Kay’s visit to Chiefs Camp
Who said that game viewing in green season isn’t outstanding?
Here is Kay’s feedback from her recent 2 night stay at Chiefs Camp (Sanctuary Retreats) on Chiefs Island in the Moremi Game Reserve:
“Well believe it or not I got a first !!!!! I actually saw the BIG 5 !!! after 40 years in Botswana..WOW that was amazing !!!
Although we did slightly cheat & saw the Buffalo from the plane on the way home, but regardless we saw them ….”
a rare sight in Botswana – Rhino at Chiefs Camp
Positives:
1: Guiding was excellent !!!, we had a guide called Sky for the duration & he was great. Not full of his own importance & bad jokes, that is unfortunately becoming common in many camps, but full of knowledge & certainly tried very hard to please .
2: Management & staff, could not have been more accommodating & pleasant. Always around & ready to serve, but not in your face so to speak. On chatting to different members of staff, most had been with Sanctuary for + / 3/4 years, so that says a lot .
3: Food was outstanding …I am a very picky eater, as you all know, but there was so much choice, nobody could ever complain & it just kept coming. We were there on 26th which was Thanksgiving & joys, we had a camp full of Americans, so the staff actually did Roast Turkey as one of the choices, which was very impressive….
4: Tea & coffee with a very friendly wake-up call ….YES !!!
5: Free 10 minute amazing foot massage at the Spa – all guests get this, what a treat.
6: Campfire every night, whether we sat around it or not, the ambience is there
7: Location, very dry at the moment, tiny water hole in front of the camp & infact very little water anywhere. We drove right up to the Mombo border & all the channels were bone dry. The concession is so diverse, with flood plains, palm islands etc as well as the normally dry inland sections, definitely an amazing area & never boring …..I will just have to go back & see it in full flood.
8: GAME: wow !!!!, although in all honesty we did not see huge quantities, apart from Zebra (several large herds) and the ever present Impala, it was all so relaxed & quiet happy to let you get up close & personal. Some of the game has moved off according to Sky, Leopards have disappeared as the Baboon population has trebled & Wild dog / Buffalo have not been seen for a few weeks……he feels it will all return with the rains / Floods.
Then the ultimate, Rhino, not just 1 but 2 different Males, what an amazing treat. I did see a couple in Chobe back in the 70’s but nothing since, so this was an amazing bonus & so unexpected ….
Lion, I think we counted about 15, 1 Lioness on her own eating a large Tortoise, very gruesome, but very unique. Sadly only 1 Leopard, but she posed beautifully. Surprisingly very few Elephants, apparently they have also headed south for water. But all in all amazing good quality game.
9: Flights in & out with Mack Air. Short & Sweet, perfect for me !!
We were treated to a luxurious sundowner at Chiefs Camp
Negatives:
1: Rooms, not so great….I feel they were dated & quite small for a premier camp. Although the bathrooms were very nice & spacious, they look as though they have been recently revamped.
The rooms had 2 very stiff armchairs that were very uncomfortable, Overhead & free standing Fan, a fully stocked mini bar, but no Coffee / Tea station.
2: Generator runs throughout the night, this happens at all the Sanctuary Lodges I believe, but does affect your natural night sounds. Plus the lights from the pathway are on all night & shine into your rooms.
3: Most Premier camps have private pools nowadays, & with the cost of Chiefs, I feel they could look at this, as the pool is right at the main area and with + 35 degrees, very busy.
4: Down-time, felt very long……we got back from the morning drive @ 10am & departed for afternoon drive @ 4pm, although you have lunch in-between, it did seem to drag.
5: Vehicles…..seemed very tired, definitely could do with a face lift, the middle row, had no foot rests & no soft places to put cameras etc…just a pocket in the back of 2 chairs, or a large metal trough in the front, not even drink holders. Again I feel for a premier Camp, the vehicles should be top class, as they only offer game drives so you spend +-6 hours a day in them.
No hesitation in selling Chiefs now. Still tend to feel that it is overpriced, especially in High Season, as many other camps offer the same or more, but I think the area / concession would take a lot of beating & that is what you are paying for no doubt …..
Kay
