Testimonials

Dear Safari Participants in Botswana,
On behalf of all of us, I would like to thank my dear friend, a great enthusiast and lover of nature, Remo Engelbrecht, once again, for instilling in us his view of the world of pure nature, which is the essence of his life, and for sharing it with us through his wholehearted engagement.

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From June 7th until 23.6. We were in Kenya and Tanzania with Remo.

At my husband's request, we traveled the first part by train to Tsavo. Anyone interested in history can find out everything about the Maneaters (in Germany: The Spirit and the Darkness). The fantastic lodges and the great tours through the parks in Tsavo East and West are unforgettable. Lions right at the kill. Leopard directly on the side of the road in the sun. Simply incredible and lots of antelopes, zebras, hippos, vervet monkeys, hyenas and elephants. In Amboseli, thanks to Remo and driver Paul, we were able to experience the incredible Change Craig, the strongest elephant, up close.

 

In the Serengeti we waited for the wildebeest migration. On the first day we had the feeling there were no wildebeest here, only zebras but then out of nowhere the next day they were there. Thousands as far as the eye can see, all trying to cross the Mara River. An incredible spectacle. We had a special experience with young, almost full-grown cheetahs. They were so playful and curious that they jumped onto the hood of our car as they rolled around. Then the cheetah and the two cubs demonstrated an attempt to hunt a gazelle. Fantastic... Seeing the animals in the savannah at the foot of Kilimanjaro is something incomparable. Likewise the Ngorongoro Crater. It is a world of its own, almost a small copy of the savannah. We were lucky enough to discover the Seval cat. Even the entrance and especially the exit into the crater is an experience. In Tarangire Park there are not only impressively old, mighty baobab trees, the likes of which are almost impossible to find anymore. The animal world is diverse. As in the savannah, we were astonished to see elephants attacking lions - it was crazy.

 

At the end of the trip in Tanzania, Remo had booked a special lodge for us. The Maasai Lodge. Traditional and modern, simply great. The Maasai try to bring parts of their culture closer to tourists through dance and storytelling. A wonderful end to the trip. As always, Remo has selected the most beautiful and natural lodges. We love tent lodges in the middle of the park and always felt safe and well informed with Remo. A trip to “original” Africa couldn’t be better.

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Arrival in Arusha, at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro.
After a problem-free check-in at the airport, we are welcomed by my old friend Remo and his partner Sam, and off we go to the Tulia Lodge on the outskirts of Arusha.
To get in the mood for our stay in Africa, the next morning we stroll through narrow streets with chaotic traffic across the colorful market. For Europeans, the hectic hustle and bustle with its diverse offerings is an experience. Fruit, vegetables, fish and meat wait for buyers in the blazing sun, more or less intrusive traders loudly advertise their goods: household appliances, souvenirs, clothing, spare parts, art objects, food of all kinds.

The next morning, after a refreshing visit to the pool and a hearty breakfast, we go to Messeani, where we spend a lot of time in the incredibly diverse offerings of a large souvenir shop.
The onward journey through Tarangire Park, repeatedly interrupted by encounters with zebras, elephants, digdigs, leopards and large herds of buffalo, is an unforgettable experience and an impressive introduction to our journey to the Serengeti simply because of the enormous collection of native, ancient baobab trees. Even one of the rather rare lesser kudu crosses our slopes. Giraffes, impalas, waterbucks, as well as the rich bird life leave us in awe. Over 500 different species of birds live in the park. There is movement in every bush or tree, every bush is bursting with life, everywhere there is singing, whistling, fluting and noise.

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In Tarangire National Park we encounter impressive herds of elephants and numerous of the less impressive tsetse flies. Here and there are groups of palm trees, and centuries-old baobab trees stretch their branchy branches into the blue sky. You get the impression that the trees are standing upside down and stretching their roots towards the firmament.
Just a few meters from our vehicle, giraffes were happily grazing on the branches of an acacia tree. The fact that they don't hurt themselves on the long thorns remains a mystery.
The journey continues on a route that is not described in any travel guide through Masailand. It had rained heavily recently. The land, grass, trees and bushes are lush green. The title of Hemingway's book “The Green Hills of Africa” could have originated here.

Happy, colorfully dressed people sit in their round bomas in the picturesque Masai villages, in front of their simple huts on the left and right of the bumpy “road”.
Waving boys leaning on their indispensable shepherd's stick, wearing traditional, conspicuously bright red clothing, look after large herds of cattle, occasionally sheep or goats, and are happy that an off-road vehicle with strangers brings variety to the solitude. Colorfully dressed women carry heavy loads on their heads along the dusty slopes in a graceful gait.
At the village of Kigongoni we cross the Rift Valley at an altitude of over 2,000 meters and discover hand-planted rice fields in the next village, Rhotia. Even corn thrives in this fertile soil and can even be harvested twice a year if there is enough rain.

Through the Ngorongoro conservancy we finally reach our next quarters, the Tanzanian Bushcamp Karibu, and reach our preliminary destination: the Serengeti - seemingly endless expanse as far as the eye can see - interrupted by “skull head rocks” where lions lazily recover from their nightly prey . Next to them, seemingly in peaceful harmony, are zebras, giraffes, buffaloes, topis (lyre antelopes), hartebeeste (scabi antelopes) as well as waterbucks and now and then a hyena or even a cheetah.

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Green, lush grass under a deep blue sky, as endless as it can only be admired in the steppe. No fence, no technology that violates nature, you can still hear creation breathing and not moaning, like in Europe.

And then we come across the breathtaking, huge collections of wildebeest and zebra, wild body after wild body, as far as the eye can see. Juicy grasses full of minerals thrive in the volcanic earth, which is why the large herds have been coming here for decades, centuries to breed their calves, would prefer to stay all year round, but when the rainy season is over and the water has dried up, the 2, 5 million wildebeest (around 12,000 wildebeest calves are now released in the Serengeti every day) and the 1 million zebras migrate further west and north to the Mara River, where there is still water.
230,000 Thompson's gazelles share the vast land with buffaloes, giraffes, elephants and many, many other animals.

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The large herds do not move alone. They are accompanied by prides of lions, cheetahs, the fastest big cats on earth and stealthy leopards, as well as jackals, vultures and hyenas, who also take part in this wealth of game.

After a pack of lions had already eaten their fill and several hyenas had crept away tiredly, vultures fought over a dead wildebeest for the best seats at the cold buffet. Ruffian, white-backed, capped, white-faced and black-eared vultures, the largest African vulture species. Marabou wait in stoic calm for what the carrion birds leave behind, further away jackals and hyenas sneak around the remains of the dead wild carcass and Thompson's and Grant's gazelles are grazing barely 100 meters away, unimpressed by the enormous spectacle that presents itself to us up close.
Our off-road vehicle then rolls further into a part of the Serengeti that is still largely untouched by mass tourism. At a watering hole we come across a family of lions surrounded by several safari jeeps. The drivers are in radio contact and call each other to such places.

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This is how we become aware of a dead reedbuck that a leopard has brought to safety in a high tree from the hyenas. Also unique was the observation of a cheetah catching and eating a gazelle calf after a long sprint.

The often barely noticeable track over rocky ground and through unfathomable mud on the journey through the open bushland to the lodge, which requires a lot of experience and skill from our driver, is no problem for the experienced Sam. On the other hand, the many, many tse-tset flies that suddenly appear out of nowhere unsettle him too.
Red and white wine, gin and tonic or beer (brands “Safari”, “Kilimanjaro” and “Serengeti”) in the secluded, yet comfortable lodge quickly make us forget the tormentors.
The sundowner is followed by a delicious dinner, green cooking banana soup, lamb tagine and brownies. The service is exemplary, the employees courteous, helpful and always cheerful.
The twilight is only brief, it quickly becomes dark. Only the humming and chirping of countless insects reaches our ears. African nature up close, we don't even hear the monotonous hum of the diesel generator.

At night, hyenas giggle in the immediate vicinity of our spacious and comfortable tents, which are equipped with toilets and showers, and are chased away by the Masai who keep watch at night, and we listen to the distant roar of lions in the middle of the unfathomable bush savannah - pure wilderness feeling.

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The next morning, three buffaloes watch us on our short walk to the mess tent, where we enjoy a sumptuous breakfast buffet, while not far away a pack of impalas are feeding and some red hartelopes rush past.
The next two days we drive all over the Serengeti National Park. This means “wide land” in the Maasai language. Soon we will no longer count wildebeests, zebras, buffaloes, elephants and giraffes, but will only be amazed at the huge herds that stretch as far as the horizon.

Bizarrely rounded granite rocks rise out of the plain like islands, so-called kopjes. Lions and cheetahs like to use them as “perches” for watching game. We had already seen 49 lions by then, we also observed leopards and cheetahs and in the evening in the camp we let the glowing ball of the setting sun sink photogenically behind an umbrella acacia tree.

At Busch Midnight, shortly after 10 p.m., we lie again under our mosquito nets, full of new impressions, and dream of a fulfilling day on safari while three buffaloes graze next to the tent.

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A paradise in the steppe
At the end of our eventful tour through the Serengeti, friend Remo had booked two more nights in the luxurious and tastefully furnished Maasai Lodge “Tanzania-Africa Amini Life” in northern Tanzania - the crowning conclusion to our adventurous safari.

We were welcomed by the local staff with cheerful singing and traditional dances, accompanied by homemade drums, flutes and rattles.
The bio-sauna and swimming in the large outdoor pool in the middle of the wilderness, surrounded by a 200-hectare nature reserve, with a breathtaking panorama, was one of the highlights in this lodge.
Unforgettable were the colorful sunrises over Kilimanjaro and atmospheric farewells to the day as the red ball of sun sank behind Mount Meru while we enjoyed our sundowners.
The original and therefore very individually designed mud huts in the Masai village in the Masai village offer a lot of comfort, but also seclusion and peace due to the secluded location on the hills. The furnishings have been artfully and lovingly put together by hand by locals. All cabins have a solar system, toilet, shower with hot water and offer a wonderful view over the immeasurable expanses of the unique bush landscape.

We were also very impressed with the food. The fresh ingredients for the rich meals - homemade, international and traditional Swahili dishes as well as Maasai specialties - come from our own kitchen garden, eggs and meat from our own chicken coop.

Sustainability is no foreign word here: used water is reused to irrigate the gardens. Electricity and hot water are solar powered and limited, meaning guests are spared radio music and television.

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In the evening we sat around the campfire and listened to the stories of a shaman, learned a lot about the traditions and rituals of the Maasai, their way of life, dances, music, traditional healing methods and their relationship to animals and plants - Maasai culture up close.

The lodge between the six-thousander Kilimanjaro and the four-thousander Mount Meru is run by locals. The operator, Africa Amini Alama, supports the local population in the medical, educational and social sectors.

Thanks to Remo's good connections, we were able to see for ourselves the admirable achievements of the two Austrian doctors who founded the organization during visits to a primary school, a kindergarten and a sewing studio. A team of African doctors now treat over 20,000 patients per year in the hospital in Momella, the centerpiece of Africa Amini Alama, which opened in 2010.
I recommend everyone to take a look at the website www. africaaminilife.com. Every donation, even the smallest, will benefit the local Maasai and will hopefully help them survive in the advancing civilization.
 
Gert G. v. Harling

Unique individual safari in the north of Botswana in the regions of the Okawango Delta, southwestern Chobe around Savute and the national park on the northern Chobe River. Fantastic savannah and bush landscapes with an overwhelming wealth of large and small mammals, wonderful birds and archaic-looking reptiles. In order to be able to observe all these impressions up close, you need a safari guide who, on the one hand, is intimately familiar with the regions that are almost entirely devoid of human civilization and who has an outstanding knowledge of the species. In addition, animal and nature photographers are brought so close to elephants, lions, leopards, hippos, giraffes, zebras, buffalo, wildebeest, various antelope species and countless other attractive subjects that incredibly good photos can be taken.

 

Remo Engelbrecht was able to offer us all of this in German with Remo Safaris and his drivers who grew up in the region and who proved to be excellent trackers. Intensive attention to each individual visitor and competent answers to any questions enriched the observations. The guides' own enthusiasm was contagious for our group of eight visitors, who were divided into two off-road vehicles during the exploration trips from the three camps.

 

The camps consisted of tents for one couple each with very good beds. However, there is no running water except in the shower, no electricity (only charging options for all the batteries in the vehicles) and no possibility of using telephony or the Internet at all. The food provided by the chef and eight-person local service crew was excellent. Every day began with a hearty breakfast at the table. The game drives were enriched by small snacks in nature, and on the evening of each impressive day we were welcomed with sundowners around the campfire in the camp and then enjoyed a three-course dinner prepared on an open fire at a lovingly decorated table. Special drink requests could even be made when booking the trip.
Our entire travel group agreed: This nine-day safari in Botswana was the most impressive trip of our lives. Our safari guide Remo played a decisive role in this unforgettable experience.

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It has been almost four weeks since our last trip to Tanzania with Remo. I'm sitting with my wife in the heated winter garden. It's cold and rainy outside. You can only see the silhouette of the surrounding mountains in the fog.

In the weeks since we arrived home, I have organized and edited the over 9,000 photos I took. This is a prerequisite for processing unique moments and experiences from this trip to the north of Tanzania.

But now to our trip:
This year, after a year's delay (the reason was the pandemic), we managed to travel to the most beautiful and wildlife-rich areas in northern Tanzania with Remo, who we have known for many years, together with two couples of friends (Hans and Christiane, Gerhard and Uschi). 

After arriving at Kilimanjaro Airport, where we are picked up by Remo and Sam, our driver for the next few days, we go to Arusha, where we explore the market with its oriental scents.

We then drive to our first accommodation in Tarangire National Park. The “Sangaiwe Tented Lodge” is beautifully embedded in the hilly landscape. From the terrace you have a beautiful view of the adjacent Lake Manyara. The national park is located on the Tarangire River, which has water all year round and therefore attracts all types of game. In the dry season, up to 6,000 elephants are counted in this area. In addition to large herds of wildebeest, buffalo, zebras and gazelles, you can also see lions and leopards.
On the way to the “Marera Lodge” in Karatu we visit the weekly Maasai market, where sheep and goats are offered for sale in addition to cattle.

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After relaxing at the pool, we continue to the Ngorongoro Crater the next morning. The crater floor is at around 1700 m. The diameter is between 17 and 21 km. The variety of animals and plants in the crater is enormous. It is rare to see the “Big Five” in one day elsewhere in Africa. You can experience lions up close as they seek the shadow of cars.
After an eventful day in the crater, we head to the endless plains of the Serengeti in the late afternoon. We stay in the “Shuhudia tent camp” for the next three nights. During the entire game drives we see 87 lions, some leopards and cheetahs.

Other highlights of this trip include the wildebeest migration and a balloon ride in Ndutu National Park. Hundreds of thousands of wildebeest, zebras, elands and giraffes can be admired in this park. At this time of year, thousands of wildebeest are born every day, attracting the attention of cheetahs, lions and hyenas.

Before we enjoy the last days in Zanzibar, we drive to the “Original Maasai Lodge”, which was built by the Maasai in the barren landscape between Mt. Kilimanjaro (5,895 m) and Mt. Meru (4,566 m). This lodge offers nature, culture and relaxation with views of Mount Kilimanjaro. You shouldn't miss the evening ritual, when the Maasai dance at sunset and then invite you to a Maasai meal. There is also the opportunity to take part in a natural history hike around the lodge and take part in a javelin throw in the evening.

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The Austrian doctors DDr. Christine Wallner and her daughter Dr. Cornelia Wallner-Frisee began implementing aid projects in northern Tanzania in 2009.

They founded the aid organization “Africa Amini Alama (“I believe in Africa”). The proceeds from the “Original Maasai Lodge” are used to finance medical projects as well as social and school projects in this area.

We would especially like to thank Remo and Sam for the perfect execution of the trip and are already planning another trip with Remo to South Africa next year.

As the saying goes – once Africa, never Africa again or always Africa again. The latter has been true for us for 40 years!

Best regards
Raimund and Gerlinde

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Our adventure this year took us from Brussels to Kigali via a direct flight. After a relaxed dinner in the well-known “Heaven Boutique Hotel & Restaurant”, the next morning we drove towards Uganda with Remo and Mogabi - past the beautiful landscape in Rwanda. When we arrived at the Mutanda Lake Lodge/Uganda with a fantastic view of the Virunga volcanoes, we first recovered from the “roads” of Uganda that took some getting used to. Big praise at this point to the driver Mogabi, who navigated safely and prudently at all times!

 

The next day was intended for gorilla tracking. Set off very early at Mutanda Lake Lodge and drive into the sunrise in front of breathtaking scenery. Arrived in the Bwindi Impenentrable Forest (which lives up to its name) we were able to observe the “Bweza” gorilla family with 10 individuals. A sublime experience in the middle of the jungle. Gorilla babies, silverbacks, gorillas playing and eating. It was all there. Sometimes there was only an arm's length distance from gentle giants. The pictures speak for themselves and most of our group made it back (estimated around 70-80%).

 

The others must still be somewhere in the Bwindi jungle...  In the afternoon it was time to “relax” at Lake Mutanda and review our experiences let it happen. Our further route took us back to Rwanda, where we hiked to Dian Fossey's former “Karisoke Camp” (a name derived from the two Karisimbi and Bisoke volcanoes). The gorilla researcher is also buried there, along with her gorillas (including “Digit” and “Uncle Bert”). The path leads to over 3000m and is relatively difficult to walk (approx. 5 hours) - but worth every effort! A unique experience in the highlands of Rwanda. The overnight stay was at the Mountain Gorilla View Lodge; Since it can get relatively cool at night due to the altitude, a fireplace is lit in each room in the evening, which made for a very cozy feeling after a strenuous day.

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The rest of the trip took us to Tanzania by plane, where “Sam” picked us up and accompanied us on our adventure with Remo for the next few days. Tarangire National Park with its baobab trees, beautiful tented lodge and then onward journey to the Ngorgoro crater with a safari at the foot of the crater - home of the black rhinoceros, which we were actually able to observe. Past the grave of Prof. Grzimek and son Michael into the Serengeti. An indescribable look at the great migration of animals. Wildebeests and zebras in every direction up to the horizon. Certainly hundreds of thousands of animals! We spent the night in a luxurious tent camp in the middle of the Serengeti. Thanks at this point to the camp manager Costarica and his kitchen crew, who prepared excellent food for us and brought the dead back to life with the freshly squeezed fruit juices.

From there we followed the animal migration to Ndutu. Wildebeests, zebras, flamingos, pelicans, lions, leopards, hyenas, gazelles and antelopes against an African backdrop. You feel like you're in an animal documentary in the shade of the umbrella acacias. Every day of the safari brought new highlights.

Finally, we visited the absolutely extraordinary Maassai Lodge and spent a few days relaxing at the foot of Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru.

All in all you can say: an absolute dream holiday, not least because of the excellent organization and execution by Remo and his team - but that's why we keep coming back. We are looking forward to our next African adventure!

 

Best regards!
David

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Dear Reader,
Here we would like to tell you about our trip with Remo Safaris from June 11th to June 24th, 2019 in Botswana.

On the first day our journey took us from Johannesburg by plane to Maun and then on by small plane to our tented camp in Xakanaxa.

We spent the next 8 days and nights every two days in the Khawi region of Moremi, Savute in the southwest of Chobe and in the north of Chobe.

We spent the ninth day at the Kubu Lodge in Kasane. We then spent three days at Lokuhula Lodge in Zimbabwe near Victoria Falls.

We don't want to describe all of our unique and, to our eyes, adventurous experiences here, as everyone experiences it differently. But one thing should be said in advance: we saw, sometimes up close, herds of elephants, buffaloes, hippos, zebras, groups of lions, giraffes and wild dogs, as well as leopards, jakals, kudus and ibexes. Not to mention the diversity of water and land birds.

The tents were always in impeccably clean condition, the beds made every day like in a hotel. Every day at half past five we got up, followed by breakfast and a game drive. The staff provided us with warm water for washing in front of the tent on time every day. Showering every day in the afternoon wasn't a problem either, warm water was always there.

The food and service were always great and it was fascinating how diverse the “menu” was with freshly prepared starters, main dishes and desserts.

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It's always amazing to us Europeans, who are spoiled in almost every respect, that we can conjure up such a touch of luxury using simple means, even in the bush.

Anyone who loves nature, with its magnificent animal and bird life, the vegetation, the peace and the absolute freedom from everyday life, is more than in good hands here.
One thing is also worth highlighting. You can't imagine a better tour guide like Remo, with his guide and the rest of the staff. In addition, Remo's wealth of knowledge about the animal, bird and plant world is seemingly endless.

Even a week after our arrival in Munich, we were so impressed by the trip that we still remembered it in our dreams every night.

With this in mind, we wish everyone who plans to do this the same beautiful and impressive experiences we had.

Greetings from Munich
Helmut and Claudia Braun

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10 days - a wonderful experience!

We met Remo at the airport in Johannisburg and flew together from there to Maun. From there we took a small "bush plane" to the first stop of our trip, the Okovango Delta. We spent three nights there at the Pom Pom Lodge. Discreet luxury, surrounded by untouched nature - an amazing combination!
Our bush tours through the brilliant landscape and the fascinating wildlife were shown and explained to us by our friendly guides in a very expert but also funny way. Since this is not a national park, you don't have to follow predetermined routes, you can just follow the animals right through the bush. Here we were able to: For example, you could follow a leopard for a while as she brought her cub to a new, safe place. You don't get this lucky every day!

But we were also able to admire nature from the water. We were driven across a lake in a mokoro, a dugout canoe. Total silence, only the sounds of the animals could be heard. It was a fascinating feeling to glide through the water lilies just above the surface of the water and to know that underwater hippos are seeking protection from the sun.
There was always a delicious and plentiful buffet waiting for us in the morning, mid-morning and evening. Our accommodation was a large tent that was set up inside like a luxurious hotel room. And all in the middle of the bush, without a fence! Of course we were constantly visited by baboons and other monkeys. Impalas walked right past the tent and at night we could hear hyenas, elephants and lions. And very close!

Thank you for great and fascinating days at the Pom Pom Lodge!

We continued on again with a small plane to Kasane. The 1.5 hour flight over the Delta was indescribably beautiful.

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Our guide met us at the airport and drove us through the Chobe National Park. It didn't take long before we saw the first impalas, mongooses and many different species of birds. As we got further near the river, we came across a huge herd of elephants that were on their way to the water. When we arrived at the river we were treated to a gigantic picture of hundreds of animals meeting up to drink and bathe in the water. A wonderful picture! We continued along the river and were able to see many different animals again. What is special in Chobe National Park are the huge herds of animals. We encountered buffalo herds that included hundreds of animals, simply incredible! We continued driving until we reached our “special kind” accommodation. Tent in the middle of the bush! The madness! Here you are really in the middle of it, rather than just there. In the evening, after the last game drive, we sat around the campfire. in the middle of the wilderness and listened to the sounds of the animals that passed close by the camp. Of course, you shouldn't forget the masterpiece of our two cooks! In the middle of "nowhere" we were treated to delicious dishes! Even special requests, such as vegetarian food, were fulfilled! As in Pom Pom.

In both parks our game drives were from sunrise until late morning and from afternoon until dark. It was wonderful to experience the different atmospheres. We were able to enjoy the sunset with a sundowner in the bush.

The last destination of our trip was Victoria Falls.
We reached our new accommodation, a pretty semi-detached house, with a traditional thatched roof and terrace, conveniently by minibus.

At the reception, Remo booked a helicopter flight over Victoria Falls for the next day.

After a great breakfast from a mega buffet, we set off for the helicopter flight.

We had booked the big tour that took us across the national park.

A sensational flight awaited us. The falls had a lot of water and so we could really perceive the force of nature from above. Simply overwhelming.
After the 25-minute flight, we set off to explore the falls on foot.

It was a beautiful, sunny, warm day and that was a good thing because we got soaking wet. The rising spray makes it rain like a huge shower. A welcome refreshment!

And the view of the falls from this perspective is enormous. You should have seen it.
We then visited the art market. Exceptional jewelry, amazing carvings, weaving and beautiful oil paintings or pencil drawings that reflect the part of Africa are lovingly made here.

A successful surprise was a special dinner. At the entrance we were given a cloth tied over our shoulders as is customary. We were then led into a huge room that looked like a gigantic tent made of wood. The tables were arranged at the side and back and a gigantic buffet was arranged front and center. It felt like everything Africa had to offer. Simply delicious. A group of drummers, who had initially handed out snare drums to the visitors, led through the evening in a very entertaining way. The guests were allowed to drum along as instructed. Was very funny. An all-round successful evening and a great end to our wonderful African tour.

It was a perfectly organized vacation! We had no problems with visas, flights, accommodation and even special requests for sundowners in the bush were fulfilled! It was simply beautiful!

We would like to thank Remo, who is not only a perfect organizer, but was also able to give us a wonderful impression with his enormous knowledge of life in African nature.

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Thank you very much, we'll be back!
Thomas, Sigi and Sammy Hönig

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On March 5, 2019, the long-awaited trip of our newly founded “Africa Fans Group” began, consisting of Alfred, Alexandra, Peter, Ingrid, Gerda and 2x Reinhard to Botswana, the Victoria Falls and Zanzibar.

After a stopover in Doha, we met at the airport in Johannesburg with our friends Peter and Ingrid, who had left a little earlier, as well as our guide and travel organizer – Remo Engelbrecht.

Together we went on to Maun in Botswana and finally took a small plane from Maun to the Pom Pom Camp in the Okavango Delta. The flight over the delta was already fascinating and captivated us with thoughts of the flora and fauna to be expected. From the main building of the Pom Pom Camp we were able to enjoy a wonderful view of a waterhole right in front of the lodge, where a variety of antelopes and other animals (even a hippo was native) quenched their thirst. For three consecutive days we went on morning and afternoon game drives into the evening, where we saw all kinds of birds, antelopes, elephants, lions, hyenas - and one of the most wonderful animals on earth - the leopard . What is particularly worth mentioning in Pom Pom is that wild animals also roam through the camp at night and we were once actually visited by an elephant, a hippo and a lion, whereby the elephant was more or less “in close contact” with the tents. A special experience was also the boat trip on a mokoro typical of the Okawango Delta, where you are particularly close to the flora and fauna in the river area.

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After Pom Pom we flew to Kasane in a small plane, where we then drove our game vehicles to the tent camp in Chobe National Park for another three nights. On the way there we were able to enjoy a sight that I will definitely never forget. After we passed a somewhat sloping path to the Chobe River, a green plain opened up that could be seen from afar, where hundreds of elephants mixed with buffalo could be seen scattered along the river. Without exaggerating, people were mentally connected to the film “Jurassic Park” or “Noah’s Ark”. The tent camp was of course pure adventure and simply a wonderful opportunity to escape the stress of everyday life and just be there among us Africa fans. In addition to the elephants mentioned, we saw large buffalo and herds of antelope here - impalas in particular were sufficiently represented here. Furthermore, hippos and crocodiles could be observed along the Chobe River. We also saw a large pride of lions, once again a beautiful leopard, a large number of groups of baboons, a lot of giraffes and even a hunting wild dog. We also took a river trip on the Chobe, but this time on a motorized vehicle and were able to see many, many buffaloes and elephants again - this time from a different perspective.

After the Chobe National Park we took a minibus to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, where we checked into the Lokuthula Lodge - pure luxury - in short, a fantastic facility. The absolute highlight here was of course the Victoria Falls, which we were able to admire both by helicopter (an absolute “must”) and on foot.

Finally, after Vicoria Falls, it was time to relax in Zanzibar for a week. There we were able to have fun and enjoy culinary delicacies in the beautiful “Fumba Beach Lodge” in the very warm Indian Ocean or the complex pool. We diversified with two snorkeling trips and a visit to the historic old part of Zanzibar City - “Stonetown”.

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I would also like to mention a surprise organized by Remo during an evening event for our “Africa chicks” Peter and Ingrid (they were the only ones in our group who were in Africa for the first time), where the locals presented them both with a cake - and then danced hard became. But we also had a surprise in store for Remo by singing a traditional song from our homeland (True Friendship), written by Alfred and Alexandra, to Remo - the best guide we have ever had. I think it was at this point that our friendship with Remo was truly sealed.

Finally, I only have one thing to say - it was a fantastic trip that will be difficult to surpass in the future in terms of the adventures experienced and the impressions gained.

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Is there still an Africa today as Hemingway once described it?
Yes, Remo and his team far exceeded our expectations!!!

The flight from Maun over the southern parts of the Okavanga Delta to Xakanaxa made the vastness of the wilderness and the wealth of animals in Botswana clear to us. Nelson, our driver, was waiting for us at the airstrip in the middle of the deserted bush in an open all-terrain vehicle and took us to the tent camp. Changing the location of the camp was an experience in itself, each tent had its own outdoor shower and toilet with “sand flushing”, the table under the tent roof was always festively set for excellent 3-course meals, cooked on an open fire. The evenings around the campfire will also be unforgettable, under an incredible starry sky in absolute silence, only interrupted by the calls of wild animals. There were elephants or lions that passed by the camp at night, monkeys that drank from the water basins in front of the tents or honey badgers that roamed fearlessly and curiously through the camp.

The game drives through the Moremi and Chobe National Park offered impressive animal scenarios, such as a family of lions taking turns feeding on the killed giraffe, observed by giraffes mourning their dead companions and jackals and vultures hoping for remains. We saw large herds of elephants and buffalo, families of hippopotamuses, zebras, warthogs, impalas, wildebeests, kudus as well as roan, sable and sable antelopes, waterbuck and bushbuck. However, we were completely fascinated by two leopards who were fighting over the captured antelope in a tree right in front of us. Remo always took us to new attractions, heard, saw and explained the African animal, bird and plant world. During the boat trips in the Okavanga Delta and on the Chobe, we also got to know a variety of birds and were able to observe crocodiles and numerous hippos as well as a monitor lizard. A special highlight was the trip in the mokoro (dugout canoe) on the Khwai River, which took us almost silently directly past the hippopotamus and the elephants drinking on the bank.

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After 8 days of camping in nature, we enjoyed the luxury of the Kubu Lodge with beautiful thatched houses and a direct view of the Chobe. The next day we crossed the border into Zimbabwe (without any problems thanks to Remo) to spend the last two days at the Victoria Falls. The helicopter flight over the area was breathtaking. When choosing the Victoria Falls Safari Lodge, Remo also proved that he only looks for the best for his guests. We took part in the vulture feeding that took place there, were able to watch the animals at the waterhole from our room and enjoyed dinner with African singing. During the walk by the falls and the tour of the site, we benefited from Remo's knowledge of African history and culture. We spent the last evening with African food and drumming.
Thank you very much dear Remo, this trip will inspire us forever!

Irene, Herbert, Sabine, Melchior, Veronika and Reinhard

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Last year was my first trip there and
At the end of the stay it was clear to me - - - again next year!!

As a result, I set out on the journey again this year to go with Remo to explore and get to know other areas of Botswana.

Remo was waiting for me in Johannesburg and we continued via Maun to Tau Pan Lodge, in the middle of the Kalahari Desert.

As everywhere else, we were warmly welcomed.
On the respective game drives, in the morning and in the afternoon, we saw springbok, oryx, the very rare Cape fox, bat-eared foxes and cheetah.

A special experience was seeing 5 male lions and 5 lion cubs.

Three of these little ones cuddled up to a lion and felt very comfortable. There is a waterhole at the lodge. There were countless people there
We were able to observe pigeons and sandgrouses.
And we continued to Kwara Lodge in the Delta. New adventures awaited us there again! We met elephants at a waterhole and even saw rabbits and lions again - but again completely different than in the Tau Pan Lodge.
We watched a cheetah hunt and there were also wild dogs. At the end of an evening game drive, it was already dark, we encountered a leopard. Of course we also saw many giraffes and zebras, all with young animals.

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Our next destination was the PomPom Lodge in the Delta. Many moor antelopes could be admired there. An endless number of pelicans besieged a waterhole and frolicked in the water. There we were able to observe many impalas, giraffes, zebras and lions again. The highlight was:

Remo watched a lion kill an antelope and we watched as he tried to transport his prey into the bushes. In doing so, he had to.

Since the antelope was very heavy, he had to rest every 20 to 30 meters. After a short rest, he continued to toil again.

So, unfortunately we went to the last stop, the Lebala Lodge on Lanyanti.

This is a swampy area. Here too, as everywhere else, we were welcomed and treated extremely friendly. The game drives there were also very interesting and, like everywhere else, eventful. We were looking for a leopard. It went back and forth through thick and thin, bushes were no obstacle!

We actually found him. A wonderful animal! We were able to observe a family of lions at a waterhole.
The day before they had killed a hippo, the “Mr. Lion” was still full of food from the day before and was sleeping blissfully, the lion mom was feasting on what the “Mr.” had left behind and the two children were playing and joking with each other. Later we saw 9 lions in another place.

Then, again far too early, it was time to say goodbye.
I haven't mentioned all the other animals we saw yet.
The bird life is fascinating, as is the ever-changing landscape.

the flowers and the other plants. And the sunrises and sunsets are indescribably beautiful.

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