Evolve Back Kalahari

This trip was our first safari and the lodge exceeded our expectations right from their musical greeting when we entered all the way to the very end when they dropped us off at the airport. Both our guides Zizie & Secco were really knowledgeable about the area & the animals living there. Thelma & the entire staff went above & beyond to ensure our needs were taken care of, cooking vegetarian food for us, providing hot water bottles for our sky lodge etc. A special candlelight dinner organized for our anniversary was a little cherry on top. Overall, while the Kalahari area might not have the variety of animals as seen in Okavango or Chobe, the lodge and its staff are excellent and make sure the guests receive a 5-star experience.

From the arrival at their private airstrip to the gorgeous "tent" that is more well appointed then their website let's on, the staff was wonderful and warm. We had an excellent experience with safari drives and outstanding meals. Am amazing place with sky beds for enjoying the southern stars. Simply out of this world!

Quite simply the best lodge that we have ever experienced on our several visits to Africa on safari. The rooms are opulent, the beds comfortable and the skybeds to each room a wonderful experience. Staff were warm, friendly and went to extreme lengths to ensure a great stay. On the day trip down to the Kalahari Game Reserve we were expecting a packed lunch. Instead we found that 4 extra staff had made the 2 hour journey there and back in another car to provide a magnificent spread. They even erected a set of shelves covered in damask to present the drinks as though in a high class bar. During the Boma they collected some of the hot ashes and spread them beneath the seats of the guests to provide extra warmth, something we have never previously experienced. The Kalahari itself was much richer in game than we expected. Leopard, Cheetah, elephants, giraffes, lions; we even had a pack of wild dogs walk around our car. Without doubt the highspot of all our trips on safari. Absolutely superb!

We stayed at this magical lodge for the first three days of our 'bucket list' trip to Botswana and are so glad we decided to go a little off the beaten track to do so. From the wonderful welcome from the staff on arrival, and the ongoing care and attention we received until the moment we flew to our next destination, it all added up to a truly unique and wonderful experience. We were a little out of the main season, so were lucky enough to have an upgrade to a suite with the sky bed, and have all our game drives with just us and our brilliant guides, but even when full I can't imagine you'd feel crowded or 'just another guest'. It feels like they have created a 'family' of staff who really care about their guests' experiences. Every member of staff was friendly, welcoming, and did their jobs excellently so I can't name them all individually. But of course a shout out to Thelma who may be part of the reason the resort works so well too! The food was plentiful and healthy, the room was fabulous with a huge comfortable bed, and the shared areas were just 'luxurious enough' without being over the top or a 'pastiche' of a safari lodge. It was very cold (more than expected ) but the staff kept us warm on both drives and in bed with super warm 'bushbabies' (hot water bottles will never sound quite right now!) so we were super comfortable and even spent the night in the sky bed, despite the temperature as a result, going to sleep under the stars listening to the lions roar. We were assigned a relatively new guide , 'Boxer' who was clearly intent on ensuring we were happy with the game drives, and as he was new were lucky enough to have a senior guide 'Ziezie' accompany us too . Boxer did a great job and will make an outstanding guide, together with his able tracker Joey, even as seasoned safari goers we found new things to explore and learn. Thanks also to Ziezie for the excellent night sky/star stories too. The trio were honestly such fun to have guiding us and we had some proper giggles along the way. Game is not as plentiful (or perhaps as easy to spot) as in other areas of Botswana or wider safari destinations, so perhaps if you were a first time safari goer it might not suit, but for us that's part of the fun! We were lucky to spend time with lionesses and their cubs, as well as one of the bosses!! Genuinely a wonderful experience and I can't recommend highly enough. If this is the service to expect from the Evolve Back resorts in India, we might well be tempted to add India to our remaining bucket list trips!! Or maybe come back to the Kalahari.

Short version of my review: if you are visiting this region of southern Africa, GO HERE! Three nights are perfect, and you'll be wishing you stayed for a fourth! There are so many positives about Evolve Back's Gham Dhaó Lodge, and they have all been documented by previous reviewers. Let me add some thoughts. Getting there is a breeze if you can get to Maun. The lodge has a tight relationship with Mack Air, the small plane regional air transport company that flies you to the lodge's dirt airstrip. Mack Air is at your side from the time you get your bags off the carousel at the Maun airport, walking you through extra luggage storage and check-in for their airline. They make it so easy. With your reservation, you will not be idle for very long long. Gham Dhaó's game drives fill your mornings and afternoons, with plenty of "dining" in between. There are a few little surprises along the way, and won't divulge them here. Will just say that Thelma and her entire team are accommodating beyond any expectation. Evolve Back has really gone the extra miles to make sure that customer experience is both paramount and sincere. The staff felt like family during our stay. It's like going to a familiar place where everyone knows your name - - and here they do! Other things that people want to know: it's safe (but follow a few simple rules). The food is REALLY good (I retired from the hospitality industry in the State after 45 years, for perspective). Beverages seem to be unrestricted. Plenty of filtered water. Decent coffee. High quality bedding. Plenty of hot water. Exceptionally clean and well-maintained throughout. Our guide is now like a son, according to my daughter and her husband who joined us for the trip, Zi Zie is terrific and the San tracker Secco - so much fun and exceptional. Not enough words can be written about them. I can't speak to how it is to sleep outside during the hotter months, but retiring to the outdoor sky bed during their winter was amazing. Yes, it goes down into to 40F - 45F, but we were not cold and hadn't slept that well during our entire two week trip. If you can do it, book the Sky Luxe tents. We never slept inside! While there are many other places we would like to visit in the years ahead, we would definitely consider a return trip the Gham Dhaó Lodge (or Evolve Back Kalahari, if your prefer). It was such a wonderful, deeply personal experience. The lions, giraffes, kudu, zebra, and oryx were great, too! Only one word to add - Kabaah!!