Splash Camp - Kwando Safaris — Hotel in North-West District

The whole Okavango is superb of course and Splash Camp - being relatively new - combines modern accomodation with brilliant safari animal experiences. |The water hole around which the cottages are set attracts a vast number of animals. The elephants are particularly attracted providing a great up close and personal experience. (We regularly watched elephants walk right past our cottage - no 11 ). In fact we were chased back onto our cottage on e when a mum and her calf decided the trees at our cottage door were particularly tasty.|Apart from the plains animals, lions, cheetah and leopards were regular visitors (though leopards were very shy).|Game drives are of course fabulous - there are large herds of plains animals, so also good lion population. June was a great time because the animals were a bit more lively in the chillier weather.|The lodge is lovely and food good.|So why 4* and not 5*....simple answers.|- breakfasts are early (of course) around the camp fire (for warmth). Try spreading toast without a table! Atmosphere for a very early breakfast before a game drive is super, but some practicalities are not considered.|- there's too much chopping and changing of people in the vehicles (landcruisers). What that means is that the guides are kinda having to meet the expectations of new arrivals to tick some boxes to the detriment perhaps of guests who have already been there for days. |I have to add that at the premium price point of splash, 6 people in a vehicle is not comfortable...the 3rd row of seats is particularly uncomfortable for guests...bounce and swing more, and on the sand tracks, they can be difficult to stay in your seat. |Cottages are modern - big beds, seating area, indoor and outdoor shower (always plenty hot water), large terrace (with amazing game viewing).|Hot water flasks provided by the lodge to let you make your own tea/coffee in the cottages. Hot water bottles provided to keep you warm (not only in bed...also in jeep for morning...

I don't quite know how to explain just how exceptional Splash Camp is. We have travelled a lot and done a number of safaris, and Splash Camp is quite possibly the best places we've ever stayed for a number of reasons, but mainly down to the incredible team who work there.||Splash Camp is set in the most beautiful location with stunning rooms and common areas. It really is as good as the photos online, perhaps better. The family lodge was easily big enough for 2 adults and 3 teens (and even had good wifi).||The food at every meal - pre game drive breakfast; brunch at 11/12ish, high tea at 4 and dinner at 8ish after the game drive, was all brilliant. They worked with you for any dietary requirements and even made the girls burgers for lunch one day as a surprise. My favourite setting was the tables set out around the campfire for the traditional night, but all the food was excellent quality. You can help yourself to all wines, spirits and soft drinks as part of your package at any time of the night and day, and these are also served with dinner. ||All of the team who work at Splash were kind and funny and engaging, but special mention has to go to our guide NT and tracker KB who were with us from pick up at the air strip (45 mins away from camp) and waved us off after 6 brilliant game drives/boat trips/experiences 4 days later. I actually cried as we flew out as I didn't want to leave. They searched and found some incredible animals but not only that were brilliant with us and the girls and genuinely lovely to spend time with. ||Some of these photos might show exactly how amazing it was, but if you're on the fence about booking, just do it. You'll...

Incredible! We came for our honeymoon and we’re blown away by the beautiful and comfortable rooms, the service, the staff and of course the safari!! On our last night they surprised us with a private candlelit dinner (so many candles!!). Godfrey and Gomms lead our safari and we saw more than we could have dreamed of. Their knowledge was unbelievable! Every question had a detailed answer. Such comfortable and impressive vehicles. Exceptional tracking and because the safari is so exclusive, you are able to get right up close to the animals. Even the cats were close enough for iPhone photos. No need for big lenses. We saw leopard, cheetah twice, countless lions including tiny cubs, aardwolf and a pack of 22 wild dogs!! Just to name a few. All of which were prolonged and intimate experiences. The pools available for a cool off in the middle of the day were pristine and perfect. The views from the camp beautiful. Outdoor and indoor showers. Privacy. Comfortable and enormous beds. The food was great and plentiful. Jackson in particular looked after us well, but all of the staff were delightful and friendly. We loved the river boat cruise, that was very special. Also the fishing was a fun activity. The camp’s attention to detail, blankets for cold mornings, swept walkways, warm towel to wipe the dust off your face every time you arrive back at camp and always a beautiful clean car to climb into. Splash clearly takes great pride in their hospitality and in their care for the environment. We were so impressed and could not recommend them...