Brave Africa
Brave Africa
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About
Launched Aug 2019! Life favors the brave. Escape the ordinary to experience the extraordinary on an adventure safari with Brave Africa. We are a safari operator in Botswana, offering 7 and 10-day safari packages to the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, and Chobe National Park. Our mission is to offer a safari that's focused on spending as much time as possible on game drives & with the animals.
Maun, Botswana
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Leo JHK
4 contributions
Sep 2022 • Couples
I went on the most wonderful safari with Wina and his dedicated team. I've been on a few safaris in my time and this has been far and away the best.
Wina is incredibly knowledgable and passionate about nature, and through his skill we were able to see a whole range of animals from lions to painted dogs to buffalo to elephants and, most excitingly of all, a leopard!
We also saw a huge range of birds including eagles, vultures, owls, kingfishers, hornbills, lapwings - the list goes on! Importantly, Wina was able to identify them all with ease and provide some astonishing facts about each.
The camp was lovely and very thoughtfully put together with a great eye for detail + the bed was more comfortable than my one at home!
There is no chance of going hungry on a Brave Africa safari with delicious, indulgent food served throughout the day.
Thank you Wina and team for making my stay in Botswana so special. I would highly recommend!
Wina is incredibly knowledgable and passionate about nature, and through his skill we were able to see a whole range of animals from lions to painted dogs to buffalo to elephants and, most excitingly of all, a leopard!
We also saw a huge range of birds including eagles, vultures, owls, kingfishers, hornbills, lapwings - the list goes on! Importantly, Wina was able to identify them all with ease and provide some astonishing facts about each.
The camp was lovely and very thoughtfully put together with a great eye for detail + the bed was more comfortable than my one at home!
There is no chance of going hungry on a Brave Africa safari with delicious, indulgent food served throughout the day.
Thank you Wina and team for making my stay in Botswana so special. I would highly recommend!
Written September 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wina read your lovely review (and very kind handwritten note) and wanted to respond himself, "I appreciate your love and passion for the animals, and the fact that, on the last day, you thought the trip was too short! That meant a lot because it means that you have become part of the Brave Africa family! And the fact that you are already talking of coming back gives us the morale to keep going." —Tabona Wina
From the rest of the Brave Africa family, we are so very grateful that you had a wonderful time with us. It is our ultimate goal to make our guests happy, and it thrills us that we made your trip so fantastic! It has been a difficult few years with the pandemic, and it is being able to still share our love for going on safari with guests like you that keeps us going even during these tough times. We appreciate your time with us more than we can say!
Written September 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Michael H
1 contribution
Sep 2022
For a luxury mobile tented safari but at a reasonable price you can't beat this company. The tents are luxurious (very comfortable beds), the staff extremely attentive and the food cooked by Rachel exceptional. Mostly however the superb skills of the resourceful Tabona Wina as Guide make this really special as he has an extraordinary ability to find game.
Written September 23, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We're so glad you had a wonderful time with us on safari and that you felt well taken care of during your vacation. That is always our goal!! We can't tell you how much we appreciate you as a guest and the time you have taken to write about your experience with us. It makes a huge difference for our small company!
Written September 26, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rupert K
1 contribution
Sep 2022 • Family
Our family of four were taken on mobile safari by Brave Africa in September 2022. They gave us the most amazing experience, camping in luxury in the Chobe and Moremi national parks in Botswana. We saw some sensational game over our five nights, with the considerable aid of our expert guide, and otherwise were treated like royalty back in the camp by dedicated and very friendly staff. When it was time to go we were as sad to leave the stunning wildlife as we were to say goodbye to the wonderful men and women who looked after us- a really unforgettable experience that we would all gladly repeat. Strongly recommended.
Written September 21, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wina read your lovely review (and very kind handwritten note) and wanted to respond himself, "I appreciate your love and passion for the animals, and the fact that, on the last day, you thought the trip was too short! That meant a lot because it means that you have become part of the Brave Africa family! And the fact that you are already talking of coming back gives us the morale to keep going." —Tabona Wina
From the rest of the Brave Africa family, we are so very grateful that you had a wonderful time with us. It is our ultimate goal to make our guests happy, and it thrills us that we made your trip so fantastic! It has been a difficult few years with the pandemic, and it is being able to still share our love for going on safari with guests like you that keeps us going even during these tough times. We appreciate your time with us more than we can say!
Written September 23, 2022
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jennifer A
2 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Botswana was a truly beautiful country with incredible wildlife. I highly recommend Brave Africa for any future excursions. Their mobile safari campsites exceeded my expectations with relaxing comforts for the end of the day. We were given amazing, restaurant quality meals throughout the day. They had an incredible, welcoming and helpful staff, and an impeccable guide that shared his knowledge and skill that led to unforgettable sightings. Brave Africa provided a journey and memories that I will carry with me for a lifetime.
Written January 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Braveafrica
Thanks, Jandy87! We're thrilled that Brave Africa was your choice for going on safari in Botswana. We'll let our Chef Rachel know how much you enjoyed her meals, and tell Wina that you loved his guiding. We agree that our staff is the best and we hope you'll come back soon and make more memories with us!
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mylinh V
Chandler, AZ10 contributions
Sep 2019
Even though I had reservations about the behaviors of wild animals before our Botswana Safari Camping trip with Brave Africa, they were quickly dispelled after we were picked up at Khwai River Landing Strip by Wina, our tour guild, in a Brave Africa safari vehicle and went directly into the bush to see the wildlife in actions even just for few hours before the Sunset on the first day. On that short trip we were able to see a variety of animals, thanks to Wina for his safari expertise of many years. We even saw a pride of lioness starting to waking up just right before sunset to prepare for a night of hunting. It took us about half an hour to forty five minutes to reach our campsite and to our surprise, the staff welcomed us with a wonderful song in their own language, accompanied with nice hot towels on the plate for everyone. The inviting campfire was there to warm up a chilly night.
At the social dining tent we were brief with safety rules around the campsite and the all the staff was introduced so we can get to know them by the names and their function. And afterwards, our delicious sit down dinner was ready by Chef Rachel.
Our personal tent had the luxury of a lodge: a warm king size bed, a flush toilet and an open-top bucket shower stall attached to the back of our tent —what a top notch Mobil Safari Camp by Brave Africa. I loved the warm bucket shower which prepared ahead by the staff, on the cool nights and before bedtime, I stepped out on our tent patio to do my brushing under the starry night. Love it!!!
After a good night sleep, we got up before sunrise to get ready for a new day, another exciting adventure in the bush in Botswana. Breakfast was being set up close to the morning campfire with chairs around it. We left the camp right after breakfast, early every morning. There was always unknown elements in each day on our safari adventure. One day, we encountered an elephant walking by where our table was getting set up for lunch not too far from the river where he was heading. It was a breathtaking experience for all of us. While In the bush and on the safari vehicle, I never felt threatened by any wild animals like elephants, lions, hyenas or wild dogs and I know all of us felt the same way. We had many exciting breathtaking encounters with the wild animals during our 10-day safari adventure in beautiful Botswana, the Brave Africa’s staff was very courteous and friendly, and this was a once in a lifetime trip to remember. We will be back.
At the social dining tent we were brief with safety rules around the campsite and the all the staff was introduced so we can get to know them by the names and their function. And afterwards, our delicious sit down dinner was ready by Chef Rachel.
Our personal tent had the luxury of a lodge: a warm king size bed, a flush toilet and an open-top bucket shower stall attached to the back of our tent —what a top notch Mobil Safari Camp by Brave Africa. I loved the warm bucket shower which prepared ahead by the staff, on the cool nights and before bedtime, I stepped out on our tent patio to do my brushing under the starry night. Love it!!!
After a good night sleep, we got up before sunrise to get ready for a new day, another exciting adventure in the bush in Botswana. Breakfast was being set up close to the morning campfire with chairs around it. We left the camp right after breakfast, early every morning. There was always unknown elements in each day on our safari adventure. One day, we encountered an elephant walking by where our table was getting set up for lunch not too far from the river where he was heading. It was a breathtaking experience for all of us. While In the bush and on the safari vehicle, I never felt threatened by any wild animals like elephants, lions, hyenas or wild dogs and I know all of us felt the same way. We had many exciting breathtaking encounters with the wild animals during our 10-day safari adventure in beautiful Botswana, the Brave Africa’s staff was very courteous and friendly, and this was a once in a lifetime trip to remember. We will be back.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you so much for your kind review. We're so glad you had a great time with Brave Africa and really enjoyed our camp and the safari experience! Our goal is to make sure that every guest has a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and it sounds like that was the case for you. We'll be sure to let Rachel know you enjoyed her food and that Wina was a great guide. That makes us so happy.
We loved having you and hope you'll come back out again for another trip. Every safari is unique, so you never know what you could see next time! "Escape the ordinary to experience the extraordinary. Life favors the brave!"
Written November 8, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sheree F
19 contributions
Sep 2019
I don’t even know where to start in describing our African adventure with Brave Africa. It’s been a month and I still can’t contain my awe and excitement. On our first day, we were 10 yards from a pride of 11 lionesses sunning themselves. 10 yards!!! The next day, we tracked one of two lion brothers and spent 45 minutes sitting in front of him. The pictures are unbelievable. Our 2nd camp site was by a river that had a resident male hippo and was a watering hole for dozens of elephants. It was a wonderful way to eat breakfast everyday – the baby elephants are so cute. We experienced a leopard AND cheetah, dazzles of zebras, water buffalos, wildebeests, towers of giraffes, crocodiles, tons of gorgeous birds, hyenas, warthogs, and did you know there are 23 types of antelope? How do I know there are 23 types of antelope – because of our fabulous guide Wina. He MADE the entire adventure. He was a walking Wikipedia with 3 years of schooling and 10 years of experience. I just can’t say enough about Wina. Besides his vast knowledge and charming personality, he always made our safety his top priority.
Now to the Brave Africa mobile camp. Can I just say, I’m NOT a camper and have never once considered a camping vacation. Well, this is not camping and it’s even a step or two above glamping. The tents are huge with 3 separate sections and a covered porch-all divided by zippers. The front section holds 2 twin beds that can be converted into a king (with comforter, decorative pillows and throw, who does that on a safari??!!!), 2 nightstands, and a canvas floor and rugs. The next section holds the toilet! Yes, I said toilet. It’s a regular full-size toilet, a stand with for the wash basin, pitcher, hand soap, lotion, etc. and a closet. The back section is the outdoor shower (fully enclosed for privacy), with shampoo, conditioner and soap included (again, who experiences this while on safari in the middle of Africa??!!) Every morning we had a continental breakfast by the campfire (with the elephants and hippo), morning snack on the game drive, lunch (on a portable table, with chairs,tablecloth, silverware AND the animals), sunset snack and a 3-course dinner back at camp. Every night we sat by the fire listening to the visiting wildlife (hyenas, mating lions, hippos, baboons). The food was amazing, and the staff was outstanding. We even had DAILY laundry service. The Brave Africa staff was just lovely, so welcoming and accommodating.
One final experience to share. We found a pack of wild dogs and followed them to an antelope kill. It was quite the experience. Wina had only seen 3 other kills in his 10 years of being a guide.
Ok, one more moment to share. It was my birthday on the trip and the staff brought out a cake and sang the native birthday song. It was a very special gift for me.
This doesn’t even begin to cover all the special moments we had or the close encounters with the animals. We’ll never forget this trip and can’t thank Brave Africa enough for the unbelievable experience. I would recommend them to anyone, any age, any adventure level. In my humble opinion - BRAVE AFRICA IS #1.
Arizona, USA
Now to the Brave Africa mobile camp. Can I just say, I’m NOT a camper and have never once considered a camping vacation. Well, this is not camping and it’s even a step or two above glamping. The tents are huge with 3 separate sections and a covered porch-all divided by zippers. The front section holds 2 twin beds that can be converted into a king (with comforter, decorative pillows and throw, who does that on a safari??!!!), 2 nightstands, and a canvas floor and rugs. The next section holds the toilet! Yes, I said toilet. It’s a regular full-size toilet, a stand with for the wash basin, pitcher, hand soap, lotion, etc. and a closet. The back section is the outdoor shower (fully enclosed for privacy), with shampoo, conditioner and soap included (again, who experiences this while on safari in the middle of Africa??!!) Every morning we had a continental breakfast by the campfire (with the elephants and hippo), morning snack on the game drive, lunch (on a portable table, with chairs,tablecloth, silverware AND the animals), sunset snack and a 3-course dinner back at camp. Every night we sat by the fire listening to the visiting wildlife (hyenas, mating lions, hippos, baboons). The food was amazing, and the staff was outstanding. We even had DAILY laundry service. The Brave Africa staff was just lovely, so welcoming and accommodating.
One final experience to share. We found a pack of wild dogs and followed them to an antelope kill. It was quite the experience. Wina had only seen 3 other kills in his 10 years of being a guide.
Ok, one more moment to share. It was my birthday on the trip and the staff brought out a cake and sang the native birthday song. It was a very special gift for me.
This doesn’t even begin to cover all the special moments we had or the close encounters with the animals. We’ll never forget this trip and can’t thank Brave Africa enough for the unbelievable experience. I would recommend them to anyone, any age, any adventure level. In my humble opinion - BRAVE AFRICA IS #1.
Arizona, USA
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wow! Sounds like you got to enjoy some incredible animal sightings on your first safari with Brave Africa. Lions, leopard, and cheetah, you had it all! That's what we love to hear. Plus a wild dog kill is truly something special to witness, and we're so glad it happened for you.
Thank you for your kind review. We're glad we were able to help you get over your fear of camping and enjoy something truly unique. We like to say that we're more of a mobile lodge than a camp, and we're glad you agree. Our goal is always to ensure our guests' comfort with outstanding service, so it's wonderful that you felt that way about Brave Africa.
We can't wait to see you back in Botswana. We're thrilled to be your #1 choice!
Written November 8, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
PaultVo
39 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
We went on a safari by Brave Africa in September, 2019. From the moment, we were picked up at the Khwai River Airstrip by Mr. Tabona Wina, we knew that we would be in for an extraordinary vacation.
Mr. Tabona Wina is a skillful guide, with a deep knowledge of the flora and fauna of Botswana. He was able to locate and track many wonderful animals - elephants, lions, cheetah, hyenas and wild dogs, to name a few. We felt safe while on safari drive with him.
The camp staff of Brave Africa played in important part in our wonderful experience. The meals prepared by Rachel, the camp cook, are delicious and nutritious. The drinks mixed and served by the camp manager / bartender were good.
Returning to camp after a full day out to a clean comfortable bed and cleaned and folded laundry was a treat in itself, by the camp housekeeper. All members of the staff of Brave Africa took good care of us. They treated us very well. I felt very well taken care of.
All guest tents were large. It accommodated a king size bed, night stands and a storage for our clothes. The toilets were fully flushable. Each tent even had a shower area. The entire setup, with the addition of the great service from the staff, felt like a mobile lodging.
After a few nights in one location, the camp was moved by the staff of Brave Africa to a different location. This move was entirely done while we were out on safari drive, visiting the animals. All we had to do was to put our belongings back into our suitcases before we began our safari drive. When we arrived at this new camp location in the evening, our tent was set up and ready for use. This mobility of the camp made possible for us to experience a few different locals and environments.
A safari with Brave Africa is indeed an extraordinary vacation.
Mr. Tabona Wina is a skillful guide, with a deep knowledge of the flora and fauna of Botswana. He was able to locate and track many wonderful animals - elephants, lions, cheetah, hyenas and wild dogs, to name a few. We felt safe while on safari drive with him.
The camp staff of Brave Africa played in important part in our wonderful experience. The meals prepared by Rachel, the camp cook, are delicious and nutritious. The drinks mixed and served by the camp manager / bartender were good.
Returning to camp after a full day out to a clean comfortable bed and cleaned and folded laundry was a treat in itself, by the camp housekeeper. All members of the staff of Brave Africa took good care of us. They treated us very well. I felt very well taken care of.
All guest tents were large. It accommodated a king size bed, night stands and a storage for our clothes. The toilets were fully flushable. Each tent even had a shower area. The entire setup, with the addition of the great service from the staff, felt like a mobile lodging.
After a few nights in one location, the camp was moved by the staff of Brave Africa to a different location. This move was entirely done while we were out on safari drive, visiting the animals. All we had to do was to put our belongings back into our suitcases before we began our safari drive. When we arrived at this new camp location in the evening, our tent was set up and ready for use. This mobility of the camp made possible for us to experience a few different locals and environments.
A safari with Brave Africa is indeed an extraordinary vacation.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Thank you for your kind review of Brave Africa. We're thrilled to know that you had an extraordinary vacation with us. And yes, we agree that so much of that has to do with Wina! He is the beating heart of Brave Africa, and it makes us so happy to know that he made your trip for you. He's definitely an expert on the fauna and wildlife.
As for camp, we're so glad that you felt very well taken care of. That's always our ultimate goal and it makes us happy to know that you enjoy our service and amenities. We definitely try to be more like a mobile lodge than a camp, so we're glad you felt the same way.
We hope you'll come out and stay with us again. We'd love to have you!
Written November 8, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dan M
3 contributions
Dec 2019 • Couples
Amazing experience, phenomenal staff and I will be back for sure as soon as I am able. The mobile Safari aspect compared to the ones that do the stationary lodges is so fantastic. The beds were great in the tents, the food was just wow. Their chef not only prepared great dinners for us, but the lunches and daily made snacks were world class, even considering most other mobile safaris only give you a cheese sandwich. The getting up at 5am took a day or so to get used to but I got to see so much! Being surrounded by elephants, right next to lions, oryx, steambok, springbok, adorable jackals, zebras, Jaguar, giraffes ... and so so so many more majestic animals...just so amazing. I haven’t even gotten back to the US yet, but when I do I’ll post some of the great pics and videos. Wina and Tumo were more knowledgeable than I’d have ever imagined. If you’re looking to go on a true photo Safari, Brave Africa is the ONLY way to go and I promise it’s something you’ll cherish for the rest of your life. The Africa of today will not exist in 10-15 years so don’t wait too long.
Written December 23, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Braveafrica
Thank you for your kind review, Manticyde! We're so glad you had an amazing time on safari with Brave Africa. We love that we helped safariing get into your blood, and we'd love to have you back during the dry season next time. We think you'd love it! Can't wait to see you then!
Written January 16, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rick F
7 contributions
Sep 2019
The Brave Africa safari experience began immediately after landing in the bush. Wina, our excellent guide who drove us around throughout the trip and was our bush expert, picked us up directly from our plane. Then, on our drive from the bush landing zone to camp, we saw 3 of the big 5! Elephants, lions, buffalo, and a whole lot more. It was crazy. Just 4 hours until sundown and we had experienced a lifetime of wildlife in our first drive! Botswana is very alive!
Also, this is not camping that I was use to. It’s a king bed with sealed floors, flushing toilets, and bucket showers! There were blankets, sheets, chairs to sit in—it’s huge! They also do laundry! So, you can enjoy your stay, be in the bush and have clean clothes! That’s crazy!
If I had to describe it, Brave Africa is glamorous camping if there is such a thing! Very doable.
Our game drives out were from sunrise to sunset. This is an adventure with an expert guide who knows what he’s doing and is with you every step of the way! Brave Africa is for people who want to maximize their experience with every type and kind of wildlife you can possibly see. We loved the all-day game drives because it gave us the greatest chance of seeing something amazing.
By the way, Brave Africa uses a premier vehicle for seeing animals. It’s open, stadium seating so every person has a good view. It’s also a maximum of 6 riders and the guide per car, which means there was no middle seat.
The phrase I used was, “We have seen astonishing things this day!” Every day was one more astonishing thing on our list. Cheetah, Leopard, Lion’s galore, Elephants, Antelope (10+ types), Zebra, Honey badgers, Hippo, Mongoose, Birds, Vultures, Painted Dogs in a kill, Nile Crocodiles, and the list goes on. I still haven’t processed my pictures there are so many.
When arriving back into Brave Africa’s camp, the camp personnel are singing! Yep, you come back to your tent and are greeted with the sweetest harmony of voices, rhythm and enthusiasm you can ever experience. You’re tired, dusty, been on a 10+ hour drive, and you come “home” to singing, hot towels to wipe your face, cold drinks, help you with your bags, help you get comfortable for a specially prepared homecooked meal! They even have an oven! So, we had fresh baked bread, tender chicken or beef, you name it. Very amazing meals. Napkins, plates, glasses, silverware, it’s done well!
Also, if you don’t have a “Wina” (our guide), you don’t have ½ the experience. Wina has 10+ years experience in Botswana, he taught most of the guides. He knows every animal, behavior, tracking paw prints, birds, even knows about animal poop! Very important if you want to catch your animal. It’s like we’re hunting in a Landcruiser, everyone on watch, hoping to spy the next amazing sighting!
Wina told us a phrase, “This is Africa!” It meant, at any moment, at any turn, something could happen, something could change and you are awestruck watching in amazement an animal, an event, a dazzle of Zebra and quite frankly you are rendered speechless. Humbled by God’s creation and harmony of animals living and existing together in the bush.
You feel like you shouldn’t be here. You’re out of your element. Yet, you’re thrilled to be a part of it, to see and share in this experience in the “animals’ backyard”. You feel like you are in their zoo, and what a privilege to participate and to try and capture with your camera the moments presented to you. When an elephant (one of three encounters) walks up to you within 3 feet, you can’t help but feel a little scared, giddy, excited, overwhelmed, can’t breathe, want to touch, can’t move kind of moment! It’s that exciting!
Some advice if you’re thinking of going on safari with Brave Africa:
1.) Remember, you are still in the bush, and you are camping! One shrill note from a Hyenas’ or Lions’ call, or in our case we had a Hippo outside making a most amazing low grunting sound, and you know it’s not Kansas. Once inside your tent, you stay inside your tent. You are safe. But you are in Africa, and walking around at night by yourself is not in your best interest! You must respect and honor the wildlife at all times!
2.) Trick when riding in the Landcruiser, sit up a bit. Take your back off the seat back and you can ride the bumps, twists and turns much better.
3.) Before going on safari with Brave Africa, we first went into Cape Town to rest up after our long flights. I would highly recommend this so you can fully enjoy the safari experience. Plus, getting to Botswana and camp is an event in itself—Joburg to Maun, then from Maun to your bush flight. Pack light. We had great information from Brave Africa on what to bring, how to pack and prepare ourselves.
4.) After Botswana, we headed to Victoria Falls to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After seeing the animals in the Safari, to be frank, we saw more wonder and awe than any waterfall could ever show you. Don’t’ get me wrong, Victoria Falls is amazing, but not after what we experienced in Botswana. It did allow for a little rest, hot showers, and relaxation before heading back for 2 days travel. Well worth the stop over since you’re right there!
5.) A good camera is a must! I love photography. In Arizona, it’s birds of prey. In Africa, I wanted the best I could get. I needed a sealed camera, capable of great telephotos. After much research on Amazon, we got the Sony RX10iv. Awesome camera, great for Africa! 3,500+ pictures later, thrilled with the results. Highly recommend.
Let me be honest, my opinion of Africa and pre-determined thoughts and ideas were totally wrong! I only had National Geographic TV shows and Planet Earth videos as my references. My conceived ideas were every animal was running for their lives from either being eaten, attacked, or dying of thirst! It was not on my bucket list, too far away, too hostile, I don’t like camping, I don’t want to be sitting in a line with other people gawking at animals ½ mile away, and I can see animals on TV.
However, I am thrilled to have experienced a small part of Africa. Brave Africa blew all my expectations out of the water.
What are some of the most amazing things I experienced?
• Quiet! I don’t remember ever experiencing total quiet. Nothing. Earth shattering to me. Such stillness. All I heard were my ears ringing. That I will miss!
• Animals so close you can hear them breathing. Nothing quite like it.
• The harmony of nature living together. Herds, pods, dazzles, confusions, you name it, we saw it. Mostly all animals getting along, doing life together.
• No WiFi or Cell Phone at all! Yes, totally unplugged. Good for your soul!
• Time to reflect on what’s important. To rest, rejuvenate, see creation as you’ve never experienced it before, great company with the camp personnel, to come away refreshed! Tired, but refreshed and old paradigms removed and new ones welcomed.
• Memories that will last my lifetime. Experiences no one can take away, or understand unless they experience it themselves! Very unique and satisfying.
Also, this is not camping that I was use to. It’s a king bed with sealed floors, flushing toilets, and bucket showers! There were blankets, sheets, chairs to sit in—it’s huge! They also do laundry! So, you can enjoy your stay, be in the bush and have clean clothes! That’s crazy!
If I had to describe it, Brave Africa is glamorous camping if there is such a thing! Very doable.
Our game drives out were from sunrise to sunset. This is an adventure with an expert guide who knows what he’s doing and is with you every step of the way! Brave Africa is for people who want to maximize their experience with every type and kind of wildlife you can possibly see. We loved the all-day game drives because it gave us the greatest chance of seeing something amazing.
By the way, Brave Africa uses a premier vehicle for seeing animals. It’s open, stadium seating so every person has a good view. It’s also a maximum of 6 riders and the guide per car, which means there was no middle seat.
The phrase I used was, “We have seen astonishing things this day!” Every day was one more astonishing thing on our list. Cheetah, Leopard, Lion’s galore, Elephants, Antelope (10+ types), Zebra, Honey badgers, Hippo, Mongoose, Birds, Vultures, Painted Dogs in a kill, Nile Crocodiles, and the list goes on. I still haven’t processed my pictures there are so many.
When arriving back into Brave Africa’s camp, the camp personnel are singing! Yep, you come back to your tent and are greeted with the sweetest harmony of voices, rhythm and enthusiasm you can ever experience. You’re tired, dusty, been on a 10+ hour drive, and you come “home” to singing, hot towels to wipe your face, cold drinks, help you with your bags, help you get comfortable for a specially prepared homecooked meal! They even have an oven! So, we had fresh baked bread, tender chicken or beef, you name it. Very amazing meals. Napkins, plates, glasses, silverware, it’s done well!
Also, if you don’t have a “Wina” (our guide), you don’t have ½ the experience. Wina has 10+ years experience in Botswana, he taught most of the guides. He knows every animal, behavior, tracking paw prints, birds, even knows about animal poop! Very important if you want to catch your animal. It’s like we’re hunting in a Landcruiser, everyone on watch, hoping to spy the next amazing sighting!
Wina told us a phrase, “This is Africa!” It meant, at any moment, at any turn, something could happen, something could change and you are awestruck watching in amazement an animal, an event, a dazzle of Zebra and quite frankly you are rendered speechless. Humbled by God’s creation and harmony of animals living and existing together in the bush.
You feel like you shouldn’t be here. You’re out of your element. Yet, you’re thrilled to be a part of it, to see and share in this experience in the “animals’ backyard”. You feel like you are in their zoo, and what a privilege to participate and to try and capture with your camera the moments presented to you. When an elephant (one of three encounters) walks up to you within 3 feet, you can’t help but feel a little scared, giddy, excited, overwhelmed, can’t breathe, want to touch, can’t move kind of moment! It’s that exciting!
Some advice if you’re thinking of going on safari with Brave Africa:
1.) Remember, you are still in the bush, and you are camping! One shrill note from a Hyenas’ or Lions’ call, or in our case we had a Hippo outside making a most amazing low grunting sound, and you know it’s not Kansas. Once inside your tent, you stay inside your tent. You are safe. But you are in Africa, and walking around at night by yourself is not in your best interest! You must respect and honor the wildlife at all times!
2.) Trick when riding in the Landcruiser, sit up a bit. Take your back off the seat back and you can ride the bumps, twists and turns much better.
3.) Before going on safari with Brave Africa, we first went into Cape Town to rest up after our long flights. I would highly recommend this so you can fully enjoy the safari experience. Plus, getting to Botswana and camp is an event in itself—Joburg to Maun, then from Maun to your bush flight. Pack light. We had great information from Brave Africa on what to bring, how to pack and prepare ourselves.
4.) After Botswana, we headed to Victoria Falls to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World. After seeing the animals in the Safari, to be frank, we saw more wonder and awe than any waterfall could ever show you. Don’t’ get me wrong, Victoria Falls is amazing, but not after what we experienced in Botswana. It did allow for a little rest, hot showers, and relaxation before heading back for 2 days travel. Well worth the stop over since you’re right there!
5.) A good camera is a must! I love photography. In Arizona, it’s birds of prey. In Africa, I wanted the best I could get. I needed a sealed camera, capable of great telephotos. After much research on Amazon, we got the Sony RX10iv. Awesome camera, great for Africa! 3,500+ pictures later, thrilled with the results. Highly recommend.
Let me be honest, my opinion of Africa and pre-determined thoughts and ideas were totally wrong! I only had National Geographic TV shows and Planet Earth videos as my references. My conceived ideas were every animal was running for their lives from either being eaten, attacked, or dying of thirst! It was not on my bucket list, too far away, too hostile, I don’t like camping, I don’t want to be sitting in a line with other people gawking at animals ½ mile away, and I can see animals on TV.
However, I am thrilled to have experienced a small part of Africa. Brave Africa blew all my expectations out of the water.
What are some of the most amazing things I experienced?
• Quiet! I don’t remember ever experiencing total quiet. Nothing. Earth shattering to me. Such stillness. All I heard were my ears ringing. That I will miss!
• Animals so close you can hear them breathing. Nothing quite like it.
• The harmony of nature living together. Herds, pods, dazzles, confusions, you name it, we saw it. Mostly all animals getting along, doing life together.
• No WiFi or Cell Phone at all! Yes, totally unplugged. Good for your soul!
• Time to reflect on what’s important. To rest, rejuvenate, see creation as you’ve never experienced it before, great company with the camp personnel, to come away refreshed! Tired, but refreshed and old paradigms removed and new ones welcomed.
• Memories that will last my lifetime. Experiences no one can take away, or understand unless they experience it themselves! Very unique and satisfying.
Written November 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Now that sounds like a trip! We're so glad that you had such a great time with Brave Africa and that you made memories that will last a lifetime. That's exactly what we try to do on every safari, and it thrills us to know that you enjoyed yourself so much.
And glamping is definitely a thing! We like to call ourselves a lodge-like mobile camp because although you'll sleep under canvas, everything else is very luxurious. It sounds like Wina and the team took care of you very well.
Finally, we love your recommendations for future safari-goers. We definitely agree that a visit to Cape Town and Victoria Falls is a great decision. And remembering how wild the Botswana Bush is always a must.
We hope you'll come out and visit us again soon. We'd love to have you at Brave Africa any time!
Written November 8, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Susan A
Halifax, Canada1 contribution
Feb 2023
We went on safari with Brave Africa Feb 4-9. Two different camps (Xakanaxa & Khwai).
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
Tabona Wina is a great guide, host and manager. We saw so many animals: elephants, lions, zebra, impala, a cheetah, a leopard, hippos, giraffe, buffalo and more. On day 2, Wina stopped the vehicle and said, “I see a hyena…he has blood on his mouth”. We could barely see it but he could, and off road we went to find about a dozen of them feasting on a recent kill. We just sat in the vehicle and watched. One of them came over to us to have a little sniff! It was a little unnerving being in an open vehicle a few feet from a hyena – but I would say that was our big memory. We sat for a long time and watched. Since the reserve wasn’t that busy because it was February, it was just us. Our find. Amazing.
I felt like we were inside our own little nature documentary. Wina knows so much about the animals, birds and vegetation. He was constantly teaching us about our surroundings. He is so passionate and loves nature. Didn’t hurt that I was also nudging him for more info!
And then there were the accommodations and food. The tent had twin beds pushed together to make a king and very comfortable. The flushable indoor toilet was fabulous, along with the bucket shower that was filled up with warm water for us. I am not into camping so this was right up my alley! Didn’t see one mosquito either. The food was 5 star as well, and no shortage of it. We had 3 meals along with snacks on safari. At night, Chef Rachel would announce what was being served, Ona would present the wines. We enjoyed a few drinks with Wina every evening – he is a gracious host!
We brought too much warm clothing. It was suggested we prepare for all weather since it was the rainy season. It didn’t rain much and they have lined ponchos in the vehicle. The truck had a wired in cooler with lots of water. It also had USB chargers. Wina suggested we should have emailed them at info@braveafrica.com and ask them directly what we needed to bring for our booked dates. They know better than Google!
The last night we were with them, they had a little sing song and we did some very bad dancing! I played 3 games of chess with Titi (sorry if I spelled that wrong). He was so nice that he let me take his queen at the beginning of the first game – lol. I let him win the next 2 games, even though Source was helping me. I threw this in just to say the entire team was incredibly friendly and it was just a fun time. Fun and educational.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using this company for a safari in Botswana. I’m even telling random travel agents I run into!
P.S. They did our laundry every day. Yup. That was really nice!
ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC!
Tabona Wina is a great guide, host and manager. We saw so many animals: elephants, lions, zebra, impala, a cheetah, a leopard, hippos, giraffe, buffalo and more. On day 2, Wina stopped the vehicle and said, “I see a hyena…he has blood on his mouth”. We could barely see it but he could, and off road we went to find about a dozen of them feasting on a recent kill. We just sat in the vehicle and watched. One of them came over to us to have a little sniff! It was a little unnerving being in an open vehicle a few feet from a hyena – but I would say that was our big memory. We sat for a long time and watched. Since the reserve wasn’t that busy because it was February, it was just us. Our find. Amazing.
I felt like we were inside our own little nature documentary. Wina knows so much about the animals, birds and vegetation. He was constantly teaching us about our surroundings. He is so passionate and loves nature. Didn’t hurt that I was also nudging him for more info!
And then there were the accommodations and food. The tent had twin beds pushed together to make a king and very comfortable. The flushable indoor toilet was fabulous, along with the bucket shower that was filled up with warm water for us. I am not into camping so this was right up my alley! Didn’t see one mosquito either. The food was 5 star as well, and no shortage of it. We had 3 meals along with snacks on safari. At night, Chef Rachel would announce what was being served, Ona would present the wines. We enjoyed a few drinks with Wina every evening – he is a gracious host!
We brought too much warm clothing. It was suggested we prepare for all weather since it was the rainy season. It didn’t rain much and they have lined ponchos in the vehicle. The truck had a wired in cooler with lots of water. It also had USB chargers. Wina suggested we should have emailed them at info@braveafrica.com and ask them directly what we needed to bring for our booked dates. They know better than Google!
The last night we were with them, they had a little sing song and we did some very bad dancing! I played 3 games of chess with Titi (sorry if I spelled that wrong). He was so nice that he let me take his queen at the beginning of the first game – lol. I let him win the next 2 games, even though Source was helping me. I threw this in just to say the entire team was incredibly friendly and it was just a fun time. Fun and educational.
I HIGHLY RECOMMEND using this company for a safari in Botswana. I’m even telling random travel agents I run into!
P.S. They did our laundry every day. Yup. That was really nice!
Written February 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
No questions have been asked about this experience