Sue Picken Suwanee, GA Travel Agent | Vacation.com
Sue Picken

Sue Picken

Suwanee, GA Travel Agent

Sue Picken

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11 Years of Experience
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3rd Times a Charm in Botswana Africa! This is how Sundowners are done in the Okavango!

3rd Times a Charm in Botswana Africa!

In April this year I had the pleasure of visiting Botswana (Savute and Okavango Delta) again :) This was my third safari visit to this amazing part of Africa and it is still "wow"!!

Botswana safari is the cream of the crop! The government has strict regulations on density of lodges, their affect on the environment, and lodge offerings with regular site inspections. The standard is high, but the remoteness and authenticity is unbeatable.

The wildlife viewing is incredible! I saw cheetah before I got to the first lodge. The rest of the 10 days included leopard, lion, wild dog, buffalo, sable antelope, hyena, hippo and of course giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, as well as amazing birds of prey and water birds. Highlights were mating leopards, a wild dog chase and lions chomping on a zebra. Simply superb! In addition to the amazing wildlife, the sunsets are breathtaking!

The Okavango Delta is the only inland flowing delta in the world, creating a beautiful network of waterways where one can enjoy water safaris in a Mokoro (dug-out canoe) ... seeing animals and birds from the viewpoint is a unique form of safari. One has to fly into the Okavango Delta in small charter planes so you get to see the beautiful waterways - and large game - from the air too :)

During my touring, I visited 16 lodges ... it was great to have a "refresher" of the region but also to experience so many properties first hand, to serve my safari clients better.

Something to remember ... safari in each country is different ... different terrain ... different antelope ... animals unique to the area ... and some unique experiences such as mokoro rides in the Okavango, hot air ballooning in East Africa, and gorilla trekking in Rwanda. Safari does not need to be a "once-off" experience ... its life changing and something to be repeated :)

Areas of Expertise

Reviews

54 Reviews
Awesome Work Trip
I had a work trip to Italy that involved a lot of moving parts and logistics! Sue not only got me to all my site visits with smooth logistical planning (car hire, trains, planes, and transfers), but found perfectly located accommodation, and made sure I managed to see the top sights in the Italian destinations I was near. The itinerary she presented me with was very detailed including dates, times, maps and local information. Highlights were a road trip on Sicily, climbing the Duomo Dome in Florence, and a relaxing finale in Venice with excursions that covered the top sights. Thank you for a well planned trip!<br/>
Arthur P. - Suwanee, GA - Traveled to Italy ~ Europe
15 of 23 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
Best Bachelorette Trip!
Sue was amazing! I wanted to be as easy as possible for my Maid of Honor to get all my girls together for my Bach. Sue was on it from booking everything to getting payments and information needed. Never having to worry because if there were any issues she would notify us immediately. We were all just able to go enjoy ourselves because of Sue.
Ari - Atlanta, GA - Traveled to Cancun ~ Quintana Roo ~ Mexico
11 of 17 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO
Bachelorette Trip of a life time
She was wonderful to work with and was always available to answer any questions or concerns.
Yash - NY,NY - Traveled to Mexico ~ Mexico
12 of 20 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? YES | NO

Certifications & Awards

asta award
AMA Academy
AMA Academy
Viking Rivers Expert
Viking Rivers Expert

Additional Certifications

  • Bachelor Of Arts Degree: History Of Art & Classics
  • Circle Of Excellence 2025
  • G Adventures National Geographic Journeys
  • Nexion Circle Of Excellence
  • PADI Advanced Diver
  • Thompson Tours Africa Tour Leader
  • Viking River Foundations & Danube River Specialist
  • National Geopgraphic Journeys Specialist
  • PADI Advanced Scuba Diver
  • Project Expedition Bronze Agent
  • Sailing Skipper Licence
  • COTAC 1 Travel Course
  • Nexion Gateway To Excellence Award
  • Ticketing & Fares Course In Brussels, Belgium
  • National Geographic Journeys Specialist
  • Tour Leader For Thompson Tours

My Travel Stories

Temples, Tombs, & Mummies to die for = Egypt!

Temples, Tombs, & Mummies to die for = Egypt!

Egypt is a mind-boggling experience! The scale of the temples and sizes of the columns have to be experienced first hand to realize the extent of the ...

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3rd Times a Charm in Botswana Africa!

3rd Times a Charm in Botswana Africa!

In April this year I had the pleasure of visiting Botswana (Savute and Okavango Delta) again :) This was my third safari visit to this amazing part ...

Read More

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