Ten days on safari through Botswana's national parks - and far more than just impressive animal encounters.

The company owners Kristin and Dirk from Moments gave us a warm welcome at the airport in Maun. Their experience coupled with a deep respect and enthusiasm for the country and nature was a defining moment during the entire tour. Our local guide "Moronga" had a wide range of specialist knowledge, which he passed on with great commitment and gave us a sense of security during the trip thanks to his enormous experience and local knowledge.

We were accompanied by a local team of nine people who looked after us throughout the trip - attentive, warm and always ready for a joke. Inquisitive and interested, they tried to test their German with us, which led to many funny and bonding situations in which we became friends. In the evening, a three-course meal, cocktails, sundowners and sitting together around the campfire under the African starry sky awaited us at the camp.

Camping meant a touch of luxury: spacious tents, well thought-out facilities with washing facilities right outside the tent, clever hooks for hanging up clothes and equipment, a small bedside table and hot water for showers every evening. A luxury we appreciated after a long day on safari. Mosquito sprays had also been thought of (which, as predicted by the team, were not needed).

During the day, we experienced eventful drives where our guide's local knowledge enabled us to have extraordinary animal encounters: leopards with fresh prey, hyenas trying to get their share. Herds of elephants curiously inspecting our vehicle - and even short excursions on foot, always carefully and professionally accompanied by Moronga.

After ten intensive days, a safari team had become a friendly community, and it was hard to say goodbye to them. This trip was not just a safari. It was an encounter with the wilderness and the pristine nature. Ten days without the internet and concentrating on the essentials without the distractions of our civilized world to get an idea of what a pristine life in the wilderness must feel like. It was also the encounters with the people in our team that moved us.

Botswana touched us deeply. Many thanks to Moments and its team
Christoph and Ulrike 🐘🔥🌍

It's five o'clock in the morning, it's dark outside and we haven't slept well. The first night in the bush somewhere in the Okavango Delta in the middle of Botswana's wilderness. Everything is new and unfamiliar to us.
The wind has died down and it is very quiet. The stars are shining in the South African sky. At some point in the middle of the night, we heard a hyena howling and a lion roaring.

The darkness slowly fades and the birds become active. The soundscape is indescribable.

We set off at 5:45 minutes. First we want to drive to the pride of lions with the four little babies we saw yesterday. Tea and coffee are waiting outside...

We are now closing our eyes here at home and are back in the middle of our indescribably great vacation.

With every picture we look at, our thoughts wander into the African wilderness. Speaking of pictures, this trip is a must for every nature photographer! No need to book a photo trip! Kristin, Dirk and Moronga make it possible to get perfect shots of the animals on the safari tours. With plenty of time to observe, you get to know the animals' way of life. Moronga and Dirk inform us about the animals and fauna. The safaris are educational and fun. Elephants, lions, leopards, cheetahs, crocodiles, hippos, zebras, giraffes, impalas, kudus, hyenas, jackals, wildebeests, antelopes, spring hares, ostriches, yellow and red-billed tocos, mongooses..... we can't list everything we've seen. We are always amazed that so many animals can survive in this arid region. It's not just the wildlife that is beautiful. The barren landscape in the savannah looks just as great as the Moremi Game Reserve, which is flooded with water.

Africa had been on our itinerary for a long time. Five years ago we wanted to book our trip and then came Corona. Today we are happy to have ended up with Kristin and Dirk by chance. It was worth the long wait.

This trip was unbelievably great. We booked an adventure vacation and that's what we got.

We were looked after perfectly from our arrival at the airport to our departure. Our hotel room (tent) was large, spacious, clean and always nicely prepared. The food, which Partner and Kelly conjured up under the simplest of conditions, was delicious. The crew spoiled the guests. They showed us the African zest for life with their songs and dances. When we think about it, we automatically have to smile.

LB our waiter read our wishes from our eyes. There were two tubs of chilled drinks on the bar. For everyone what they wanted. Surprisingly, the bar and the laid table were in unexpected places. Coming up with these ideas and implementing them in this way is fantastic. We're not allowed to give them away, experience it for yourself and you'll understand us.

The crew work in the background and take care of everything you can't see. At five o'clock in the morning, they are already whirling around to make the day as pleasant as possible for their guests. Dismantling the tents, transportation, setting up our "hotel rooms" again, preparing hot water for the showers, the list goes on and on.

Morongo, our guide, loves his country and takes great pleasure in showing it to his guests. For us, he is the best tracker in the world. Our drives in the private concessions were not just on the sandy paths. We followed tracks or animals through the middle of the bush. Suddenly there are ten sleeping or feeding lions in front of us, the leopards on or under the tree or even the two cheetahs. We are always amazed at how he found the animals.

Thank you Morongo for these special experiences with you!

There is so much to tell. The best thing to do is book this trip, pack your bags and off you go to Africa with "Moments Botswana"! You will soak up this trip, enjoy it, experience it intensively and, like us, never forget it.

We would love to come back, let's see what the future holds. If we come back, it will be in the rainy season.

Thank you Kristin and Dirk! We keep taking our hats off to you. What you have put together is terrific.

You have awakened our senses and touched our hearts.

The two Mecklenburgers.

We went on a safari tour through Botswana with "Moments" in the fall of 2025. We traveled through the Okavango Delta and other national parks and private concession areas, where we stayed in camps, to the Chobe River and on to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Our tour group was led by Dirk and Kristin Meißner. They, our Botswanan guide and the whole crew took excellent care of us and gave us unforgettable moments with lions, elephants, giraffes, leopards, zebras, antelopes, hippos ... in the midst of magnificent landscapes.

 

We were already convinced that it would be great because we had already traveled with Dirk and Kristin as tour guides in South Africa once before. However, what we were able to experience with "Moments" in Botswana, being right in the middle of the animals, went far beyond what we had imagined: "That was awesome!" This sentence was and still is the most frequently used phrase of our small travel group of 5 people when we talk about our trip.

 

We didn't just see the animals and photograph them as we drove past, as on other trips before, but we were able to stay very close to them, observe their interactions and had the feeling that they were sharing "stories" of their lives with us. As we were camped in the middle of the parks, we were able to be with the animals in the early hours of the morning, even before the safari tours left the lodges, and were also able to be there again when things got exciting again shortly before sunset and the elephants came to the waterholes and rivers. Strict rules apply in the national parks, you are not allowed to leave the paths, but in the private concessions we were able to follow the tracks of the animals, look for them in the terrain, watch the lions hunting and finally see the whole pride of elephants feasting on the crack. In every word, every gesture, in his explanations and his driving style, our Botswanan guide showed us how much respect and love he has for the animals. Thank you for this great experience!

 

Our safari vehicle, our living room for 10 days, offered a clear view all around. During the breaks we had coffee and tea or chilled drinks. The fridge on board was stocked with everything a man or woman could wish for.... Our moving days, the days on which we moved to a different camp, were a single safari from morning to evening. Watching, enjoying, enjoying. And in the evening, the crew welcomed us to a new camp, where we found everything exactly as we had left it in the morning at the previous location. The campfire was burning, the table was laid for dinner, the bar was set up and put in the right light.

 

We were camping in the middle of the wilderness, but with a lot of style and always with that special something extra. The spacious, rain- and mosquito-proof tents with large beds, soft bedding and towels offered a level of comfort that we hadn't expected. In our own bathroom, at the back of the tent, there was hot shower water whenever we wanted it and we had our privacy. I won't reveal the many little surprises that our crew had in store for us, because they should remain surprises.

 

We had an extensive breakfast and the lunch was always varied and tasty. Every evening, the chef presented a great three-course menu that he had created for us. Anyone can bake in the oven, but how he baked bread, rolls, pizza, focaccia and cakes for us in the wilderness is something you really have to see!

 

But it wasn't just the chef, the waiter, the cook and the other helpers who took care of our tents, logistics and the technology, everyone in the crew was warm and concerned that we wanted for nothing. You could tell they were proud of what they had achieved and how much they enjoyed working for "Moments".

 

Thank you, Dirk and Kristin, for having the courage to live your dream of Africa and to set up this company to share it with others. For us it was the trip of a lifetime. It really reached our hearts and touched our souls. Thank you for that!

 

Winfried and Conny from Brehna

If you can leave the civilized world, running water, electricity, paved roads, money and much of what we think makes life beautiful behind for nine days and want to experience unforgettable moments and encounters with large and small wild animals, we recommend a safari vacation with "Experiences with Moments" by Kristin and Dirk Meißner.

It was our first African vacation and we were and still are overwhelmed by what we were offered. Tracking animal tracks and searching for prides of lions and leopards alongside herds of elephants, giraffes, buffalo, wildebeest, impala and many other animals were simply amazing moments.

You simply have to experience the simplicity and at the same time the unspoiled luxury of a (...).

You simply have to experience the simplicity and at the same time the rustic luxury of a tented safari with a daily campfire, lovingly laid table, excellent food and interesting conversations. This was complemented by daily highlights large and small, such as a sumptuous table by a small river or cocktails on a dune at sunset.

Kristin, Dirk, Moronga and their entire team did everything they could to ensure that we were able to experience the beauty and wildness of Botswana's nature, especially the many animals, at first hand. For us as nature and animal lovers, it was the best vacation of our lives.

A big thank you to Kristin, Dirk and the whole team for this wonderful experience.

Baldrun and Günter Weber

We are a couple in our mid-fifties and have taken part in a very special trip.

 

We started in Zimbabwe in the small town of Victoria Falls. The Zambezi, as it plunges into the depths on the Zambian side, was a unique natural spectacle. All inclusive, we had both a rainbow and a small thunderstorm, fantastic. Two nights in a great guest lodge rounded off the contrasting program. By now, our group had formed a close bond and we were looking forward to what the coming time in the bush of Botswana had in store for us.

 

Southern Africa had already cast a spell over my wife and I and so this was now our sixth trip. But unlike before, we wouldn't be sleeping in the roof tent of a camper, but in a tent where you could stand upright with your own sanitary facilities at the back. In other words, real luxury in the midst of wonderful, untouched nature. The rainy season was coming to an end, it was summer and the temperatures were around 35°C during the day and 20°C at night.

 

Our campsites "migrated": in the Chobe National Park, first from the Riverfront to the Savute region, then to a private reserve in the Mababe/Khwai region and ending in the Moremi Game Reserve. Each region was unique in its own way. Although we had already traveled through them as self-drivers, the experiences on the Gameviewer were completely new. The close encounters with the animals were of a very special intensity, our senses were heightened and our trust in our experienced guide Moronga was boundless. Thanks to our German-speaking tour guide, we also received all his explanations about the fauna and flora in translation.

 

Two highlights of our trip: the mokoro tour on the Khwai and the boat trip on the Okavango (where my wife involuntarily baptized her sun hat...).

 

Listing the animals we saw would be too long here, so I'll limit myself to our five highlights: Herds of elephants as far as the eye can see along the Chobe River, which separates Namibia from Botswana, moving from one side to the other. The kings among the animals: the proud lions in the Savute region, walking along the Gameviewer and making you hold your breath for a few seconds, you are so incredibly close. At one point we even spotted a pack of wild dogs! We had never seen them in such numbers before.

Chance, coupled with luck... Also a very special moment: a leopard lying on the branch of a tree. And just as we were about to leave the Moremi Game Reserve, we came across the big cats with the black tear lines: two cheetahs. I will probably never forget the direct eye contact with one of the animals.

Even on the gravel road towards Maun: still elephants, giraffes, zebras...

 

That's what makes Botswana so unique for me: no fences behind which the animals have to live, they are simply allowed to wander...

Also, or probably because the government controls tourism through high prices, this sustainable approach to biodiversity and safaris (far away from mass tourism) will hopefully remain in this quality for a long time to come.

 

A few words about our food. Although our focus is not on the food: it was gigantic. Our chef partner and his crew conjured up new dishes on our plates every day in his kitchen tent. My wife (who doesn't like red meat) was always given a modified version to choose from. Respect for what was possible under the given circumstances (remarkable: preparation and washing up was done with drinking water).

 

Not forgetting the logistics team around Pako, who mastered every situation perfectly. A total of 9 crew members ensured that this trip was unforgettable. And of course there are Kristin and Dirk, our lovely tour guides, who are living their dream by making these safaris possible in the first place.

 

What made the vacation even better: the great group, we will miss you all very much... Let us save these unforgettable pictures and moments in our hearts, to put it in the words of my wife... THANK YOU!!!

 

 

Christian

What are moments? I don't know, probably just another strange advertising term. At least that was my first thought. But that was all about to change. But first things first.

 

It all started with a spontaneous short visit to the travel agency "Kristin", which was actually intended to bag a short fall vacation. The result was a "Moments" booking, thanks to the great atmosphere and competent advice as well as the spontaneity of my better half... After some initial doubts, we, a couple in our early 50s, haven't regretted booking this admittedly not cheap trip for a single second.

 

It was gigantic. Unexpected. Full of surprises.
Unpredictable and yet perfect.
Perfectly organized. Perfect in (almost) every respect.

 

Why? First of all, there are these two completely crazy people - Kristin and Dirk - who are living their dream and have created this travel offer and accompany it with dedication. But more importantly, they not only let their guests take part in it, they involve them. Kristin, the always attentive, creative idea generator with an eye for detail, and Dirk, the technically adept organizer with a cool head even in tricky situations, complement each other perfectly. Respect! Plus the hand-picked fellow travelers, this random community on which sooo much always depends. It was a great fit! And of course the local crew, the biggest unknown. With six guests and two "travel companions", these nine (!) people are clearly a decisive factor for a successful trip. And they were!...

 

Well, anyway, at some point - escaping the February weather at home - we were sitting on the Ethiopian airline bound for Maun. Maun? Exactly. Maun. We first had to explain to the lady at check-in that it was in Botswana... Arrival in the wet season. Rain. Lots of rain. And in a tent from tomorrow. Great, that should be fun... Then I remembered the words "When it rains, it rains briefly, but really. Then it's good again, and - it stays warm!" And that's exactly how it was. What followed was an incredibly restless and incredibly eventful trip through southern Africa. Not a second of boredom. No phone, no internet. It was incredibly exciting, incredibly relaxing, incredibly restful. Even if the day rarely started after five o'clock. This trip exceeded our expectations, even though they were vague at best, let alone defined: super camp sites, nature that couldn't be more natural. Animals, wilderness, adventure. Africa.

 

Lion, cheetah, leopard, wild dog, hyena, jackal, elephant, giraffe, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, kudu, waterbuck, impala, warthog, baboon, hippopotamus, crocodile, ostrich, eagle, falcon, crane and vulture - this is not a selection field like in 6aus49, where there might be a few hits that we would like to see. No, this is rather a rather incomplete list of animals that we were able to observe at close range and in large numbers on a daily basis during our two-week safari. And this is neither a joke nor an exaggeration, but an unbelievable reality.

 

And that's exactly what they were, these "moments".
They usually came as a surprise.

 

Well, almost. Because our capable guides usually knew where there might be something to see. Whether by locating noises, tracking, vultures pointing out carrion on tree skeletons mauled by elephants, warning calls from birds or the behavior of herds of antelope, they always found plenty of "visual prey" for us...
But the little experiences on the daily exploration tours with our super-comfortable, well-equipped, open game viewer also provided us with wonderful "moments". There were river crossings, deep water holes on the sandy highways, spontaneous animal pursuits, the rescue of a vehicle stuck in a mud hole or the late evening game drives with searchlights. Or the boat trips on the waters of the Okawango Delta.
There was always something going on. And all set against the stunning green bush landscape in the African nowhere.

 

Sounds were also "moments". The non-silence of the night. The calls and songs of the countless birds. The roar of the massive hippos and the prowling hyenas. Or the noise caused by the honey badger breaking into the kitchen tent.

 

Of course, the few people around us also provided some "moments". The friendly and open-minded way of life of the local crew, who made our stay in the wilderness extremely pleasant. The silent and barely noticeable logistics, which were perfectly implemented to allow our camp to "wander". The pride with which our mainguide Moronga told us about the history and nature of his country. The top gastronomy, which was impressively successful with the simplest of means and offered us culinary delights. The welcome songs with which we were greeted with a cool drink around the campfire when we arrived at camp in the evening. The surprise tables that were set up in wonderful places and were waiting for us with a lunch...

 

As if the incredibly varied safari wasn't enough of an experience, there were more highlights to follow. The border crossing into Zimbabwe, for example, which could not have been portrayed more impressively in any movie. The sticker in the passport with the handwritten entries is a lasting memory. Ingenious. Unique. Africa.

However, the end of our tour was to have another highlight in store - the extremely impressive Victoria Falls. First an exploration in an optional helicopter flight, then an extensive tour of the falls. Here, too, there is an unimaginable closeness to nature and danger instead of barriers and perfection. Not unpleasant spray mist on the face and all over the body instead of scratched Plexiglas walls... The end of the tour in the small town of Victoria Falls offered the opportunity to "bargain" for a few souvenirs, mainly local wood carvings, or to try some typical local delicacies at the lively market. The mopane caterpillars were delicious, the Zulu beer took some getting used to and could not be compared with the obligatory 11 o'clock tea.

 

Well, the bottom line for us is that this vacation offered an incredible density of experiences with many unexpected "moments". Varied, exciting, relaxing. Luxurious and anarchically free at the same time.

 

Top organization and support.
An absolute recommendation.

 

We take home great experiences, magnificent animal sightings and an incredible number of memories that are captured in countless photos.
Many thanks to Kristin and Dirk, the crew and our fellow travelers!

 

Finally, an important warning:
Be careful, Africa can be addictive!

 

Frank & Steffi, February 2025

 

 

PS: I have deliberately omitted a detailed description of the places and the route here, as these are described excellently in the travel description for Tour A on the website.

We had a wonderful vacation with Experiences with Moments that we will never forget. Kristin, Dirk and their young team made this possible for us. We had the opportunity to observe many animals and their behavior in nature. This was only possible thanks to our dedicated guide, who also had a great deal of general knowledge.

We had new highlights every day and the whole thing was stress-free. The atmosphere was very good every day. The Victoria Falls were the crowning glory of the trip. Many thanks for the unforgettable vacation we were able to spend with you.

 

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If you want a tour that is planned with a lot of heart and commitment, take a tour with Experiences with Moments. Not only Kristin and Dirk make the trip unforgettable, but also their great team. I have experienced so many beautiful and exciting "moments" that I will never forget.

 

The team is fully behind Kristin and Dirk. The appreciation that the team receives here is palpable. The atmosphere was never tense, no matter what time of day. The tours were all breathtaking and every day was somehow always surpassed. Whether it was the leopards or lions that had snatched something, or the zebra migration or the river crossing of the 1000 or so buffalo.

 

We were always right in the middle of it. Our guide always sensed which spot was the right one and where something was going on. A trip planned with so much love is only possible with Kristin and Dirk. Many thanks for that.

Education here is free up to the 7th grade. After that, education becomes chargeable.

 

Health care is free of charge and is financed through income tax. The amount of income tax is calculated using a fixed percentage.

 

There is an unconditional basic income that corresponds to around 20% of a worker's earnings. The pension, which is compulsory for everyone from the age of 60, is slightly higher.

 

Every citizen is entitled to a piece of land that he or she can lease from the state for a ridiculous price. In addition, each citizen receives the stones for a small house as a gift. The size of the house is usually around 40 m², the same size as a summerhouse. In addition, everyone can lease 25 hectares of land at a favorable price. Agriculture is mostly limited to livestock farming because it is far too dry here.

 

Water is pumped from wells. However, the groundwater is only a few meters away because the Okavango Delta carries a lot of water. But the water is very salty.

 

It is still the case that men can only marry if they bring their in-laws a dowry of 8 cows or 40 sheep. Alternatively, a not inconsiderable sum of money is also accepted. In addition, the man has to decorate a wedding reception attended by several hundred guests. As if that wasn't enough, he also has to cover the cost of clothing for his future wife's family. The men are given a shirt or jacket and the women a dress. That also depends on the region. However, it is a relief that you can apparently also "pay off" your wife. If you only have enough for one cow at first, you can deliver the rest later. What I have not been able to clarify is what happens to the paid dowry if someone dies before the dowry is paid in full and the wedding takes place. This also happens.

 

However, this tradition also means that many people live together without a marriage certificate. Several women are probably more the rule. Many children too. 10 to 12 children are not uncommon in rural areas. The children work in agriculture and thus help to feed the family. Many men also work abroad. Our helpers all had several children and several wives. Other countries - other customs.

The children learn two national languages from the first grade. English and Setswana. In addition, each region has its own language. These local languages differ considerably.

 

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We learned that lions and leopards usually live in a fixed area. This makes it somewhat easier to encounter such animals in the wild. This is much more difficult with cheetahs because they are constantly on the move, like nomads. The animals' footprints were also interesting. Dominant males spread their paws outwards, females inwards. With hyenas it is exactly the opposite, because in their groups the dominant female leads. Lions lie around lazily all day. Hunting is always dangerous for them. We saw animals marked by the fight and also seriously injured. An animal that can no longer hunt dies. Nobody is fed here. The rough cats are among the most popular photo subjects.

Of course, we saw a lot of tourists on our trip. Some fly from one park to another and go on game drives there. Others are picked up at the airport in Maun or Victoria Falls and driven from lodge to lodge. There is usually a morning tour, then free time and then an evening tour. The more adventurous rent a car that is more or less suitable for off-road driving and try it on their own. But they should be very well prepared, because not all problems can be solved with a cell phone in the wilderness. Radio reception is extremely rare here. In an emergency, you can only wait for support from passing tourists. This can sometimes take days. Outside the vehicle, however, you are food for the predators. Encounters with lions, hyenas or leopards are no longer fun.

 

The internet in the lodges is sometimes extremely slow. I was able to take advantage of this when we were stranded in a lodge like this for a short time after a technical defect. We were approached here by a couple from Canada. It was an interesting conversation for everyone. We were asked if we were also guests of the lodge (the two were looking for some entertainment). Of course we weren't and told them about our way of traveling and the accommodation in the tent. They could hardly believe it. They thought that people from the tent camp must be unshaven, have disheveled hair and look pretty dirty and run-down - just like Robinson Crusoe. We did not fulfill any of these clinches. Then we were allowed to look at pictures of the couple's room on their cell phone. They explained to us what glamping means. A luxurious room and a bathroom with a huge bathtub in a permanent tent. Hmm - we couldn't keep up with that. Our shower was a rubber tub with hot water in a separate part of the tent. There was also a toilet and a small washbasin. Very spartan, but functional. But then we were able to strike back! When asked for pictures of wild animals, almost nothing came up. Dreams of lions, leopards or even cheetahs at close range certainly did not come true for the Canadians. I had my laptop with me and the pictures were already sorted. We then showed the people our trophies in no time at all, full of hunting pride. But one after the other and in peace so as not to overwhelm them. We spent an hour each time looking at the noble and very rare animals from a distance of less than 5 meters without any disturbing bushes or grasses. The astonished and almost horrified faces of the Canadians were sheer joy for us.

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A motto accompanied us on our safari: You see what you should see!

 

It really is up to chance and luck what you get to see. Nobody can plan that. An adventure trip like this has so many imponderables that you can never plan for every situation. However, the surprises often turn into very special experiences. We had this luck.

 

We were close enough to touch the wild animals. A female elephant with a newborn less than 2 meters from the car. But the small bushes between us were enough for her. She remained completely relaxed. Such situations are always critical and require a great deal of experience on the part of the driver. He has to decide whether he can stand still or has to flee quickly.

 

And I would never have dreamed that lions would relax in the shade of the car. They simply ignored us and didn't see us as prey.

 

Even at Victoria Falls we met some very special people and experienced an unplanned evening of live music. Of course, in the bitterly poor Zimbabwe, the tourist niche rules. But our tour guide took good care of us!

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