“Lipadi Hills is very complete and a marvellous experience in every respect. We travelled Ethiopian Airways via Addis but could easily have come via Johannesburg - travelling was painless. On arrival, we were greeted by Chanda and her team at the lodge. The rooms are very private, generous in size with wonderful uninterrupted views over Botswana bush stretching out before you. We were taken on ‘game drives’ in a brilliantly converted open-sided Land Cruiser.

Joseph, the chief game scout, drove very well no jolts or shudders just smooth, dust-free quiet progress along a multiplicity of sand tracks to progressively reveal fabulous game of just about every type. The blessing was no other vehicles - when we found game no rushed calls to summon 20 other vehicles to the scene - just quiet observation, on our own, of game doing what game does. We peacefully watched rhino, kudu (a special pleasure for me - such elegant striped antelope), zebra, impala, warthog, bushbuck, giraffe and two young male lions. The main breeding herd of elephants had a very encouraging number of young and very young. We also saw two groups of young male elephants separately.

The richness of bird life is astounding from bee-eaters through hornbills and massive fish eagles and snake eagles and vultures - a hugely rich variety of species. The game drives were punctuated with stops for coffee, picnics and delightful evening ‘sundowners’ - all so well and effortlessly organised.

On return to the lodge a delightful infinity swimming pool, cocktails and delicious dinner awaits - all looking down to a much frequented waterhole in the valley below. Much talk of the game drives takes place and finally the sanctuary of one’s luxurious room awaits. Lipadi Hills is, in our experience (and I was born and bred in East Africa) unparalleled in its excellence.”