Name: Suzanne When Booked: Started inquiry December 2017, booked February 2018
Airline Flown: South African Airways – Business Class Sydney/Perth/Johannesburg/Livingstone Johannesburg/Perth/Sydney Review of Airline: A direct flight from Sydney would have been better but then we had to change airline Business class from Sydney was with Virgin, very comfortable, from Perth to South Africa, the flat bed was comfortable
Review of Trip: Firstly we went to Livingstone in Zambia & to the David Livingstone Hotel, very comfortable. We went on a river cruise that afternoon, which was ideal after a very long flight. Following day we did the helicopter flight over the Victoria Falls and through the gorge, what a highlight that was, recommend it to everyone. We moved the following day to the Sanctuary Sussi & Chuma Hotel, a very luxurious thatched roof cabin in African style. We did safari’s from the Hotel into the National Park.
We then crossed Zimbabwe and into Botswana and stayed at the Sanctuary Chobe Chilwero Hotel, next to the Chobe National park, which was one of the best as far as number of animals. We flew from Kasane Airport to the Okavango Delta in Botswana and on to the Sanctuary Stanley Lodge, more tent like accommodation, but again very comfortable and African luxury. We stayed 3-4 nights in each lodge We flew to Johannesburg, stayed overnight at an airport hotel, the Southern Sun OR Tambo, which was nothing special, the next day we had a 4 hour drive to Madikwe Reserve, where we stayed at the Sanctuary Makanyane Safari Lodge. This is one of the newer lodges in the group. We could have flown to Gaborone, the capital of Botswana and then only had a 1.5 hour drive to the lodge. Returned to Johannesburg by car and took the flight back to Australia the same day.
The trip was pure holiday and to do safari’s, however I could have done one less lodge and gone to Cape Town and had a look at the city and the wine districts surrounding the city. There is nothing to do in the lodges except the safari’s. Chobe Chilwero was probably my favourite, where I had a view from my cabin right across the Zambezi River, it was very beautiful.
The helicopter ride was a highlight The number of animals were saw and the closeness they came to us was amazing. Also how they live together, in such harmony. Our guides were wonderful and very informative. The lodge staff were very kind and helpful.
Booked with: Eclipse Travel and South African Airlines