An experience out of the ordinary. We set off in canoes guided by our own poler person, about 1.5... read more
An experience out of the ordinary. We set off in canoes guided by our own poler person, about 1.5... read more
The chalets are spacious and comfortable, with indoor/outdoor showers that make you feel refreshed... read more
This was a very unique way of spending a day. You may or may not see animals, but need to be open-minded about the environment. You guide can tell you about the trees, plants and even dung and how it was or is used.
We were fortunate (with Ronnie) to see elephants, giraffes, hippos, zebras and some interesting antelopes. We learned a lot of information about how the land and resources have been used by both the animals and people in the area.
The mokoro (boat) transport was extremely relaxing. You basically have to relax because you shouldn't move around much in them. The "poler" is your guide and your means of getting to the island for your walk (we got about 5 miles in) and for your lunch.
What bothered me some had nothing to do with our guide or the mokoro trip at all. It was the check in process at the camp. I found the manager(?) owner(?) fairly rude toward his employees, not particularly helpful, more bothered (part 1). There was some trouble getting our credit card to process, so he took over and led us to the bar area (passing by the mens' camp restroom that smelled horrid). From there, we were given a rundown of what to expect of this daylong event. Then we were sent with Bruce to the actual site.
Bruce, our driver, was great and is a former resident of the village that makes up the mokoro "staff" of polers/guides. Lunch is provided once you finish your walk on the island. Though we were there in winter, it heats up during the day and you're in full sun. We were given a liter of water to carry on our walk. (Part 2) Ronnie, our poler had no water. When we finished our walk, our cooler was waiting under a tree in the shade and we were to eat the provided lunch. There was no plate for Ronnie, but enough food for us. There were two more liters of water. We insisted that Ronnie eat and take one of the waters. He took the utensils and plate to the water to wash them and then ate. Perhaps it's the way things are done, but it was bothersome that the person doing all the work wasn't considered. Upon our return to the camp site, where our car had been parked (in the designated parking spot), a man urged us to move it. He seemed to imply that we had been there long enough. It was the only car there and was not interfering with anything. Not sure what the harm was or why it could be an issue.
This was an entire afternoon excursion.
Hello Heather H.
Thank you for your review and i am sorry that my response is very late.
I will take this matter up with our Managers concerning the Credit Card Payment. I know we were experiencing some difficulties with credit cards at that time (internet issues). It is however all sorted now.
With regards to the Mokoro Guide.
In order for us to be allowed to use that part of the delta we have to make use of the local community that live in that part of the delta and as such they are not staff of Delta Rain. I think that it was very kind of you to share your lunch with Ronnie. However the agreement/standard procedure is that they are to cater for themselves.
This may or may not have been explained in the briefing before you went on this excursion. I will also take this matter up with our Managers.
We are happy that enjoyed the overall experience.
Gerald.
An experience out of the ordinary. We set off in canoes guided by our own poler person, about 1.5 hours thro the delta we came to our camp. Tents with two camp beds complete with duvet.
Food was cooked by our guides and was ok .
on the second morning we went on game walks in three groups.We were told that these groups would be doing one hour two hour and three hour walks. Being over 70 we opted for the one hour walk.It was very hot and for some unknown reason our guide took us on a four hour walk, probably further if we hadn't told him we wanted to return.We saw elephants ,zebras,hippos and lots of deer type animals.
Unfortunately our long walk in 30 c temp wiped us out for most of that day.
During the night we could hear nearby lions roaring .
Dear Sir.
Thank you for your review.
I will include this in my report back to the community Polers. However I am sure that due to the amount of game seen on the walk this could have caused some delays.
Thank you for the feedback, i hope you enjoyed the rest of your trip and are home safe.
:)
Having had the opportunity to travel and experience many different safari operations around the continent, I found our recent Delta Rain (delta) experience in December to be extremely gratifying. As we were traveling with young children (12 and 8yrs) I was very hesitant and concerned but found the staff, community polers and safari lead extremely professional in all aspects, very knowledgable and tentative to all our needs. Great game viewing and the food was amazing. Excellent value for money! highly recommended for any visit to Maun
Dear Gwheeler 74.
We are thrilled that you enjoyed your trip
Thank you for your kind review and we hope to see you back in Africa in the near future.
Terrible value for money. The first day consisted in a mokoro trip to the camp (50 min, simply beautiful, that's the truth) and a one hour walk in the bush. The second day wasn't much better. The lack of motivation of our guide was frustrating and it was a real pity to be sitted by the tent doing nothing but thinking in the hundreds (literally) of dollars we could have use in a much better way. Seriously consider other options before booking anything with Delta Rain. And spend two nights in their camp is a mad decision: nothing to do or watch there.
Hi Mr Victor M.
we are terribly sorry you didn't enjoy your Delta Trip with us. there are a few points that i would like to inform you of.
1 The guides that handle your trip are not employed by Delta Rain. In order for us to make use of the beautiful Delta area that you were in we have to make use of the local villagers to create employment. ( I will however take this up with the concession management)
2 I'm not sure who the agent was that did the booking for you but generally the only activities we are allowed to offer on these trips is guided walks, and Mokoros.
3. The guides themselves are normally a jovial and friendly group of people. At times they are quiet shy(which might come across as unmotivated). they might not be botanists but they do have a vast knowledge of their area which they grew up. perhaps if you engaged with them you might have enjoyed your excursion.
4. Learning how to Mokoro is also huge amounts of fun.
If there was anything to with the camp itself, please let me know.
safaris@deltarain.com
We traveled with Delta Rain for a 5 days safari from Kasane to Maun. The first day we had supposed to meet our driver and assistant around noon (to have time to check the equipment and buy the food for the 5 days camping in the park) but they arrived 2 hours and an half late because they had a problem with the 4x4 we supposed to use during our trip and they had to fix it in the better way they could.
The agency owner, Gerald, was aware of the problem of the car, but he didn't do anything about it.
The second day of trip we got stuck in the sand, during a transfer from one camp to another. The two amazing guys (Jack and Joseph) worked hard for three hours trying to free 4x4 and trailer, but everything was useless. So we decided to call Gerald with the satellite phone to ask for help, around noon. He didn't do anything, despite he knew the car has already had problems two days before . We finally managed to move at least the 4x4, leaving the trailer behind,and the two guys brought us to the first park gate. Since, at the gate, the Wildlife office didn't have any 4x4 available, and Gerald didn't even think to send another car, they decided to leave us with some luggages (to release the weight from the trailer) to the gate and came back to try to remove the trailer with all the other stuff (tents, water, food...)
At 16.30 still no one was back to the gate and we started to be worried of what could had happened to the two guys. Finally one of them came back walking, saying that the car was completely broken. Then we personally called again Gerald around 17.00 (who knew about our problems since noon and from other calls during the afternoon) and he said that he would send a car from Maun...that would take 5 hours!!!!
When we replied that he shouldn't let us in the middle of nowhere without water, food and tents, since at 18 pm is dark...he said "I am doing my best.This is all I can do, and anyway everybody got stuck in Africa"
I suggested him to call the closest lodge to ask for help, but since it was a really expensive lodge and, probably, he was afraid to have to pay the service he didn't call.
Luckily the girls working at the gate helped us,they called this Lodge (Ghoha Inn lodge) and they were so kind to come to help us. They arrived after few minutes and they went to collect our driver (who staid in the middle of nowhere alone with the car and trailer) and our stuff, so we were able to prepare the camp at ghoha gate and spend the night there inside our tents.
The car arrived after 10 pm that night and, despite their hard work, the guys managed to retrieve car and trailer just around 2 am.
So according to Mr Gerald we had supposed to stay in the middle of the park, without water and tents till 2 am...knowing that after 18 pm is dark...and it's not a zoo...it's a natural park with plenty of predators that hunt during the night...
When, at the end of the trip, we arrived to Maun Gerald's lodge, he didn't even show up or apologized.
Botswana is an amazing country and has an incredible population, so please go to visit it by relying on agencies with a proper organization and reliability!!
Mr Gerald doesn't deserve to be trusted!!
Dear Maam,
Thank you for your review, we take the good with the bad.
Again we are terribly sorry for your experience.
I am afraid that these situations do occur from time to time. Especially in the dry conditions that we face in Botswana. The sand does create all kinds of problems. Given the weight of the vehicle with a trailer behind it is inevitable that this will happen. No matter what type of vehicle you are in.
I am not sure who decided that the guide should leave you at the gate (a bad decision)
In my opinion you should have stayed with the guide.
I would also like to point out that the guide is freelance guide who is a hired professional who made some bad choices in getting the vehicle out from the sand. infact it was so bad that he had no other choice but to blame Delta Rain (egged on by you or the tour leader). As a trained professional guide with an assistant he should have the knowledge on how to retrieve the vehicle and trailer.
Planning your recovery from Maun..
First of all if the vehicle is stuck in the sand it is normally up to the guide to get it out.
We did infact hear that you were stuck at 12h00 (8 hours away from us). We started preparing for all eventualities but with the satellite tracker we could see that the vehicle was moving so we called it off. Of course it didnt help that he got stuck again. If the guide had listened to me at the briefing he actually would have avoided that road altogether and used a much easier road and this would not have happened.
I have phone call records, satellite records and emails to the lodge 45 km away to prove to you that we weren't just sitting around doing nothing. Another thing that didn't help was the fact that you were phoning every 5 minutes and swearing at me over the phone while i was trying to co ordinate all of this to get you out.
Trust me when i say that this was as bad for us as it was for you. We do try our hardest to avoid these situations.
Please let me know if you are planning another adventure in Botswana. we will gladly look after you.
We recently went on a one night accommodated delta excursion with Delta Rain and can highly recommend it! We were transported to the delta with a game vehicle from Sitatunga camp. Thereafter we went on a 40 minute Mokoro trip into the delta. The tented camp provided for very comfortable accommodation, even with a bush shower! We sat down to a three course dinner expertly prepared by the polers. We also went on two guided nature walks. This was a truly amazing way to experience the delta and I can highly recommend this company!