I had already been on photo safaris in various parts of Africa four times before my first mobile camping safari with Gee in 2015. Those earlier trips were wonderful, but they paled in comparison to the experience I had with Gee. From the very first day, I fell in love with camping in the bush — hearing animals in the night, watching them walk through camp, exploring the roads less traveled, and spending long, unhurried hours with the wildlife. And of course, the photography opportunities were extraordinary.
Since that first trip, I've gone back again and again. I've now traveled with Gee six times and am already planning my seventh mobile safari, with Makomkom. Gee is an exceptional guide — not only does he find remarkable wildlife sightings, he teaches us about the animals, the ecosystems, and the rhythms of the Delta. He knows the areas he guides in intimately and takes us deep into places most visitors never see. He customizes each trip for our group and gives us the gift of long, generous days out in the bush. Over the years, he has become a true friend to all of us who travel with him.
One of my favorite things is watching first-timers experience Botswana with Gee. They usually arrive saying this will be a once-in-a-lifetime, bucket-list trip. By the end, without fail, they're already asking when they can come back.
People sometimes ask why I keep returning to the same areas instead of visiting new countries. The answer is simple: I go for the wildlife and the experience, and they are different every single time. Botswana does tourism exceptionally well, and the regions we travel in are remote, wild, and far less crowded than many parts of East Africa. I love getting to know an area deeply — and the landscape itself changes dramatically with each season. While there are many places in the world I'd love to visit, every time I plan a major trip, I find myself drawn back to Botswana, to Makomkom, and to the animals I love so much.
Traveling with Makomkom Safaris is more than a safari — it is an experience that stays with you long after you've left. Gee's knowledge, integrity, warmth, and deep respect for the bush create something truly special. If you are considering a safari in Botswana, I cannot recommend Makomkom Safaris highly enough. You will see incredible wildlife, experience the Delta in a way few people ever do, and come away with memories — and friendships — that last a lifetime.
— Phyllis Dawson
Note: If you'd like to know what a real African safari looks like, follow Phyllis on her
multiple trips across Africa with Makomkom and Gee on her website at
Team Windchase.
This was my first trip to Africa. And the longest trip of any kind I've ever taken. Fourteen days in the Okavango may sound like a long time until you're there — and then it isn't nearly enough. Something is always happening, and there is always more to discover. Our guide Gee made sure of that — an incredible tracker with a gift for birding and for reading his guests. He knew what I'd find fascinating before I did, and he had a way of sharing it that was completely captivating. Funny, engaging, and endlessly knowledgeable, he made every game drive feel like an adventure with an old friend.
But my most treasured moment? We came across a baby giraffe barely twenty minutes old. We stopped, went quiet, and simply watched — her first wobbly steps, her first time nursing, the whole fragile miracle of it unfolding in front of us in complete stillness. No theme park on earth could give you that.
The camping experience genuinely connected me to the land in a way I didn't expect.
The food, the campfire evenings, star watching — all wonderful. But it's the people that make Makomkom.
Every single member of the team was happy, helpful, and genuinely welcoming. I arrived as a visitor and left feeling like part of the Makomkom Safari family.
If you're on the fence — about the length, about the destination, about anything — let that go. You are in the very best hands.
— Amanda Draper
I've been on five mobile safaris with Gee and all have been wonderful — so wonderful that we are currently planning our next trip with him!
Botswana is a magical place and Gee is the most incredible guide. Most of our safari group are horse people and after working with animals for decades we thought we knew a lot about animal behavior — but we know nothing when compared to Gee's wealth of knowledge! He knows the land, the animals, and the history that tie them together. He is an excellent tracker and can skillfully predict the animals' behavior. It's incredible to watch him study tracks that lead us to the middle of a large pride of lions or to discover a leopard just from a few tell-tale signs — the smell of popcorn after a rain and the alarm calls of surrounding birds.
Each day on each trip has been a new adventure packed with exciting moments — from finding a group of new-to-us birds, watching a dung beetle's struggle to roll a ball of dung, to predicting a pack of wild dogs would wake from sleep and begin hunting resulting in a unique moment we easily could have missed. I always learn so much and am fascinated each time!
I love the mobile camping safaris and being in a new location every few days. The camps are comfortable and in beautiful locations, the food is excellent, and the crew is amazing! Nothing beats sitting by the campfire talking about our day with a gin and tonic!
Falling asleep to the sounds of animals — especially lions roaring — is an experience I can't even describe! Just awesome!
I came to Botswana on a "once-in-a-lifetime" trip and now I will do anything to go back again and again! And always with Makomkom and Gee — as they are simply the best! Highly recommend!
— Natalie Hollis
In 2017 I took the trip of a lifetime to Botswana — and next year I'm going back for the sixth time. People always ask why I keep returning to the same place, and my answer is always this: it is never the same place twice.
The Delta transforms with every visit. The seasons, the weather, the wildlife interactions — everything shifts in ways you never expect. On one trip, a vast open field had become a shimmering pond alive with hundreds of pelicans and storks. A few years later, it was open savannah again. The landscape writes a new story every single time.
Gee and his team make every moment feel effortless and special.
Three incredible meals a day — fresh baked bread, hearty lentil soup, warming stews, and the most memorable lemon drizzle cake. Each evening ends around the campfire, where Gee shares stories of the Delta from his childhood and years of guiding that leave you completely spellbound. And at bedtime, a warm 'bush baby' hot water bottle is tucked into your bed — a small touch that somehow feels like the perfect ending to a perfect day.
On game drives, Gee's knowledge is simply extraordinary. He reads the language of the Delta like a well loved novel — sounds, smells, subtle signs that most would never notice — knowing exactly when to pause and let the magic unfold, and when to move on. Because of him, we see things others simply never get to experience.
I have always felt completely safe in Gee's hands. His deep understanding of wildlife and their behavior means we are always in the best possible position to witness something breathtaking — without ever feeling at risk.
Makomkom Safaris doesn't just show you Africa. It gives you an Africa you will carry in your heart forever.
— Paula Horne, DVM
Nothing has ever captivated me like the Okavango Delta. I've since traveled to other countries in Africa and the world, and discovered the many wonders they offer. But nothing has come close to my adventures with Makomkom Safaris.
What stays with me most is the tracking. Gee reading the events of the night from pawprints in the sand, following a trail for 5 kilometers until we found a pride of 14 lions — it was unlike anything I'd ever experienced. Somehow, there was always another surprise waiting for us just behind the next bush.
You can feel the deep love for nature in everything Makomkom does.
I experienced my trip exactly as other guests describe it — a genuine, passionate connection to the wild that is simply unforgettable. I know I'll be back one day.
— Evi Hannan
