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Traveller reviews

Travel reviews by New to Africa from London

Review Distribution

Excellent
Good
Average
Poor
Terrible

Total number of trips

1

Countries visited

2

Lodges stayed in

4

Excursions taken

0

Zambia and Botswana August 2018

Botswana and 1 other country between 20 Aug 2018 and 1 Sep 2018

Trip rating: Excellent
"Our trip was mind blowing.

Richard Ball was instrumental in building the picture in our minds of what the trip could be like and he was definitely spot on about Gomoti Plains Camp! Megan Green delivered a perfect execution throughout including at the very last minute to arrange an additional activity as we were flying out to Africa.

Advice on photography by Chris McIntyre was helpful and really beyond the call of duty.

We thank everyone on the team and we look forward to working with them for our next trip!

Suggestions to help us improve our trips or our service:

The detailed knowledge that the staff have of the different camps including sightings and camp characteristics distinguishes Expert Africa from the many other operators we approached and really helped us in deciding what to do/where to stay. Their advice on travelling with children was also spot on and very helpful.

Perhaps more focus could be provided as the trip is planned on the safari guides, as they really make the difference to one's trip (even if we appreciate travellers cannot choose who they will be guided by).

Looking forward to the team living up to our newly heightened expectations for our next trip!"

Arranged By Megan Green


Royal Livingstone Hotel

Royal Livingstone Hotel

"Victoria Falls at the end of the garden!"

2 nights Arrived 21 Aug 2018
"Luxurious but welcoming accommodation. Great location with prime view of the Zambesi river, definitely a plus, as well as easy access to the Zambian side of the Falls.

Attentive service, helpful staff assisted in arranging self trip to the Zimbabwe side of the Falls. Ideal start of the Southern Africa journey after the long flight. Wildlife on premises also a great introduction pre-safaris, e.g. zebras, giraffes, impalas, mongooses, monkeys as well as hippos in the river."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Good
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Good
Facilities
Excellent
Muchenje Safari Lodge

Muchenje Safari Lodge

"Elephants (and others) at Chobe riverfront"

3 nights Arrived 23 Aug 2018
"Very friendly and welcoming Lodge, attentive to children and happy to accommodate guests' requests regarding daily activities where possible. Toff and Kiddy are always present to greet guests and make sure everything is running smoothly. All staff are friendly and attentive.

The guides are always around and happy to share stories with guests over dinner. The view from the Lodge is absolutely stunning, and the arrival at the Lodge with the vehicle overlooking the flood plain is breath taking. The only downside is the drive to the National Park which is about 15-20 minutes on a tar road. Sightings are possible but it can be chilly in the early morning (we were well equipped courtesy of the excellent advice from Expert Africa). For this reason, we think it is probably better to go here before locations where no tar road driving is required, as people could be disappointed with the extra driving (even if it is well worth getting to the Park, don't get me wrong!). The Lodge is also a good intermediate step between the more developed Victoria Falls area and the wilderness of the Okavango Delta.

The Chobe riverfront offers a different landscape compared to the Okavango Delta, well worth visiting due to the abundance of wildlife on the flood plain. Drives are limited to roads in the National Park which make some sightings challenging although guides are very good at trying to provide as good a view as possible. Sy and Ali were particularly helpful and excellent at spotting animals.

The day boat trip on the river is a must, and it gives time to really appreciate elephants including groups of bachelor bulls playing and splashing each other on the river."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Good
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Gomoti Plains Camp

Gomoti Plains Camp

"Perfection - classic Okavango"

3 nights Arrived 26 Aug 2018
"This is a truly superb camp, run as a perfect machine (with a heart though) by Andrew and Rhona and their management team (especially Ben and Chris) with excellent staff and out of this world guiding. Our guide Luckym made our trip unforgettable - he was a joy to be with.

The camp is well equipped and in good shape given that it is fairly new, food is excellent and everyone is welcoming, kind and discreet. Everything is organised outstandingly, including welcoming back guests from all drives with wet towels and somebody from management checking that all was as expected. Children are welcomed and well looked after by all.

Our stay could not have started better - on how are way from the airstrip to the camp a Bataleur Eagle directed us to a cheetah with cubs who had just hunted a steenbok: this made our arrival to camp late but definitely worth it! This was just the beginning of our wonderful three days with Luckym.

The bush dinner was a wonderful surprise - won't say anymore to avoid spoiling it for other travellers but we were left absolutely speechless.

We saw leopard for 3 days as he was finishing his warthog, white rhino, plenty of lions and ardwolf, porcupine, serval, civet on night drives. Boat trip well worth it. The sounds of wildlife during the night including hippos grunting were fascinating.

This Camp defined our new standards for safari trips - while all other places visited were excellent, this was a superior experience."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Excellent
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Excellent
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Excellent
Machaba Camp

Machaba Camp

"Chasing wild dogs chasing"

2 nights Arrived 29 Aug 2018
"This stay was defined by trying to keep up with chasing wild dogs on our first afternoon: a pack of 13 dogs with 9 puppies waking up at the end of the afternoon at the golden hours getting ready for the hunt with their greeting ceremony and then the chasing of impalas. Shame the hyenas stole the kill, but we managed to see them too thanks to our guide Badisa's perseverance in the mopane wood!

This is a sister camp to Gomoti Plains Camp but the tents feel a little bit more tired compared to Gomoti due to the Camp being older. We didn't see much of management but our guide was excellent and very flexible.

Significantly more vehicles in the area compared to Gomoti as the area also attracts self drivers, but our guide was good at trying to minimise locations with too much vehicle movement."
Excellent
Experience Report
Overall Rating:
Excellent

Location
Excellent
Service
Good
Activities
Excellent
Rooms
Good
Food
Excellent
Facilities
Good

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