Recent guests of Encompass Africa in Australia sent the following detailed feedback after their stays at Duba Plains and Selinda Camp in Botswana recently. Enjoy!

” Duba Plains was absolutely the highlight of the trip. The landscape, the wildlife, the camp were all truly special.  When we arrived we went for an afternoon drive and I jumped up with my camera in excitement at the very first bird I saw…I didn’t care what kind of bird it was, it was my first bird IN AFRICA!! Turns out it was the common little road runner, our welcome driver (Peter) seemed quite bemused with my slight over reaction.

We were also blessed to see lions feeding on a carcass that first evening.  As we rounded the corner, I am a little embarrassed to say (not understanding what happens on safari) that I saw a lion in the grass just ahead and squealed (without any regard for volume and disturbance of the cats) with joy telling mum to ‘quick quick, a lion, look’... Everyone else was quiet and no doubt rolling their eyes at my fervour.  As we went about another 2 meters, there were 6 other lions only meters from the car leisurely dining on their carcass. At this point, I realised I really needed to tone down my excitement a notch and that the animals are not going to run away at the mere sight of a vehicle.

We saw:

• Elephants (twice, lots and cute little bubs! I thought the herd were going to charge us at one point, heart was racing…a little)
• Giraffes
• Warthogs
• A super brief sighting of a honey badger, just the once towards dusk
• 7 lions feeding on buffalo carcass (they didn’t kill it, it died in a territorial fight with another buffalo)
• 2 lions mating (he seriously does not give that girl a break!)
• 5 lions on a mound looking for food (little bit scrawny)
• Buffalo
• Kudo, and all the other antelope type creatures that I don’t recall all their names
• LOADS of birds!!! Including my favourite little bird – lilac breasted roller.  There are so many varieties, it was awesome.
• Hippos in the distance
• Crocodiles (small but STILL A CROCODILE IN AFRICA)
• Beautiful sage, grasses, trees, waterways, lily

Selinda Camp was a stunning camp. Took the luxury up a level. Staff were glorious once more, with a few stand outs.  The tents and dining area exceptional lovely. Our guide was Mots who has been guiding there for 8 years, such a cool guy.

We had some good viewings. Just being in the open car was lovely though.

I was woken early one morning to hear rustling outside my tent. Half alseep I opened the door and headed on to the deck, with a little less regard for my safety than perhaps was wise without knowing what was out there. A couple of meters away was a beautiful big elephant (my other favourite African animal) eating off a tree right in my face. He sauntered over to then stand across my stairs and path with his bum almost touching my tent.  It was a beautiful quiet moment just sitting out there with him (poised to launch myself over the other side of the deck if he so much as glanced at me).

We saw:

• Elephants
• Hippo (much closer, somewhat scary)
• Giraffe
• Leopard tortoise
• Zebra
• Wildebeast
• Warthogs
• Hyena
• Vultures, Eagles, loads of other birds including the Secretary Bird.
• I also asked if we could go fishing instead of a drive on our last morning, caught 2 lovely fish, took them back to camp where they were then prepared for us as lunch! “

Kylie English, Queensland Australia