Africa - Botswana:Anyone ever booked with Desert & Delta Safaris?

How was your safari experience with this group?
Any suggestions / tips?

Yes. I have stayed at five of their lodges on two different trips, the last one being in August. In general, they are quite well run, have good lodges (only their more newly acquired Le Roo LeTao did I not care for the staff at) and are well regarded among my friends who live in Botswana for how they care for employees.

I'm on my phone now so not as easy to type much, but will either PM you or post more info on the lodges when I'm on a real computer.

their more newly acquired Le Roo LeTao.Just in case Goofy Foot wants to Google the lodge, it is called Leroo La Tau. (Tau is seTswana for Lion, not sure what the rest means).

Johan

I have booked Desert & Delta many times. They are an excellent safari operator and they have a nice collection of lodges in a diversity of eco-systems. Their lodges are environmentally diverse enough (i.e spread out) so that you can go to Botswana and using their lodges-only have a fulfilling trip.

The biggest difference between D&D and some of their competitors is that all their lodges are located in national parks so you can’t go off road at night. But, they are pretty remote AND the lower price they charge is more than enough compensation to overcome the location issue versus their competitors. A big advantage they have is owning a lodge near the Sabute Marsh. Now that it is filling/full again everyone wants to go there!

To my knowledge there are eight safari lodges chains or marketing groups in Botswana and a handful of independently owned safari lodges (like Muchenje). There are hundreds or perhaps thousands of companies world-wide that package these lodges into private or group tours in hopes of making money on the difference between what you pay for the tour and what they pay the lodge.

The major safari lodge chains are (in no particular order):

1. Wilderness Safaris - http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/index.jsp
2. Desert & Delta - http://www.desertdelta.com/
3. &Beyond - http://www.andbeyond.com/
4. Kwando - http://www.kwando.co.za/
5. Sanctuary Lodge - http://www.sanctuaryretreats.com/lodges/
6. Orient Express - orient-express-safaris.co.za/web/ogam/ogam_a…
7. Ker & Downey - http://www.kerdowneybotswana.com/
8. Footsteps in Africa - http://www.footsteps-in-africa.com/

Here is a small layout of how an itinerary with these operators can be compared from a diversity standpoint. On my chart below I am including one lodge in the Chobe/Linyanti/Selinda with one dry land activity (Land Rover) lodge in Okavango/Moremi and one water activity lodge in the Okavango/Moremi.

Wilderness Safaris
Duma Tau/Savuti/Selinda + Chitabe + Xigera/Kwetsani

Wilderness Safaris Premier
Kings Pool/Zarafa + Mombo + Jao

Orient Express
Savute Elephant + Eagle Island + Khwai River

&beyond
Savute Under Canvas + Sanidbe + Nxabega

Sanctuary:
Chobe Chilwero + Chiefs (both activities offered)

Desert & Delta
Savute Safari Lodge + Camp Moremi + Camp Okavango

I hope this helps in making choices.

Craig Beal – owner – Travel Beyond

The major safari lodge chains are (in no particular order):

1. Wilderness Safaris - http://www.wilderness-safaris.com/index.jsp
2. Desert & Delta - http://www.desertdelta.com/
3. &Beyond - http://www.andbeyond.com/
4. Kwando - http://www.kwando.co.za/
5. Sanctuary Lodge - http://www.sanctuaryretreats.com/lodges/
6. Orient Express - orient-express-safaris.co.za/web/ogam/ogam_a…
7. Ker & Downey - http://www.kerdowneybotswana.com/
8. Footsteps in Africa - http://www.footsteps-in-africa.com/

Thanks Craig,
I'm wondering if any of these also book,or are affiliated with "hunting" safaris.

As far as I know, none of these operators have any affiliation with the hunting safari industry. In fact, the two industries rarely overlap.

Craig Beal - owner - Travel Beyond