaxa Camp the same, though the Okavanga Delta much different than Chobe National Park. I will definitely refer my friends and family to island-safari.com for planning of safaris. Again, thanks for all you did!

Cory Neville

November 2010
Good Morning -- our trip was wonderful!!!  Mandy did an outstanding job.  We were amazed at how orchestrated everything was and had beautifully it ran.  Once we got to Kasane...we were greeted by the Muchenje staff and off we went and our trips to and from all the airstrips were always perfect.  Great fun to get off those small planes and see a jeep waiting for us with smiling faces.
 
As far as accomodations - we like Lebala the best, then Mapula - then Pom Pom and then Muchenje.
 
But probably the best overall feel of a camp we liked with activities and ambience was Pom Pom.  The animal viewing was incredible most places - we saw the least game in Lebala and the most at Pom Pom.
 
The staff at all the resorts were wonderful - loved being greeted by singing women!.
 
Our biggest disappointment was the food -- fair at best.....and barely that at Mapula.
We had a few meals over the 9 days that were good - and I know others who travel on African safaris talk about the great food they had.  So that was a big disappointment.
 
All in all - it was a fabulous trip.   My husband and I would give these camps 3Stars - if I were to go again....would probably bump it up to 4Stars.
 
But thank you - everyone did a great job. Mandy was the best!  Doreen
Doreen Clifton

November 2010
We had a wonderful time from start to finish except for the internal flights.
 
We were met at the airport, as you had said, by a member of your staff and taken to the checking in counter The plane took off on time and we arrived in Maun just after midday' Our Delta flight to our first camp took longer than hoped for as we had to make 3 passenger stops along the way . We left home at 06H30 and arrived at Xakanaxa at 16H30 --10.5 hours --this ridiculous and is something that you should resolve !!
 
Out trip by boat to Xakanaxa was both a surprise and an adventure. Our guide, Ngandi,was excellent in every way The entire staff at the camp could not have been more helpful and efficient. The food too was 4 star and well prepared .
 
Pom Pom was also most enjoyable. If we are to find fault it was that we found the tents at this camp extemely hot.  A fan in the tent would have made a difference.
 
Both my husband and I so enjoyed our visit that we plan to do another with our American family sometime in the next year
 
Thank you for your efficient service and your  suggestions
 
Regards
Delyse and Ronald Goodwin

November 2010
1) The service we received from the Island -Safari staff and their associated members could not be faltered it was absoluley first class .Whilst our appreciation goes to all the staff, a particular thank you to Edna of the Falcon group who looked after us at the Zimbabwe border entrance and particularly at Victoria Falls airport during the stressful time with our outward flight.Altogether a five* plus for Island- Safari
2) Every transfer was on time - I don`t know how Claudia planned it but that was 5* plus.
3) Once againe excellent service by the Enclave staff and we were fortunate enough to have two very knowledgeable and pleasent guides who looked after us as though we were one of the family - excellent.
4)The stay at Mapula Lodge was exactly the same but with one noticeable difference. Mae (the manageress ?) had little to say and did not put herself forward as a result we hardly saw her and she was almost invisable !. Fortunately the staff were brilliant and so her absence was not particularly noticeable.
5) Muchenje Safari Lodge was perhaps the most fabulous of the three ,once again excellent service by all staff members - Could not fault anyone.
6) Ilala Lodge Hotel was the icing on the cake, we were unanimous that this was the best Hotel we had ever stayed in, rooms,sevice,and meals could not be bettered- once again 5* plus.
You will gather by our report that we thoroughly,thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our Holiday( the flight mix up at the end excluded)
Please thank Claudia and all the personnel for their excellent service in giving us such a memorable holiday.
 
Regards Frank

November 2010
We got back from our southern African trip with Island Safari several days ago.  Our visits to the various safari lodges in Botswana provided us an unforgettable experience.  Everyone should experience the beauty of the African wild sometime during their lifetime.  Some comments on our trip as follows.
 
It is difficult to compare the different lodges and hotels we visited because each place provided unique opportunities and strong points.  I will say that, in general, we found the staff and guides at all lodges to be professional, experienced and eager to please.  The staff/guides at Muchenje were notable.  A few notes on the lodges/hotels:
 
Zambezi Sun Hotel.  Very modern facilities with most of the conveniences of a big vacation resort.  Only a short walk to view Victoria Falls but I must say I was disappointed with the ground view of the Falls.  Take the helicopter ride.  It’s expensive but the aerial view of the Falls is magnificent.  Try the little restaurant outside the main resort complex and next to the activity center. It has a nice menu and is less pricey than the supper buffet in the main dining area.  Also, try to find your souvenirs here or at the nearby Royal Livingstone Hotel.  You will have very little shopping selection or time during the actual safari trip and the only other real choice is at the Johannesburg airport where the prices are outrageous.
 
Muchenje Safari Lodge.  Go there if you are looking for a great volume of animals.  Its location next to Chobe National Park and the Chobe River allows views of terrific numbers of animals going to the river to drink, bathe, hunt, etc – lots of elephants, hippos both in and out of the water, and a variety of other animals and bird life.  Don’t miss the riverboat excursion.  That ride is a real plus.  The cabins at Muchenje tend to be on the small side but I am told that they are planning to enlarge each of them.  That will make a big difference.  The lodge is located on a cliff so the views overlooking the Chobe River floodplain are very nice. 
 
Mapula Lodge.  The major attraction of this camp is its nice blend of safari activities – mokoro rides, safari drives, and night rides are all available.  The cabins are large and comfortable (the en suite open air showers are an interesting touch).  The nearby lagoon gets lots of hippo activity.
 
Delta Camp.  Here is the place to go to concentrate on walking safaris and mokoro activities, since the camp is on an island and surrounded by water.  Take the time to visit the little local village for a view of native life.  Book the treetops cabin for a truly different perspective.
 
Deception Valley Lodge.  Surprisingly nice accommodations in a desert environment.  You will see different animals here compared to those in the water-based Okavango and delta camps.  The San people experience was an interesting learning situation, and the desert experience was a nice complement to the other lodges we visited.
 
I would like to compliment Island Safari and our travel consultant Elize Cavill-Taylor, in particular, for a well planned and organized trip.  The safari activities were a nice blend of safari ride drives, mokoro rides, walking activities and night drives.  I must admit that I was a little apprehensive of scheduling this trip totally over the internet – especially considering all the local transportation, transfers, boat rides, vehicle rides and small aircraft flights to be coordinated.  But not to worry, Elize was very accommodating and patient with all our questions, and even the minor issues during our trip like arriving a little early/late for a connection were not a problem since local contact personnel were very available and able to resolve any issues.
 
Thanks, again, to your staff for its assistance in arranging this safari trip.  If we are fortunate enough to be able to schedule another Africa trip, we look forward to working with Island Safari again.
 
Wayne and Sherri Alfieri

November 2010
i had sent a note to LIza which I lost in cyberspace.  We thought your group did a great job on all arrangement and follow up.  the communications on making reservations were clear, everything was as your group said they would be, the Falcon group was great.  We were met at the airport, they outlined everything we had set up (which, considering we were in Namibia with no internet availability for almost a week was great.)  the on ground folks were very informative, and set up a river tour we had not scheduled.  all in all, the planning, confirmation, and on site support was terrific.  The transfers were perfect, and they were on time for eveything!

The Zambezi Sun was a great hotel.

All in all, we were very pleased with Island Safari and Falcon, and considering we kind of did this at the last minute and on the fly, everything went well.  I would recommend you service without hesitation, and when we go back to Zambia would certainly use your services.

Thanks Again
Gary and Shirley Petersen

November 2010
The Victoria Falls Hotel was superb, my girlfriend and I got engaged there on this trip and we both found the hotel and staff great, good service, lovely food and then the colonial charm and the grand setting of the hotel was most pleasant.
 
Falcon Safaris were very efficient and personal in the transfers and the tour we took.
So in all a very enjoyable stay and good value for money.
 
Your service was efficient and effective, so I will be contacting you to look at Honeymoon packages to an island next year some time…………..
Thanks
Kind regards,
José da Fonseca

November 2010
Well we are reluctantly back from a truly stunning Botswana experience!
 
The camps you chose for us were brilliant ESPECIALLY OKUTI, wow, what rooms etc, we were the only guests at Okuti and waited on, wined and dined like royalty! Loved it, amazing hospitality, brilliant guide, really well run attentive staff, and while I am sure "mine host" would have liked 2 18 year olds to arrive he was fabulous, and we managed to consume plenty of his wine!
 
Kanana camp not as glamerous, again very lucky not many guests, 2 gentlemen from Belgiuim who were brilliant travelling companions while we were there, again the way these camps are run, the willingness of the staff, confidence of staff and happy smiles were an eye opener,
I think you must have told Olivier the Camp manager about my birthday, a special dinner on the bank of the delta, candles, a bottle of champagne, birthday cake the lot, think its worth being 65 after all!
 
Truly a holiday to remember, many thanks
 
The only slight dampener, certainly beyond your control, was the attitude of very surly staff at Maun airport, who said the couldnt find my ticket, regardless as to the fact that I had just bgiven them the e ticket, not a good attitude.
The search as I cant go through the beedy eye was rude in the extreme by Botswana security, she even pulled my bra down, a little unnecessary, and as for attitude!!!
 
Botswana is obviously a very eco and tourist friendly country and maybe a word with maun airport could help guests to leave feeling good instead of fuming!
 
Hopefully we will be in contact in the future to ask you to plan another trip for us somewhere, and neither Philippa nor I will have the slightest hesitation in recommending you and your services.
 
Kind regards
Nikki Walters

November 2010
Everything went very well. We loved the Delta and POMPOM. We had an excellent guide called Max and an excellent cook at the camp (Bettie). I wish we stayed longer there than Chobe. The chobe hotel was OK but too big and impersonal, too many big american groups. But overall it was very good. Thank you.
Sonny Dey

November 2010
we were very much satisfied with everything regarding our holiday!
 
- Corresponding with Island-Safari.com was very nice and kind!! The itinerary was clear. Answers always came very quick and also the vouchers.
 
- The transfers were smooth. Only the return charter flight with Delta Air back from Mapula Lodge to Maun airport came 35 min too late. That had the effect that we only had 30 min to get on the connection flight with Air Botswana from Maun to Johannesburg. But as the airport there isn’t big we managed to catch the flight.
 
- Our stay at Mapula Lodge was fabulous!!! We enjoyed it very much! The Lodge itself is very comfortable and the service excellent indeed! The staff was very welcoming and friendly so that we soon felt at home. The location of the Lodge in the middle of the bush means a real Africa experience. Elephants and hippos sometimes join the Lodge and you have them in front of the balcony. On the Game Drive we saw 2 leopards – that was very special and our highlight, as well as the mokoro tour beside the hippos. I really can recommend the Lodge!
 
Thank you very much for organizing this wonderful trip for us, and special thanks to Mandy who did most of the booking process for us.
I will recommend you to everyone who intents to do such a trip!
 
Regards from Germany
Saskia Schmalzbauer

November 2010
Everything was just great. Special thanks to Louise, who made our dreams come true.
 
Kind regards,
Valery Kaukin

November 2010
We had a wonderful time and would highly recommend you. You were prompt and professional from the time I first contacted you.
The transfers were smooth, especially considering that we had to fly into the old airport.
The staff and guides at Xakanaxa were wonderful, especially Ngande. The camp was very well run.
 
The only thing that was a bit misleading was that you mentioned makora rides, but the guides told us there's not much good water for that, so it's only a 10 minute ride. Maybe it's different in the rainy season?
 
Overall, I thought everyone treated us royally. We'd love to return to another of your camps. Thanks much.
Tom and Jeanne Joseph

November 2010
We just returned from our honeymoon and have nothing but praise for the Island Safari team and the service provided by each one of the lodges.

For us it was the trip of a lifetime, one that we will never forget. Going to Africa was always a dream of ours and being able to see so many animals in the wild, meeting locals, eating the local food, understanding how they live, eat, think, etc surpassed all our expectations (which were already very high!)

The weather throughout the entire trip to Zambia and Botswana was perfect ( were were incredibly lucky!),  the people were so friendly and open, the settings were breathtaking and watching African sunsets was such a dream - beyond anything we expected.

Below the individual feedback as requested. Many many thanks for everything again ( we had sent a Thank You note  to Elize last week  She was incredibly helpful before and during the trip!

The service you received from Island-safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.

The booking process went very smoothly. We were provided with all the information required ( e.g. very detailed information on what items to bring, which was VERY useful )

Elize was extremelly helpful while we were planning the trip ( and extremely patient , as we had some silly questions at times ), and also while we were in Zambia and directed some queries to her - she replied in no time.

All 3 lodges knew our dietary requirements ( I don't eat much meat ), so it was super cool to be able to have meals made to us according to those requirements, without sounding like spoiled Londoners

Lastly, thanks for letting the lodges know that it was our honeymoon ! They had champagne prepared for us during our stays - that was a lovely touch !

We only have 1 piece of advise: if any of your clients goes to Santawani, you should let them know that there is absolutely no mobile phone reception, as we had reception in both Chundwuka and Mowana. ( this was not an issue for us, but I was trying to phone my sister for her Birthday and couldn't, as I was not aware we were going to be so remote! But then again, maybe it was my own fault as I should have done more investigation into the area). Just a minor suggestion !

The transfers you had.

All transfers went very smoothly. All drivers were waiting for us with a big smile and on time.  Vehicles were in good condition and the guys drove quite well ( no crazy Formula 1 drivers jeje )

Things couldn't have worked better.

Your stay at Chundukwa River Lodge

It was a dream, I can't decide whether Santawani or Chundukwa were my favourites - they were both outstanding !!!

Chermaine ( the lodge Manager ) was SUPER NICE to us, so friendly, always prepared to please us.  She even asked us to tell her what meals we wanted to have ( which for me was heaven as I love to eat ). She even lent me her personal hairdryer! They cooked local food, always presented in a very professional way. Even her gorgeous dog was a pleasure to be with !

She gave us invaluable tips during our stay. Because of her we got to go to the Devil's Pool, we got to take the helicopter ride over the falls, we got to see white rhinos, we got to see a local village (with a member of her staff), she was incredibly helpful in every single way ! Cannot praise her enough.

We always knew that the lodge wouldn't be luxurious, but for me it was perfect as I was not looking for luxury. The bedroom was clean, always tidy, it was a mosquito net, electricity, what more could we have asked for?

The best thing of the stay was the setting. Oh my God, what a view of the river Zambezi, the view of the elephants in the mornings, the staff ( Henry was specially friendly and helpful ), the cook ( the food was beyond delicious);  the breakfasts, everything was perfect.  It was so peaceful, being with nature, surrounded by nature, is something I really miss now that we're back in busy, rainy London.

In addition, we were lucky that there were only 3 of us staying at the lodge (another lady, Jens and myself) so we felt like kings and queens, the entire lodge to ourselves!  We were simply spoiled to bits

Her team members were all very knowledgeable about the area, flora and fauna. They answered all our questions very patiently and took us around quite a lot.  It was just the icing on the cake to be able to walk around with people who were local to the area.  Levy was particularly amazing taking us around his village and introducing us to his family , that was amazing!

Your stay at Mowana Safari Lodge

 The team at the hotel were very efficient, everything ran like clockwork and they arranged for all our activities very easily ( morning and afternoon drives, boat cruises, Namibia village walk, etc)

It was a very nice touch finding a bottle of champagne with a note in our room at our arrival - such a nice detail !

The hotel is extremely clean and tidy, very comfortable, the staff were very friendly and the food was really really good ( Chundwuka's food was better though jaja)

We don't usually like big hotels as they're usually less intimate, but Mowana was actually a very nice and luxurious 'pit stop' before our stay at Santawani.

Mowana was a lovely place, but as it's such a large hotel we did not feel the intimacy we felt at the other 2 lodges. All jeeps during game drives were incredibly full of people, and every time we saw one of the big 5, there were at least 4 or 5 vehicles around it (nothing bad, but we did feel like tourists there jeje).

The boat rides were lovely though, as very few people decided to take the evening boat rides, so there were usually less than 4 of us on each ride, lovely sunsets we saw during these. Just a dream.

Your stay at Santawani Camp

Again, we can't decide whether Chundukwa or Santawani were our favourite places to stay. There were both incredible in their own way

Santawani was so excluded from civilization, so remote ( when we landed on the air strip I noticed how remote we were !) , but it was just perfect, there was no other way you could be closer to nature !

The team, oh the team. They sat down with us for meals every single day ( that was a lovely touch ). I can't remember all their names, except for 'Doctor', which I think was the manager, and also for Johnston ( our Game Driver who was OUTSTANDING in every single sense of the word). We learned SO MUCH about life in Botswana, about their health system, education, their villages.

I - as a person obsessed with food - asked them to cook for us a local meal, as I was craving for maize meal - sadza as they call it in Zimbwabwe. And they did this for us during our last evening, they cooked maize meal with shredded chicken, tomato & onion sauce and boiled cabbage. I asked them to show me how to properly eat it with my hands , and we all sat there, under the lovely sky, eating sadza with these lovely people.

Also on the last evening, they even had champagne served to us. We had dinner under the stars ( and very close to an elephant that was roaming near us !) it was so exciting !

The game drives were just incredible. We were also very lucky to be the only guests on the entire lodge for 3 nights of our stay ( there was only a group of Swiss tourists for 1 day, leaving this amazing place to ourselves! ). We learned so much about birds ( Johnston knew everything about them, I even have a little book with notes I wrote about each bird's name!). He taught us a bit about animals' behaviour, their eating patterns, how they mate, how they move around to the next reserve (Noemi), and we saw SO MANY lions, that was just incredible! we got really close to them - that was a huge bonus - so close that it was scary at times!). I personally fell in love with hippos though ( I have too many photos of their cute ears and eyes

In a nutshell, this was the trip of our lives, and we can't simply wait to return to your amazing continent!

Next time round we'd like to visit Namibia or Tanzania (or both!) so let us know if you can recommend a similar company (with excellent services like yours) who can arrange trips to those countries, as I understand you don't cover those areas.

Thanks a million !!! We are now back to an incredibly rainy, cold and dark London, so it's rather depressing at times, but we're smile every time we see the photos

Paola & Jens Barcacel

November 2010
thanks for your help.  it was hard keeping current while we were in so many places in Namibia with no internet service.  we are home now, after 24 hour trip, but I wanted to let you know that everything went great in Zimbabwe!  the hotel is great and they had all our info and no problems.  The Falcon Safari folks were fantastic, followed up on everything, gave us great service, and were on time and extremely professional!  thanks for the recommendation and for the follow up on the hotel. 

i will certainly recommend your group to interested friends, and will contact you when we come back to Zimbabwe.

Thank you again
Gary and Shirley Peteresen

November 2010
The assistance I received from Nigel was very helpful with regards to the booking as well as the airport transfers.
The feedback that I received form our director is that he had a wonder full stay at the Royal Livingstone.
 
Thank you
Derick Prinsloo

November 2010
Hope this note finds you well.  I can't believe that it has been close to a month since we arrived back to the states from our trip to marvelous Africa, sorry that it has taken so long to write.
 
We wanted to tell you that we had a fantastic time.  All the logistics worked flawlessly and everyone at the lodges was friendly, attentive and incredibly welcoming. Nico, from Nature Friends Safari was a great guide, friendly and informative.
 
The lodges were gorgeous and extremely comfortable—we are still having hard time picking the one we thought was best!   Safari wise, we got to see everything we wanted to see, including the wild dogs over at Lagoon Camp.  If there was something I wish we could have done differently was skipping Victoria Falls, which we thought was OK to see, but would have appreciated 2-3 more days with the animals in the bush.  But that was it.
 
We are already thinking of the next time—perhaps Tanzania and the migrations?!
 
All the best and many, many thanks again.
Andres Branger

November 2010
Sorry about the delay in getting back to you.  We had a great holiday, and were very satisfied with the service from your company.

The booking process went very well indeed, particularly as we had requirements that were out of the usual.

The transfers were generally very good.  We were particularly pleased with the transfer at Jo-burg as there was a 50 minute delay in getting off the flight from Paris, so the lady you had there for the transfer was invaluable.  We made the connection with only minutes to spare.  The internal flight transfers went perfectly.  We were particularly grateful for the assistance from the two ladies who took us from the Mowane Lodge to the border in getting us through the nonsense at the border, including a wait of about 90 minutes!  Incidentally, the charge for a visa at the border was not €30 as stated in your documentation but €50.  We could also have done without the hard sell about bungee jumps, helicopters etc. from the driver who met us at the border.

The one big annoyance about transfers happened at the airport at Livingstone.  There was complete chaos at the BA check-in desk.  Firstly, although we were booked club class, we were told that there was no priority boarding.  Then a group of 30 from South Africa were allowed jump the queue ahead of us.  When we eventually got to the desk after queuing for an hour and a half, I was told that 'that group could have been club class so they could come forward".  They were not booked club, but we were, so you can imagine our annoyance.

Oddballs was wonderful.  The service was excellent, the food was good, and the guiding very good indeed - a magical place, very well run.

Mowana Lodge is a lovely place, but i'm afraid that the service in the hotel itself was not of a standard that should be expected in such a place.  We had to wait over 2 hours for our room when we arrived, and had a similar wait for towels at the pool.  However, the game drives both mornings were very good.  We went on a river cruise the first evening on one of the smaller boats. It was excellent, with a wonderful guide; that Moses took us to the promised land.  I wish I could say the same for the cruise on one of the bigger boats the next evening; it paled by comparison, and the guide was totally disinterested.

The Kingdom Hotel was just okay.  The food was poor, and unfortunately we were not told until just before we left that there were other restaurants in the casino area.  We also had a somewhat unpleasant incident with a so-called guard.  When we went to go to the Falls, we were told that for our security we had to be accompanied by a guard.  He then took us off in the opposite direction to the area of the bungee jumps, gorge swing etc.

However, these were only minor irritants which did not really impinge on what was a great holiday, well organised and generally well executed.

Much thanks to all at Island-Safari.
David & Mary Hurley

November 2010
want to thank your company and particularly Alison De Bruyn for your wonderful service. Everything went perfectly and exceeded my expectations. First of all, Ali was a fantastic agent. She responded very promptly to my many requests and worked to make a perfect itinerary for my short trip.  As for the lodges, both Oddballs and Muchenje were excellent. My personal favorite was Oddballs, which was immaculately managed with the most incredible activities, delicious food, and an idyllic setting. Muchenje was also excellent though I personally preferred the more rustic Oddballs experience. I appreciated that Muchenje offered a full day safari, which many camps do not offer. In regard to the transfers, they could not have gone more smoothly.

Thanks again for everything.
Kayla Rosen

November 2010
I am very satisfied with Michelle's help booking my Blue Train trip. She was responsive, creative, friendly and professional. Bravo in every way!
Len Edgerly

November 2010
I am very satisfied with all the services, transfer and stays in both The Victoria Falls Hotel and The Hide Safari Lodge.
Thank you very much. Will def. come back and recommend Island-Safari to family and friends.

Best Regards,
Melie Toe

November 2010Just wanted to let you know that everything worked as planned and we very much enjoyed our trip, especially Chundwuka and Santawani Lodge.
The Air Botswana flight is actually going direct from Maun to Jburg, (from today) . Quite convenient at the end!
We will be sending you a few photos taken during this trip, and will be recommending your services to our friends and colleagues.
Thanks again and have a good weekend.
Paola & Jens Toepfer

November 2010
Thank you for arranging all the various elements of our trip to Zimbabwe and Botswana in October. The various transfers were effortless and our stay at Oddballs fantastic.

Thanks again.
Tracy Earwaker

November 2010
sorry about my late reply, but I have only recently returned from South Africa (Botswana was only the first part of my holiday) and wasn't able to reply earlier.
I was extremely satisfied with the service I received from your staff (Mandy), who also helped us find accommodation in Jo'burg before and after our trip.
All our transfers went smoothly without any problems or major delays.
Our stay at Santawani was outstanding. Whilst the accommodation was rustic, the friendliness of the staff and the quality of the game drives were absolutely fantastic! Being in a private concession meant that we could go off-road and also do game drives at night. We really enjoyed staying at Santawani and would go back there any time.
Oddballs Enclave was totally different from Santawani. We did not see a lot of game there but finding out about some of the plants and their traditional use was quite interesting. Overall, however, it's not a camp I'd return to in a hurry.
Xakanaxa Camp had the most beautiful accommodation of the three camps. Game drives were not as exciting as Santawani but that might have been just a case of bad luck. Management made it possible for us to go on an afternoon game drive rather than a mokoro ride on the second day of our stay, which was great.
 
Please let me know if you want more information.
Kind Regards
Uwe Ackermann

November 2010
We had a terrific time on our trip and all of the arrangements worked out beautifully. Claudia did an outstanding job for us and I would not hesitate to recommend her or Island-Safari’s to others. We loved both Pom Pom and Delta Camp, and being experienced African travelers we were very pleased with the level of service and professionalism of the guides and staff. I would say that Delta Camp is not for the timid at heart though we absolutely adored it. As access is by Makoro only and the hippos are aggressive you need absolute faith in the guide. Also as the chalets (we stayed in the tree house which is amazing) are completely open so if a guest is concerned about things that fly, slither, or just plain gambol about this may not be the camp for them. On the other hand, if you like a bit of adventure and you enjoy walking, this is a terrific choice. I would return without hesitation to both camps.
 
All the best,
Paul McDowell

November 2010
We had a delightful stay at the Royal Livingstone; we were met at the Livingstone airport upon our arrival and picked up two days later to return to the airport right on schedule. The visa information and activity information provided by Island Safaris was accurate and useful. The discounted hotel rate was also quite good. I would strongly recommend Island-Safari.com to others traveling to the area.
Richard J Carmel, MD

October 2010
Thank you for your email and for organising a wonderful tour for my wife and I.  Please see comments below:
 
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
Excellent service as usual.  I am very impressed with the way in which Louise Eksteen performs her role.  She is very professional, always honest, and has a sound understanding regarding what it takes to be a model travel consultant.  Her knowledge and understanding of our tour requirements was exceptional and she adds a personal touch which makes organising our trip very enjoyable.  Always ready to address any questions or concerns we may have, I have no hesitation in recommending Louise and Island Safaris to all of my friends and family.
 
The transfers you had
The only transfer we had was from Mfuwe airport to Flatdogs return.  The service was excellent.
 
Your stay at Flatdogs Camp
A wonderful camp with an excellent management team.  Jess is an excellent host and we were very happy with all arrangements.  The tents have lovely views over the river and the chalets are really nice for a longer stay.  Food was excellent and service was also very good.  The guides are of a extremely high standard and the game drives were fantastic.  The South Luangwa National Park is the best place in the world to see leopard and we will definitely be returning there in the near future.
Valji Varia

October 2010
That was a perfect trip into the Okavango delta. Nigel did a great job in answering all my questions always in a short time. The payment by credit card was easy and convenient as well. All the transfers were as expected and the stay at Oddballs was very comfortable.
I can really recommend this trip to everybody!

Thanks again,
Rainer Hochreutener

October 20101
* The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
- The service was good, which was the main reason why we selected Island-Safari.com.
We looked at a number of different agents/operators and in the end decided to go with the company that offered the best service.  The replies we received from Mandy were always prompt and informative.
The additional 5% discount was also appreciated and helped us made our final decision.
We would have liked to receive a cost breakdown of the entire itinerary, as I believe that transparency is important and good business practice.

  * The transfers you had.
- this is the only problem we had with Island-Safari. Two of the transfers had incorrect information on the itinerary and vouchers. Our transfer did not specify that meals would not be provided and the pick-up information was inaccurate. For example, the voucher stated that we were to be picked up at 10am from The Hide, but in fact, the pick-up location was at the Main Camp in Hwange. Fortunately, the staff at The Hide was aware and sent us to the Main Camp quickly, in time for the 10am transfer pick-up.

  * Your Northern Highlights Tour with Letaka
- Letaka was excellent. We had a wonderful time and truly impressed with the staff, the food, the guide. Everything was great. We appreciated the small size of the group, again, thanks to Island Safari for identifying Letaka as the right fit for us.

  * Your stay at Mowana Safari Lodge
- Average. Service was not very good. Food was not great. Rooms were spacious and clean. We didn't have high expectations as we knew it was a transit point for us, so it did the job.

  * Your stay at The Hide
- Very good. It was a great lodge. Very comfortable, private and good food. The service was great and the staff were very friendly and welcoming. We really enjoyed our stay there.

  * Your stay at Victoria Falls Hotel
- It was nice. The location was fantastic and the rooms were comfortable. Because it's an old heritage property, it had some things that needed upgrading, but we overlooked those small issues and really enjoyed our 1 night stay at the Hotel. It was a nice way to end our safari trip. Am glad that we booked 1 night only, as there was not a lot to do in Vic Falls, as we were not interested in the activities offered there.

Overall, we enjoyed our honeymoon Safari and would recommend Island-Safari. I've posted reviews of the above on TripAdvisor.

Thanks
Andrea and Paul Othen

October 2010
All our dealings with your organisation was with Louise, who we found to be most helpful and very prompt in all her replies.  We cant thank her enough for organising us a wonderful experience
 
We were very pleased with Outlook Safari’s, Our guide was Clive who  let us know he was on his way, and picked us up on time from Pretoria. We found him most helpful and Knowledgeable  throughout our Safari.  Also Mike who looked after us on our final day and returned us to Jo-burg, was most helpful .  Our accommodation at Skukuza was good, clean and comfortable. We had a great time.
 
We found Outlook Lodge very comfortable and François was most helpful and made us feel very welcome.  He also got us to the airport in plenty of time.
 
We would like to thank Louise, Clive, Mike and Francois for making it a most enjoyable experience, Thank you.
 
Kind Regards
Wendy + Pete Dyer 
 

October 2010
All arrangements made by Michelle went exceedingly well.  Chobe Safari Lodge and PomPom were our first destinations. Chobe Safari Lodge had lovely rooms, grounds and common areas (dining, bar, pool).  Chobe National Park game drives were of the mass market type...lots of vehicles and people but all in a beautiful place.  I should have asked a few more questions and learned ahead of time the option of a full day game drive...would have seen more animals and gotten away from the crowds.  We loved PomPom...its' remoteness and personal attention.  Tau Game Lodge was a lovely place with the water hole being very active one particular day.  We highly recommend Gerard as a guide to request at Tau...very knowledgeable and personable.  He put the guides at Chobe to shame!  At Chobe, we felt the guides were just drivers. Michelle had planned for a private driver to take us to Vic. Falls and Chobe Safari Lodge had a hard time understanding that and it took them a day to confirm those arrangements.  All other arrangements were perfect and all three accommodations were expecting us and were ready for us.
 
We will definitely recommend Island-Safari to anyone planning a trip to Africa.
Pete and Susanne Spandau

October 2010
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
The service provided by Claudia was great. She responded prompltly to all my enquiries. Well done.
The transfers you had.
Transfers worked out great. The different drivers were always waiting for us. Again, well done. Your stay at The Royal Livingstone Hotel Great Hotel, great staff, service, location, room. Very happy.
Your stay at Muchenje Safari Lodge Staff were great at Mujenje, the Game drives were good as well. We were given the honeymoon suite which was very nice. Only comment would be that the rooms / huts are a bit old compared to the other places we stayed at (and Mujenje was even more expensive than the other places). Also, the food was ok, nothing wrong, however compared to the other places rather average.
Your stay at Oddballs Enclave Overall, Oddballs Enclave was great, generally good staff, except our personal guide that took us on the Mokoro trips. His english skills were rather poor which made it difficult to communicate. Your stay at Emily Moon River Lodge This place was OUTSTANDING in every respect. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Steffen Sauerbrunn

October 2010
everything was perfect. thank you very much
Anver Barak

October 2010
Island-Safari service was very good -- knowledgeable, helpful and efficient.  The only problem was the inabiity of your automated system to accept my credit cards; although this was apparently because my banks would/could not confirm them, manual handling worked fine.
 
Thank you.
Larry Ruff

October 2010
We have returned from our wonderful vacation and everything went off without a hitch.  We really enjoyed all of the lodgings and really love the facilities at Kapama.  The trip you organized for us was exactly what we wanted.  We had the best time ever.  I want to thank you so much for all of your help and I will be highly recommending Island Safari and you to all my friends and family.  We could not have pulled this trip together without your great assistance.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!
 
Jana McClung
 

October 2010
It was all very well organised and went smoothly at all stages of transfer
The accomodation was exactly what we expected and the standard was very high.
We will certainly use you again in future and if you have any pre designed packages that you think might interest us in South Africa Namibia or elsewhere please send us details
Regards
Richard Herbert

October 2010
We returned from our trip to Livingstone and one day tour to the Chobe National Park with a great satisfaction.
The service you provided us was supurb. Especially you responded very quicly to our request so that we could arrange our
tour smoothly. And the Falcon Safari which transported us between the Hotel and the Airport was a excellent agent and kind.
We were especially content with the tour in the Chobe National Park with comfortable drive and good lunch.
 
As a whole, we appriciate your Island-Safari servicves, Oh yes, Hotel Zambezi Sun provided us with a first class services, needless to say its location.
 
Only thing we wanted to be informed beforehand was the fact that we should have gotten a double entry visa at the airport. Because we need three times visas between Zambia and Zimb. and Botswana. We simply got a single visa at the airport.
 
Thank you again and we recommend you to our friends who will go to the same destinations.
 
Sincerely yours,
Kazuhiko Koshikawa 

October 2010
Some feedback on the categories you mention:

Island-safari.com
We were very happy with the booking process. Claudia made things very clear, and very flexible. One point I would mention it is would be good to have more pictures of the various camps - not sure if you do already but that would have been helpful, thinking back to the time I made the decision easier.

Transfers
All fine, as expected

Delta Camp
Great, no complaints at all.
Linyanti
Great, no complaints at all.
Cade Cadogan
Great, no complaints at all.

Thanks
Geoff Hoare

October 2010
We arrived only few days ago at home. So I want to thank you very much for everything. It was a highlight during our holidays in Botswana and Namiba. Elize uprated us to the Delta Camp. It was a great stay there.
 
Your service was always excellent and I always got a quick reply when I had a question.
 
The transfer was also great, no problems and everything went very fast.
 
The stay at Delta Camp was lovely. The hole staff was very kind.
 
Kind regards from Switzerland and give also my regards to Elize
Marcel Heiniger 

October 2010
Patricia organised everything very well Transfers were all great, We absolutetly loved Victoria Falls Hotel, Kambaku lodge and Elephant Plains were both excellent and both different we were glad we did both, Kambaku was very personal and made you feel like part of the family and the food was great.
We were very impressed with Olivers so much so we thought it was the best food we had on our entire trip and we had a lot of good food.Our entire trip went without a hitch, Could you please pass on our thanks to Patricia.
Cheers Paul & Nancy Matheson

October 2010
Well we've been home for two weeks now and have somewhat begun to settle back into our daily routines. But we still have not been able to stop talking about our amazing trip! It was everything I could have hoped for and more! We loved every moment. Each stop was unique and truly special in it's own, unique way. Our accomodations at each stop seemed to be the best the camp/resort had to offer - affording magnificent views, the privacy we love, and exemplary service. Of special note:
 
1) Oddball's Camp - Tent #9 was a slice of heaven! What a great introduction to the Delta. We felt at home from the moment we arrived.
2) Mapula Lodge - Our two nights here cemented our immediate love of the Delta forever. Their tracker, Simon, and guide, Dicks gave us the most memorable game viewing experiences. Watching these two in action was as exciting as when we finally came upon the game - most notably a beautiful Cheetah! All of the lodge management and staff treated us warmly and we left considering them friends. I literally cried when we had to leave.
3) Muchenje Lodge - is truly to be commended for going above and beyond to please us. I'll be honest, after our experience in the Delta, we were instantly discouraged after our first afternoon drive through Chobe. Sadly it was reminiscent of driving through a wild animal park as opposed to the open feel of the Delta. The management, after hearing our concerns, arranged the rest of our stay to our liking. We spent the morning visiting an elder and her grandchildren in the local village, then were driven to meet up with the other guests on the river in the afternoon. Our final morning was spent on a walking safari. They could not have done more to ensure we had a personalized experience. We left feeling very fortunate for the memories we were given.
4) Azura Retreat - Truly beautiful and again exemplary service. But more than anything, it was our personal interaction with the people of this island that really moved us. Unforgettable!
 
Beyond the wildlife, landscape, accomodations, and people, the experience as a whole moved me in a way has been difficult to articulate to people who have not made the journey to Africa. It is with great gratititude that I thank you for your assistance in arranging this trip. I have returned to the U.S. feeling that Africa is home and look forward with a wondrous new perspective.
 
Sincerely,
Tiffany Lombardo

October 2010
We would be delighted to give our feedback on what was an amazing trip.
We would firstly like to thank Mandy who was fabulous. She gave some really good suggestions as to which camps to combine with which and some great alternatives when our first choices were unavailable - she was also extremely patient and prompt with our MANY queries!
Just a couple of small points. On the day we left the Zambezi sun we were picked up at 9 and arrived at Mowana lodge at 11ish but check in wasn't until 2pm - to be fair the lodge did get our room ready at about 1.30 which they didn't have to do but it would have been so much better if we had set off later from the Zambezi sun as there was lots we could have done there eg visit the falls again but instead we ended up hanging around at Mowana for a couple of hours or so. We knew the transfer was at 9 but had we known check in was at 2 at Mowana we would definitely have requested a later transfer as we had a really short time at the falls anyway. The other very minor point was when we were picked up from vic falls airport by Falcon safaris, it was quite a hard sell to book optional activites with them. To be honest we fully understand why they would do that but we had literally just arrived after travelling from the UK and simply wanted a transfer to the hotel. Other than that everything else went without a hitch. The pre departure information was excellent and everything was as Mandy had described. We would not hesitate to use Island Safari again. Thank you!
 
With regards to the accommodation i feel its pertinent to mention that when we travel we are usually back packing in fairly basic accommodation so what may seem luxurious to us may not to other poeple. so
The Victoria Falls hotel
We thought it was fab - faded elegance and a sense of history and nostalgia about it set in amazing grounds. Also it was a short stroll to the falls which made it an ideal location.
Zambezi Sun
Not really our thing as quite resort like however the grounds and proximity to the falls were huge plus points. On reflection the Royal Livingston was much more to our taste but we had requested the Zambezi sun due to its location and we were only there for one night.
Mowana Safari Lodge
We loved Mowana although it has to be said the safari activities were a little disorganised eg they over booked on the boat trip so had to bring lots of extra chairs from the restaurant onto the boat and the organisation of the games drives was a little chaotic. This actually amused us rather than inconvenienced us but i guess for the money you pay you would expect better organisation.
Oddballs
We can't say enough good things about Oddballs - obviously it was very basic and rustic but that just added to its charm. Our guide was superb, the setting was idyllic and the food and service were great - you felt at home.
Mapula Lodge
This was our favourite lodge and we were so sad to leave. The setting was amazing but it was really the atmosphere of the place (you felt like you were joining a family) and the quality of the guiding that made it stand out. The guides knew everything there was to know about the area and the creatures living in it.  We also loved the room and its use of natural materials - it was rustic luxury. we stayed for 2 nights but would recommend a longer stay to get the most out of it.
Safari Club SA
Lovely little place ideally situated for the airport. helpful staff
Benguerra Lodge
A fabulous way to end the holiday - attention to detail was amazing, food was superb and its on an unspoiled island with idyllic beaches and aquamarine sea - what more could you ask for.
Louise Morgan

October 2010
The booking process through Island Safari was excellent and I found Mandy to be efficient and helpful. On arrival we and the camp staff were confused by the fact that we had booked through Island Safari but were hosted by Africa Calls.
 
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at Xakanaxa Fly Camp and I would certainly recommend the camp. The tents were superbly positioned and comfortable and everything was set up and ready for us on our arrival.
Our driver was pleasant and tried very hard – his knowledge was adequate for our purposes but was some way off others that I have experienced. He was however willing to look things up and learn.
 
The camp staff and chef were also very pleasant and willing and the food was simple but more than adequate. We did feel that a few minor inexpensive upgrades would make a big difference. They were dressed in an assortment of clothing and a simple bush style uniform would be good. The available drinks were very limited and would have been warm had we not had our own fridges.
 
Notwithstanding these comments, the overall experience was excellent and met my expectations. I am copying this e-mail to others who were with us at the camp in case they want to comment further.
 
Kind regards
Nigel Tatham

October 2010
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour. - pretty good in general except for two things. First the flight VFA / JNB, client tried to make the online check in with the reservation number you gave us but when he did so it said "Reservation Cancelled". He got scared and called BA office in London and they said the booking had been cancelled and there was no other booking under their names for that flight. He called me and Nigel ended up sending me a diferent reservation number which was OK. Anyway because of the reply from BA the client got the impression that the booking had in fact been cancelled and if he hadn't contacted them/us he would not have taken the flight. The Second thing is the Pemba / Matemo connection, Claudia has all the details there;

The transfers you had. - OK

Your stay at One & Only Hotel- Very good experience

Your stay at Xaranna Lodge - Great overall stay. Service was impeccable, rooms and other premisses are very luxurious and very good safaris, the best experience they had

Your stay at Kwara Camp - the best safaris and good lodge. But the manager is not good, it made the stay not as good

Your stay at Victoria Falls Hotel - Good place to stay

Your stay at Matemo Island Resort - Very good experience with great staff and decoration of the hotel

Louise de Souza for the Michalski Family

October 2010
Our level of satisfaction during all the tour was high and simply using a score scale from 0 to 10 a can say :
The service received from Island-Safari.com during the booking process :  9  (many thanks to Claudia!!!)
The service from Island-Safari.com during the tour : I do not Know because we had any contact we island safari com during the tour.
The transfers we had : 9  (10 to Wild Orizons)
Our stay at The Kingdom Hotel  : 9
Our stay at Chobe Safari Lodge  : 9
Our stay at Pom Pom Camp : 10
Our stay at Deception Valley Lodge : 10 + + + + + + (fabulous!!!!!)
Rita Galbiati

October 2010
- service during booking with Carien was great- very responsive and really patient with us as we kept changing our minds.
- transfers were all fine including pick up from Johannesburg airport and all of the inter-lodge flights. The only problem we had was our flight with Air Botswana from Kasane to Johannesburg right at the end. The systems had gone down and they couldn't check anyone in. In the end they checked everyone manually which took a lot of time; we were lucky as the plane had gone by then but they re routed us through Maun and we arrived 2 hours late. Others were much later and went via Gabaronne. It was frustrating and a stressful end to our trip.
- Safari Club was very comfortable and we were well looked after. Having dinner in was easy, good bar and breakfast was great. The bathroom was looking a bit tired. It was a bit of shock seeing the security measures (our first visit to South Africa).
- Tao Pan - wonderful; fantastic location. Great room, lovely welcoming staff and great guides. Food was ok - perfectly adequate but other places we stayed were better. The one issue that arose was the day the lions bit through the water supply pipe cutting it off for several hours. In retrospect it was funny but it was frustrating at the time not least because the management were a bit evasive about the problem. Wildlife was harder to find than the other camps but we were still pleased we had gone.
Delta Camp - fantastic location and wonderful to arrive by mokoro. Elephants in the camp! Excellent food and great sitting out at night after dinner. Great wildlife and really peaceful with no motorised transport and a chance to walk around. 3 issues for us: (1) we were in a chalet furthest from the main lodge. With the elephants roaming around we felt a bit trapped and cut off when in our room. We had to wait for prearranged times to get to the lodge as there was no way of summoning help eg by walkie talkie; (2) The relationship between management and guides was much more distant than at the Kwando camps - we preferred the Kwando style; (3) on reflection we weren't overly comfortable in the exposed chalets. We did not feel in any danger but the first night was very noisy as we got to used to it; the second I was suffering from a cold and the third something was in the roof so we didn't get much sleep any night!
- Lagoon Camp - excellent. We like the Kwando style. Fantastic guides, really nice atmosphere, great wildlife viewing which the guides worked really hard to find. The tents are looking their age from outside (I gather they are due for replacement/refurb in a few months time) but inside were fine. Good food and lovely location by the river. Hard to fault and our favourite of the trip. The only downside we had was the last night when a large party of non-English speaking Japanese arrived which which upset the equilibrium of the place somewhat.
- Muchenje Lodge - fantastic wildlife viewing in Chobe. Lodge has great views. The rooms are relatively small and got very hot taking until the early hours of the morning to cool down. We felt the guides were (with one notable exception - a lady) "coasting" - the wildlife was so abundant they weren't trying very hard and were pretty arrogant. Food was only ok but plenty of it - wine was poor. Our overriding impression is that the place is not necessarily being run with the guests in mind. Not many smiles among the staff and some pretty officious attitudes. It took me a while to twig that really they base their activities around the full day drive; the others are basically squeezed around that; for example the morning drive only lasts 2.5 hours (meaning really only 1.75 hours in the park) so the guides can be back and ready to go for the full day at 10.00 - talk about "sweating the assets"!

Hope this helps. Happy to amplify on anything if necessary.

regards
Ian Dixon

October 2010
I already sent Elize, who organised the whole tour  a mail, thanking her for the excellent service we got through her. She replied to any mail immediately  and was a grat help in choosing the perfect tour.
All transfers were exaxtly on time - the moment our plane landed, the Jeep from the lodge was there to pick us up and vice versa.
All flights were smooth  and  we thought it was a grat idea to stay always only 2 days at the lodges as like this we were able to see so different lodges in such a short time. The lodges usually have 3 excursions  - so when we arrived around lunchtime we always had the afternoon activity and next day's activity and then left for the next lodge.
Sossusvlei was most luxurious, in Wolwedans we had the luck to get the suite , which was marvellous, Mowani was real pittoresque, Onguma was just great!
I also loved Delta Camp very much, as it was so different- we enjoyed the game walks there ( that was the only place ,where we had walks instead of drives) and the Okavango Delta  is even more nature as Namibia. Mapula had excellent food, was not so elegant as the Namibian lodges , but it had definitely charm  and we found  the diversity of the lodges so stimulating.
 
Zambezi Sun was O.K., we went over to the Royal LIingstone often, which is of course more beautiful  ( but also more expensive!).
 
So we can recommend Island- Safari to everyone - we were most satisfied!
 
Best Regards
Karin Wilhelm

Ocrober 2010
I recently completed a visit to Southern Africa, arranged for me by Louise Eksteen.  The trip involved visits to Sabi Sands, the Kalahari, the Okavanga Delta, Chobe, the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, and Okonjima Lodge and Etosha, as well as a week in Cape Town and a trip on the Blue Train.
   
Louise did an incredibly outstanding job putting this tour together.  The number of hotels, guest lodges, flights and transfers was considerable and everything was "spot on"; not one connection nor flight was missed  and not one accommodation was other than she represented.
     
Louise is to be commended for making this trip worry-free and extremely enjoyable.  You are fortunate to have an employee as competent and dedicated as Louise.   I am sure I was a difficult customer while putting this tour together, but Louise exhibited extreme patience answering every question, allaying every fear and ensuring nothing went wrong.

Based on Louise's performance you may be certain I will be recommending your organization to my friends who may be considering a trip to Africa.  

Best Regards  

John R. Urofsky

October 2010
The service from island safari was excellent. I dealt with Mandy and she was VERY helpful and prompt in replying to my emails. The trip went exactly as planned by her.There were no problems with bookings or connections or payments. I would certainly use your services again and recommend you if the situation arises.
 
Re Macatoo and Delta Air.
Delta Air were very efficient and punctual.
 
Macatoo Camp was fantastic. I cannot think of a single bad thing to say about the place or the staff, and the horses were wonderful. It was really special being in such an isolated part of Africa but in such wonderful comfortable surroundings. I LOVED the bush noises and animals at night. The accomodation was luxurious tenting which seemed really amazing to me, being a basic tent /camping person. Almost my favourite part of the "day" was getting into bed, tired from the riding etc,and listening to the sounds of the bush around me, wondering what was going to walk past or roar/bellow/snort, etc. The food was excellent, the staff were ALL wonderful and the horses were truely amazingly fit and well mannered. The fellow visitors were all very friendly and we all ate with and mixed happily with the guides and some of the other staff at meal times, which just added to the experience. the riding was strenuous and very different- moving fast through a lot of water, and so a lot of fun.  I haven't mentioned the game viewing! This was very different to game the viewing that I had seen in the more popular game reserves in the previous 2 weeks. The animals were much less used to human contact and so it was a special experience. I was fortunate to have an excellent, very knowledgeable guide. Sorry to be so long winded- obviously I enjoyed the holiday!!
Regards,
Vicki Onus

October 2010
Please pass on my thanks to all concerned in organising our recent stay at the Victoria Falls Hotel.  Good food, good beer/G and T/wine, super excursions and airport transport spot on time if not early.

Thanks,
Sandy Simpson

October 2010
Good morning from Guatemala,

just got home yesterday and will gladly provide some feedback.
Dealing with Mandy at Island Safari was a very positive experience. She came across as friendly, knowledgeable, sending suggestions and answers
in a professional and timely manner. From her answers it was always clear that she had the previously discussed details in mind and that made her
stand way out.

All our transfers were on time, all pilots, guides, trackers, camp personel, everybody was unfailingly courteous and carful of our well-being.
Having lived in a third world country for most of my life I could hardly believe the discipline and order evident at  every single connection in  Botswana
 - one of the pilots actually apologized for being there 8 minutes early and making us wait (in the shade, with a bottle of water) for the guide.
Factoring in the vast and empty land we were traveling in it was mindboggling.

The lodges were as comfortable and welcoming as promised , the activities were interesting and we felt in very good hands. While  everybody made us
feel welcome , Ms. Lettie at Xakanaxa Camp stood out as a very pleasant cross between a kind hostess and a mother hen.

Mapula was a bit  more rustic than the other two lodges and while I understand that it is further away and more difficult to supply I feel that some smallish improvements would go a long way.
The guides were doing double duty in the evenings, getting drinks and getting up from their dinner to serve  wine around the table, which came across as the lodge being short on staff.
Since the generator runs for fairly short periods of time drinks were usually not really cold and compared to the bounty at the other lodges the supply seemed limited. A small solar collector on
the roof of each room would enable the use of a fan during the daytime. The pool is in full sun, sitting around during the noontime hours is not an option. Most guides wore shirts with holes
in them, and while they were clean and pressed the same shirt was worn everyday. As I said, no big deal and easily remedied.

All in all we had a wonderful time and can recommend you and especially going on Safari in Botswana wholeheartedly.

best regards
Gunhild Bostelmann

October 2010
as promised I wanted  to tell you how much we enjoyed our trip! Everything was just perfect and the organization couldn't have been better. We didn't have to wait for one minute - everyone was always at time. We loved Africa and whenever we plan to come back we surely will plan it with you. We will recommend your services wholeheartedly.  
Thanks again and all the best  
Karin and Paul Bratusch-Marrain

October 2010
Overall, our satisfaction with Island-Safari is very high. Our consultant, Patricia, was excellent and provided very good advice and attention to detail throughout the booking process. She was patient with all of our questions and responded to any request for changes. We particularly appreciated her knowledge of Botswana and ability to provide information about locations and lodges that guided our choice of accommodation.
 
All transfers except one worked well - we were very impressed with this part of the service. At Waterfront Village Apartments in Cape Town, the transfer to the airport did not go according to plan (the driver had forgotten the arranged pick-up time) but was rectified following two phone calls.
 
Sussi & Chuma - excellent stay. We enjoyed the quality of the accommodation and meals. All arrangements for visits to the falls and the river were very efficient.
 
Muchenje - also excellent. Common facilities and wildlife drives/river trip were very good. Staff also excellent. A very congenial atmosphere.
 
Litle Kwara - our favourite camp - great style, good meals and congenial staff. As we noted in our comments to management, however, they urgently need to improve the quality of their safari vehicles - there were frequent breakdowns leading to some marginally unsafe circumstances. The staff, confidentially and professionally, expressed the view after one such incident that this was a problem for them. I intend to write to Kwando Safaris to express this view. 
 
River Crossing - fine for our purposes (a one night transit stay) but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone wanting to stay in Windhoek as it is a bit far out. Very pleasant nevertheless and suited us well as we were able to avoid driving through the city on our way north.
 
Ongava Lodge - a beautiful lodge and probably the highest quality of any we stayed in. There was some confusion about what was included here as our vouchers incorrectly stated that we were on a DBB rate. I corrected this later with Florida in Windhoek who refaxed corrected vouchers and it didn't present any serious problem.
 
Olive Grove Guesthouse - we enjoyed Olive Grove very much. The room was excellent and large and the staff  helpul with restaurant bookings and other information. The location is convenient.
 
Kulala Wilderness Camp - we were there only briefly but enjoyed the stay, including the meals and the game drive. Didn't seem to have the quite the same ambience as other camps but that may have reflected the guests more than the staff.
 
Kulala Desert Lodge - again, an excellent experience. We loved the location, meals were good and trip to the dunes outstanding. Satff very helpful and friendly.
 
Waterfront Village Apartments - we enjoyed staying in an apartment and looking after ourselves after almost three weeks in lodges - a good recommendation by Patricia. The apartment was beautiful and the location great. 
 
As you can see from the above, we have returned very happy and impressed that all the details of the trip worked out so well. We plan to return to Africa in two years and would happily use Island-Safari as our agent again.
 
Yours sincerely
Karen Schneider

October 2010
I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude.  The whole itinerary that you put together for us was wonderful.  The biggest surprise was that Santawani Camp was my favorite!  And Camps Bay Retreat was a beautiful and relaxing way to end our vacation.  I can't say enough about Africa and how magical and wondrous it is, except, I'll be back for more!
 
Thank you so much for your efforts.
Thanks again!
Best-
Karen Bringola

October 2010
Just a quick note to thank you for organising the Victoria Falls Hotel and airport transfers.  We got back home yesterday from our holiday and your part of it worked perfectly – thank you.

Regards,
Sandy Simpson

September 2010
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour. - We are happy to provide feedback on our recent trip through southern Africa.  Michelle provided excellent and timely suggestions during our 18 month planning process and she tolerated my constant stream of questions!  Our only disappointment we not being able to meet Michelle face-to-face during our travels and thank her personally for all she did to create such a memorable experience.

The transfers you had. - All of the transfers worked flawlessly!  We had four commercial flights, six light aircraft charter flights and about six different road transfers during our three weeks and each one of them was perfect!  The planes and vehicles were comfortable and the pilots/drivers were excellent.  It was such a treat to see our names on a placard as we arrived at each airport and to be whisked away along with our luggage to the next adventure. 

Your stay at Zambezi Sun Resort Hotel was a perfect first stop - attractive, comfortable and conveniently located for viewing the falls from the Zambian and Zimbabwe sides.  The zebras and giraffes on the grounds were a great introduction as to what we would see at the various lodges.  It was a great location for jet lag recovery!

Your stay at Muchenje Safari Lodge was a wonderful introduction to game drives and being "on safari!"  Our guide, Lips, was terrific and we were lucky to meet the two couples from the UK who started the lodge about 20 years ago.  The accommodations, food, friendly staff and the location were all great - plus the animal sightings were some of the best we encountered in variety and quantity.  We especially enjoyed the boat cruise and the many birds we saw along the way.

Your stay at Pom Pom Camp was an authentic setting.  We enjoyed relaxing in the spacious main lodge and the tented room was exactly what we expected of a place in the middle of the Okavango Delta.  We had many exciting moments during our three day stay - our guide Partner never failed to find something special for us to see on each drive.   The grand finale was a fabulous sighting of a leopard in a tree - what more could we have asked for!  The food was especially delicious and the entire staff knew us by name within the first day.  We also enjoyed meeting our fellow guests and the relaxed atmosphere that prevailed.

Your stay at Baine's Camp was far more luxurious than we expected.  The small intimate nature of the lodge gave us ample opportunities to learn about his life in Botswana, about the birds of the delta and tidbits about the plant life from our excellent guide Kot.  The boat rides through the waterways provided excellent birding and a great change of pace from the game drives.  The water levels at Baines were extremely high which caused difficult road travel to and from the airstrip and greatly dispersed the animals.  We did not see the wide variety of game but we had very interesting encounters with hyena pups and giraffe, as well as the excitement of driving through rivers of high water.

Your stay at Olive Grove Guesthouse was perfect for our one night stay.  The rooms were well appointed and a stark contrast to the lodge environment.  Having a delicious dinner at the guest house was extremely convenient and it was nice to have a quiet and restful night without hippo and elephant noises during the night!

Your stay at Kulala Desert Lodge was the perfect setting for seeing the Sossusvlei area - we were right in the middle of the desert very close to the entry gate to the national park.  Our guide William was delightful in teaching about desert plants, his click language, and the geology of the ancient desert. The dunes are without compare for beauty and photography.  Although there were few animals we did see many ostrich, oryx and springbok.  The lodge staff provided entertainment one night that was enjoyed by all and the pool was a welcome relief after the heat of the desert.

Your stay at Waterfront Village Apartments was another perfect respite from early morning drives.  The spacious two bedroom, two bath apartment was beautiful and perfectly located at the V&A Waterfront.  We enjoyed excellent dinners in several restaurants within walking distance of the apartment and the convenience of having a washer, dryer and kitchen was terrific.  During our stay in Cape Town our guide, Andy Rice, was a wealth on knowledge about the history of South Africa, the plant life, and the birds and animals.  We had a great city tour and then a full day of stops on the Cape Peninsula.  It was perfect!

Your stay at Phinda Vlei Lodge was over the top for us since we had been upgraded from Phinda Forest Lodge.  It was a very luxurious setting to enjoy amazing wildlife under the guidance of Martin and Josiah.  We saw amazing variety from our spacious room and the game drives were extremely productive.  The grand finale of our three weeks was witnessing a kill by two cheetah right before our eyes.  It did not get any better than that.  The Phinda reserve provided a variety of critters and habitats.

Without question that was a trip of a lifetime for the four of us traveling together.  The lodges, the guides, the transports, and the sightings were amazing thanks to the efforts of Michelle and Island-Safari arrangements and services! 
Willis Binnard

September 2010
I just want to shoot you an email about our recent vacation. As you are aware, we traveled a long way and spent a decent amount of money. All I can say is it was FANTASTIC.  My wife and I just loved the itinerary you helped plan.  
We are sure every traveler has their own expectations of a vacation and their own preferences. We are no different. We thought the Zambezi Sun was nice but was a bit too much of a “resort”  for our  taste. However, I am not complaining. It did provide easy access to Vic Falls and offered us an opportunity to go rafting  down the Zambezi… All we can say is WOW… what a ride. We especially enjoyed Elephant Valley Lodge, OddBalls, and Santwanti.  ….. Each camp offered their own unique flavor and offered us different experiences(which is what we wanted). The one thing they had in common was a friendly staff and we had a great time at each.  With no exceptions,  we the found the guides to be funny, attentive, personable, and professional.  The wild life viewing was spectacular(better than I  imagined). Before we left, a big concern was the logistics of getting to and from the different camps in such remote areas. We found the travel to be flawless and  exceeded our expectations.  We were also concerned about dining. We like to eat. Again we  found the food and drink were good and there was plenty of it.  
Now we need to start saving for the next trip to Africa. We will call you when we are ready.  Thanks so much for you advice, patience, and professionalism. We really enjoyed or first trip to Africa.    
Joe and Cindy O'Leary
San Jose, California

September 2010
The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.

Excellent -- we couldn't have been happier with Mandy.  She answered all our questions - the important ones and even all the little "what if" questions.  We mentally thanked her time and time again throughout our travels as all the travel arrangements and transfers went like clockwork.

The transfers you had.

They worked perfectly but we were shocked when we had Falcon Safari drive us into Livingstone from the Zambezi Sun and they charged $15 p/p each way!   We would have thought that since they were one of your preferred vendors that the price would have been more favorable.  The hotel told us a taxi was about $10 but Falcon told us when they first dropped us off at the hotel to call them if we wanted to go anywhere.  A $60 tab for a ride to and from town was shocking.  Mandy checked into this when I told her about it after we got home and found out that is the standard charge.  My advice?  Take a Taxi!

Your stay at The Safari Club SA - We didn't particularly care for hotel.  The rooms were sparsely furnished, there were no amenities, like Kleenex or even one extra towel -- there were lights burned out in the bathroom.  There was a walkway that was right outside the bathroom windows.  If we had known, we probably would have just stayed at a hotel at the airport.  The front desk was very helpful in suggesting a place to go to shop.  They directed us to the Gautrain and we went to Sandton.

Your stay at Okavango Horse Safaris - What can I say about this experience?  One of a kind. Excellent. Loved it.  A life changing experience.  What a way to live - My dream vacation come true.

Your stay at Victoria Falls Hotel - So much fun.  While the hotel room itself needed some "dusting off" when we first arrived, the staff responded quickly to our concerns.  Dining was wonderful out on the Terrace.  Wonderful ambiance.

Your stay at Zambezi Sun Resort Hotel - Only there for two night.  Very nice resort.  The zebra came to graze on the front lawn and the monkeys are hilarious.  Food was good.  Staff was excellent. 

Elaine Schaefer

September 2010
A HUGE thank you for your suggestion of Matemo and for the excellent arrangements.  Everything went like clockwork.
It’s a magical island and we had a super time – will certainly recommend both you and the destination to friends!
A big hug for that!
Kind regards
Penny Dickson

September 2010
The trip was incredible. Thank you so much for putting it together. The booking was easy, the lodges (Muchenje and Xakanaxa) were incredible, and the transfers were smooth.
 
I would definitely use you again or recommend you to a friend.
Carrie Kovarik 

September 2010
I was very happy with the service I received from Island Safari.  It can be scary booking a trip in a foreign country but I ended up being very pleased with the results and service I received from Island Safari.
 
The Waterberry Lodge was a wonderful choice.  I had a great stay there and the staff was very friendly and attentive to all my needs.  I personally enjoyed staying at the lodge but I think that due to the intense jungle surroundings of the lodge this might not be the choice for everybody.  I was a little shocked at first by the enormous spiders in the area but after being told they were harmless I stopped worrying.
 
All transfers were handled by the Waterberry lodge and I was very happy with them.
 
One thing that could have been handled better by Island Safari was the make-up of the people in my group.  I was traveling with a male friend.  The information that the Waterberry Lodge was given said that it was me +1 and they assumed that I would be traveling with my wife.  So when we first arrived they had to rearrange our accommodations so that we didn't have to share a bed.  This didn't occur to me when I was making the reservations and I think it would be a good question to ask when staying at a lodge like the Waterberry where they cater to each individual guest.
 
Thanks,
Andy Moriarty

September 2010
Well we had a fantastic safari!!!!
Thank you for all your help in putting it together.

Each camp was incredible.
The guides great.
We had Doctor at Santawani.
I will have to say that the best game viewing was here.
And as you said, their hospitality was wonderful.

Also we had Isaac at Linyanti Bush Camp.
He said he knew you.
He was one of the best guides we ever had--a true bush man.

The experience at Ntwala and Tongabezi was quite a bit slower than we were used too.
It was hard to come back into a more civilized areas from the deep bush.
That said, we had wonderful and memory filled experiences at both camps.
At Ntwala we finally had our full day on the Chobe River.
It was great!!!
Birds and elephants crossing the great Chobe.
One of my favorite ways to spent a Saturday (in the park).

Tongabezi was wonderful.
We stayed in the tree house.
We loved it, but the smell of sewage from the above chalet was at times rather strong.
We let management know.
The guide said that he heard this complaint from others.
However we were able to see the African Finfoot here.
A very shy bird that is difficult to see, and a first for us.

Joanne has just now asked that I tell you her opinion on Ntwala.
I will concur in this.
Ntwala should be recommended for those who like to fish.
The Zambezi river was filled with only fishermen.
It was like the boys day out.
No one else, just lots of men fishing, everywhere.

For those that what to be on the Chobe, it is a lot easier to be at one of the great lodges in Botswana.
Also, the guide could not go into the Botswana side of the river where a lot of wildlife comes down to the river from the park.

Anyways, it was a fantastic time and it is very hard to be back home.
My Mother and Father are in very poor health, so for now I am holding off on planning for the next trip.
But Joanne wants to go to Madagascar and to Zim.
Do you think this is a good combination?
Is it safe at this time to go to these countries, or should we wait.

Also have you heard of a S.African musician called Sweet Melodious or Sweet Melody?

Warm Regards,
David Hetzel

September 2010
great trip, all went well

cheers
Ngaire Caruso

September 2010
To sum up our dealings with Island Safari and our stay in Victoria Falls Hotel:
• The service you received from Island-Safari.com staff during the booking process and during your tour.
Nigel was very efficient, helpful and informative. Came across as a very straightforward, professional, honest and trustworthy person. The booking process was done very speedily and all my queries were answered promptly. Went out of his way to reassure us on immigration and vaccination requirements and he was spot on all the issues. It was a pleasure dealing with Nigel.
• The transfers you had.
•The transfers were very good, picked us up on time, checked us through immigration - made sure everything went well without a hitch. The driver was very courteous, informative and polite. Made us feel very welcome.
Your stay at Victoria Falls Hotel: Everything we expected of a grand and colonial hotel. Rooms were clean, grounds were magnificent, food fantastic and the staff very courteous. The hotel is steeped in history and we enjoyed being part of it. Being close to the Falls was an added bonus. Just loved it all.         
I would highly recommend Island Safari for all your travel needs. We will definitely use your services again for our next trip.
Kind Regards
Aruna Ravindran

September 2010
I would be happy to let you know that Michelle took very good care of my son and I during our recent travels to Chobe/Vic Falls and Cape Town, particularly Stellenbosch.  She found us very competitive prices and made all arrangements in a timely manner.  I will definitely be working with her in the future for my travel plans and I am passing on her information to friends.
 
Our visit to Mowana Lodge in Kasane started off a bit rough.  Upon arrival at the lodge at 11:00 the desk personnel told us the rooms were not ready and that check in time was at 2:00.  Rather than giving us information on what to do while we waited for 3 hours, I had to ask several questions to find out where we could sit, get a drink, book our afternoon river cruise, have lunch, find the curio shop, etc.  Once the room was ready at 2:00, we discovered they had booked one single suite rather than two interlocking suite rooms as Michelle had requested.  I sent an SMS to Michelle and she contacted the manager who took care of the problem.  From then on the stay was delightful and everything went as expected.
 
Our stay at 22 Die Laan was wonderful.  Everyone there was most accomodating and the rooms were exceptionally nice.  I would highly recommend the guest house to others.
 
Thanks again to Michelle for putting everything together for us. 
 
Linda Baar

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