Reply from WildernessJun 7, 2022
Dear Rui,
Julian here, I head up the Direct arm of the business here at Wilderness.
Many thanks for your response, I'm glad to hear you had such a good safari and our teams looked after you well with those flight issues etc.
I am however very sorry to hear about the photography issue you describe here Rui. I've chatted to James - the specialist that designed your safari - and there seems to be a level of confusion as he thought you were adding your safari with us on to a Namibia safari that you had already booked with another company, and so the dates were set?
The photography opportunity with the Okavango in full flood is a great reason for travelling during this season. It is one of the best times of year for photographers whilst Namibia is also excellent during this season. Unfortunately grasses can be higher in certain areas of Southern Africa, but a lush green covers the Delta, the crystal clear floods move in, skies are rich and blue...it's a stunning time to travel for the sheer beauty of the Okavango. Travelling later in the season and you lose the colours that photographers tend to appreciate, whilst the migrants have also all flown north, so birding isn't as good then either.
Game viewing is usually reliably good, especially at Little Vumbura. The property and the Vumbura Reserve as a whole are known within the industry for being one of the very best private reserves in Africa, for game viewing and seeing the Okavango Delta at its finest. Off road driving in our reserves also helps any sighting challenges; a major advantage over the National Parks.
However what I can't argue here is the fact that the later in the season you travel, the waterholes dry up and game driving gets increasingly productive. As the land dries and the heat sets in, the grasses lose their strength and herds trample on through. Big game viewing in the country is best from June through to October and this may well be something we should have stressed to you further.
If truth be told, considering the time of year however, I would still have suggested Little Vumbura myself. It's an outstanding property and reserve that showcases Botswana at its best. Travelling later in the season may well have been advice we should have pushed stronger, for cat sightings alone, but poor big game sightings in Vumbura (especially in April and May) is simply not a common occurrence. The long story short, is that it's certainly a challenge to get the balance right for photographers. I'd personally like the chance to see how we can improve on your next trip; I don't like anyone not getting what they want from our safaris!
My e-mail is [email protected] - please do get in touch Rui. I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards,
Julian
