| "body"> | | | | still offer value. The concessions system that |
| It all seems so long ago that I started in safaris, | | | | underpins conservation in the area - and keeps |
| guiding mobile groups, fixing vehicles, stocking up | | | | mass tourism out - means prices can never come |
| with supplies and, when I was on safari, generally | | | | down too low, and with camps that, by law, have |
| pretending to know much more about birds than I | | | | to be totally eco-friendly you do have to pay for |
| then did. I loved Botswana then as I do now - | | | | environmental design and construction. |
| there's certainly nowhere like it for wildlife - but | | | | I was also able to test out a small private |
| over the last couple of years I'd started to worry | | | | mobile-camping outfit that's been set up by |
| about the place. We generally find that it's the | | | | brothers Grant and Brent Reed. Calling their |
| owner-managed camps that provide the best | | | | operation Letaka after a reed found in the |
| safari experience, and they're very few and far | | | | Okavango Delta (they are referred to simply as |
| between now in Botswana. Some managed | | | | the Letaka brothers in Botswana) they offer |
| camps can be brilliant, but staff can move on | | | | what I consider is the best way to experience a |
| making it impossible to guarantee consistently high | | | | safari. As a small private group, you have your |
| standards. And something I've become very | | | | own guide and vehicle, and can plan your day as |
| aware of is that Botswana has become more and | | | | you wish. After the splendours of many of the |
| more expensive. From my UK base it was very | | | | camps we saw I felt this was by far the most |
| hard to envisage just how prices from | | | | real/relaxed option. |
| £350 per person per night could really be | | | | Because the thing that puts Botswana beyond |
| justified. | | | | any cost/benefit analysis is its wildlife. Charlie's |
| My recent visit has done much to put my mind at | | | | sighting list is a reminder what you can see in a |
| rest. True, some camps are overpriced and those | | | | single day, and I saw just as much. |
| are the ones we avoid. Others, while expensive, | | | | |