G Adventures: Botswana and Falls Adventure

Review of G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure Trip

JuliaBotswana, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe 1 Comment

When my friends and I started talking about a trip to Africa, we began with the idea of exploring Tanzania and Zanzibar on our own, and then eventually it morphed into taking the G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure tour plus a few other stops.  

Having never taken a group tour like this, I was skeptical, but I’ve heard of G Adventures and after all, I’m going with two friends, it has to be fun… Right???

As it turns out, I would not recommend this trip to anyone and am not sure if I’ll do a group tour like this again.  The itinerary sounded promising, but as it turns out, almost nothing is included in the price tag, the “state of the art equipment” was half broken, and the CEO (Chief Experience Officer) had no interest in being there.

In case you’re considering the G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure trip, let’s take a look at the breakdown of the adventure.


The Lando


Advertised as being a custom built and high tech vehicle, you spend probably an average of 4-5 hours/day in this vehicle.  It looks awesome according to the videos, but it did not live up to expectations:

  • The 250-litre water tank was broken so there was no water available.  Rather than supply it, we had to buy our own water.
  • The 2 fridges on the Lando were broken, and we had to buy ice to keep things cool.
  • The air-conditioning was broken and stopped working for days at a time, in 100 degree heat.  This meant there was no relief from the heat day in and day out. I personally would not have signed up for an un-air-conditioned 8 day bus trip with camping in that kind of heat.
  • The in-seat USB chargers were broken in at least half of the Lando. This made it hard to keep things charged while camping for the week.
  • Some of the windows were broken and couldn’t be opened or had to be opened with care.
  • The lights on the bus, reading lights, and overhead lights didn’t work.
  • The CEO did not know about the onboard safe or how to use it.
  • The wi-fi onboard is not available in Botswana or Zimbabwe, and while it should be available in South Africa, it did not work.

The Equipment


Tents and mattresses are provided but you must bring your own pillow and sleeping bag.

  • The tent had holes in front screening resulting in mosquitoes getting in, poles were metal and rusty, and multiple hooks had been replaced and did not fit.
  • The tent is also not fully waterproof.  When it rained everything touching the ground or edges got wet along with everything else in the tent becoming damp.
  • The mattresses have never been washed and smelled from the number of people who have used them, the dirt they’ve been in and out of, and the number of times they have gotten wet from the Okavanga Delta trip and rain.

The Itinerary and Cost of the G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure


Outside of transport and some basic food, very little is included in the price.  Out of 8 days, you only have 3 included activities, the Rhino safari, trip into the Okavango Delta, and Lusumpuko Women’s Club lunch – Your G for Good Moment.  

This results in either a really boring trip full of transport and basic food (like make your own bologna sandwich or 50 Rand/~$3.25 to buy a lunch) or a much higher cost once you factor in your excursions.

Here’s a breakdown of the daily activities and what is and is not included.

Day 1: Johannesburg

  • Day Overview: This is just an arrival day, there are no activities outside of an introductory meeting at 6:00 pm, which we were not told about ahead of time. The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, but has a small pool and an animal enclosure to view ostrich, impala, and more.

    Once you are there, you will likely not want to leave due to the location. Highly suggest Uber to get there – it’s easy and affordable in South Africa.
  • Included: Hotel room – the only night in a hotel room. The room had no AC or fan and a broken shower door that wouldn’t close. A great way for meeting your new random roommate.
  • Not Included: Dinner (~120 Rand)

Day 2: Johannesburg/Serowe

  • Day Overview: Today is a lot of driving plus the border crossing from South Africa to Botswana. There were multiple stops for food (munchies and crunchies), water, and bathroom (bushy-bush).

    Eventually, around 4pm we arrived at the Khama Rhino Sanctuary for our first activity: a rhino drive through the sanctuary. We saw plenty of rhino, zebra, various antelope, ostriches, warthogs, and more.
  • Included: Rhino Safari; Breakfast, lunch (given 50 Rand to buy lunch), and dinner; Camping
Rhino Sanctuary ride in Maun, Botswana

Day 3: Serowe/Maun

  • Day Overview: Another long day of driving (~7am – 3pm). We arrived in time for the optional Okavango Delta Flight. Those of us who opted out of this activity spent the afternoon at the pool. This is the point at which people started opting for hotel rooms and my two friends booked a flight out of Maun to Kasane.
  • Included: Breakfast and lunch (make your own bologna sandwich); Camping
  • Not Included: Optional Okavango Delta Flight (~$120); Buffet dinner (180 Pula)
Camping in Botswana, Africa with  G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure

Day 4: Maun/Okavango Delta

  • Day Overview: It’s about a one hour drive to the Delta, and from there we took a two hour traditional mokoro (dugout canoe) into the Okavango Delta to our bush camp. We then spent about five hours hanging out in the dirt and swimming in the crocodile and hippo infested waters until it was sunset and time for a bush walk.

    During this walk we saw elephants, buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, and a tortoise. We came back to dinner, local songs and dance, and games from our mokoro pullers (the locals who run this excursion and man-power the canoes into the Delta).
  • Included: Trip into the Okavango Delta; Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Bush camping
  • Not Included: Tip for mokoro pullers (~100 Pula)
Canoeing into the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa

Day 5: Okavango Delta/Gweta

  • Day Overview: Made our two hour trek out of the Okavango Delta and drove the hour back to our previous nights camp ground to shower, except there was no water at the camp ground (aka no showers), so spent the rest of the day driving to our next camp ground under the giant baobab trees and swimming upon arrival.
  • Included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Camping
Elephant eating and bathing in the Okavango Delta in Botswana, Africa

Day 6: Gweta/Kasane

  • Day Overview: We spent the bulk of the day driving again to get to Chobe National Park where we went on an optional wildlife viewing boat cruise. The amount of hippos and elephants was impressive – highly recommend.
  • Included: Breakfast and lunch; Camping
  • Not Included: Optional Sunset Boat Cruise (~$45); Dinner (85 Pula)
Elephants on the wildlife cruise in Chobe National Park

Day 7: Kasane/Victoria Falls

  • Day Overview: This was by far the busiest and most expensive day of the trip. I started the day with the optional wildlife drive in Chobe National Park, then continued on to Zimbabwe.

    Upon arrival to our campsite, the Lusumpuko Women’s Club was already cooking an elaborate lunch for us. From there, we did a quick run (by foot) to the local market for souvenirs (keep in mind this is the only place you have an opportunity to shop), and on we went to view Victoria Falls.

    We did have to beg our CEO to drop us off there as it is not part of the tour. From there, it was a hustle to the riverfront for a sunset cruise, dinner, and goodbye drinks with the group at the local brewery.
  • Included: Breakfast and the Lusumpuko Women’s Club Lunch; Camping
  • Not Included: Optional Wildlife Drive (~$45); Visa for Zimbabwe (~$50); Optional Victoria Falls ($30); Optional Sunset Zambezi River Cruise (~$50); Dinner; Tips for CEO and Driver
Panorama of Victoria Falls

Day 8: Victoria Falls

  • Day Overview: This is just the departure day. I left early to head into Zambia to swim in Devil’s Pool, the pool on the falls edge, before starting my long trek back for Christmas in Ohio.
  • Included: Nothing
  • Not included: Everything – this is simply a departure day. You really are paying for a 6 day trip with an arrival and departure day. One thing that surprised me is that it’s called the Botswana and Falls Adventure but other than ending in Victoria Falls, there is nothing related to the falls included.

Learn how to visit Devil’s Pool at Victoria Falls.

Devils Pool on the side of Victoria Falls in Zambia, Africa with my group from the G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure

Overall, the cost of the trip is very high for what is included.  I’m not sure where the money goes as its not to the equipment, activities, or food. It must have been mostly transit expenses. 

If I had to do it again, I would have done it on my own flying Johannesburg > Maun > Kasane and then gone overland to Victoria Falls.  You can check out how to do this ideal Southern Africa itinerary here.

Even with the added cost of hotels, it would have been faster, cheaper, and more comfortable. Many nights our camp sites were at hotels which cost only $45 – 80… and if you divide that by two people… Think about it. Additionally, most of the activities we did can be organized by the local hotels.


The CEO (Chief Experience Officer)


A guide can easily add to or subtract from a trip.  Unfortunately, ours had zero interest in doing anything beyond the bare minimum, had no energy or enthusiasm about anything which zapped the energy from the group, and he avoided spending time with us whenever possible by disappearing immediately after dinner (~8pm) and avoiding all excursions including our bush camping.

  • During our intro meeting he started with “Lower your expectations”… And even then my expectations weren’t low enough.  Maybe that should be the new tagline… “G Adventures: Lower your expectations…” It has a great ring to it.
  • You may recall I came on this trip with two friends… Well, as problems started surfacing, they made the decision to fly out on Day 3 when we were near the airport in Maun.  After my friends left, our CEO was extremely unprofessional in talking ill about them to the whole group.
  • I heard he used donated money for tolls but did not personally observe this.
  • He was aggressive and constantly lying at all border crossings, check points, and when pulled over, which happened twice for speeding, he would say things like how much of a rush we were in to get to the airport.

    He even got into a yelling match with a man at the South Africa/Botswana border and then made it really awkward for the group by telling us to cut in front of that man and not let him through.
  • Racial conflict brought up many times referring to all the ways white man (whiteys) has done wrong to the black man.  Hard to tell fact vs opinion but was not professional in how he portrayed it.
  • He brushed off all concerns about things like no AC by saying it wouldn’t get fixed until the bus gets back to Cape Town… which was weeks away.  His reason was simply “What do you expect? This is Africa.” But the tour was sold as state of the art equipment and the company is supposed to be internationally reputable.  

    He then seemed surprised when people wanted to leave or cancel their 2nd week of the tour after melting in the 100 degree weather.
  • He also frequently made comments concerning his fear of bad reviews, but he did not make any efforts to meet expectations or connect with the group.  By the end of the week he still didn’t know everyones’ names.

The Driver


Fortunately, our driver was personable and integrated well with the group. He would have made a far better CEO, even though he had a bit of a lead foot. We managed to get pulled over twice for speeding.


The App and Pre-trip Planning


Unfortunately, the disorganization started even before arrival.

  • G Adventures: Please proofread the app!  Paragraphs are repeated. Information is missing. This is an easy fix.
  • We should have been told ahead of time about the Day 1 welcome meeting and dinner as we almost missed it since we didn’t know there was one… PS: It was at 6:00pm.
  • We should also have been notified ahead of time that USD is required in Zimbabwe as the ATMs and exchange rates are not great in Botswana, and this is easily avoided.

Conclusion: My Review of G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure Tour


Overall, the G Adventures Botswana and Falls Adventure was a disappointment.  The activities were good but few and far between, particularly if you did not do the add-on activities.

The best part by far was the group of travelers as everyone helped keep each other sane, but by the end of the week everyone was excited to leave – which is not how a vacation should. Overall, I would not recommend it.

Please note: All opinions here are my own and many in our group did hear from G Adventures afterwards due to the high number of complaints.

Trip dates: December 15 – 22, 2018


But, You Should Still Visit This Part of Africa


Please do not let this review discourage you from going to Botswana or Victoria Falls.

The locations were beautiful and full of wildlife. The people were friendly and helpful. The experiences you have are once-in-a-lifetime. But I would consider going on your own or finding an alternate company that runs a similar tour.

I also visited a number of other nearby areas, such as Cape Town and Kruger National Park and highly recommend them. Here is more information to get you started:


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