Kambaku River Sands

The game drives were beyond anything I expected. Phauney and Rigo, my guide and tracker, taught me so much about the animals and the land, and they were great fun to spend time with. They showed me all the big five, plus a white lion cub playing with other lion cubs. I’ll never forget it, and I can’t wait to return to Kambaku River Sands. It was my first safari lodge, and it’ll always have a place in my heart. My room was huge, the bathroom even bigger, and the food was plentiful and delicious. Everyone on staff was kind, helpful and funny. A big shoutout to GM Cordelia, the staff are a real reflection of all she does.

We just got back from our visit, and everything was perfect, from the accommodations and game drives to the staff. Jerry was our tracker and Palance our guide, and both were outstanding. A special shoutout to all the staff, they were amazing!

Jaryd made the safari itself a real highlight of our trip. His knowledge, professionalism and passion stood out, and we’re grateful for the memorable time we had with him. We genuinely enjoyed the safari experience. What’s soured the trip is how a later pricing issue was dealt with. The disappointment is about more than the discrepancy itself. Kim’s follow-up included inaccuracies about conversations that didn’t happen as described, and left us feeling dismissed and misrepresented instead of addressing our concern. We raised it calmly and in good faith, but Kambaku has not responded or resolved it. It’s a shame that this has overshadowed an otherwise very enjoyable on-site stay and a memory that should have been positive.

We watched hundreds of elephants come to drink at the pool from the bar and lunch area overlooking the savanna. Every day there were so many, from huge adults to tiny babies. Seeing them was absolutely magical. We also appreciated the private dinner they arranged for us in the wine cellar and the champagne left in our room for our honeymoon. The lodge is spacious, and our room was beautifully decorated with views of nature. There’s a spa too, though we didn’t make full use of it because of the cold weather. Staff were warm, friendly and attentive throughout our stay. My one change would be the meal arrangements: guests have to dine communally at every meal, with no option to opt out, and that felt a bit forced. My husband and I still had a great time overall, and if you love elephants and want to see them close up every day, Kambaku River Sands is a wonderful choice.